Skip to main content

Sorry drones, this 300-foot camera "zipline" can carry over 17 pounds of camera gear

Video sliders are in a constant tug-of-war between length and portability, but Syrp’s latest motion-controlled contraption allows for time lapses and video sliding over 300 feet — and it fits inside of a backpack.

The Syrp Sligshot is more zipline than video slider, but that allows photographers to span big distances from low or high angles. With new drone laws now preventing commercial operators from flying over people, the Slingshot could also offer a safer solution inside crowded venues.

Introducing the Syrp Slingshot

The Slingshot relies on what’s already on scene — like a tree or a telephone pole — to strap the stabilizing brackets onto. Cables then stretch between the two points and a four-wheeled dolly carries the camera.

slingshot-whats-in-the-box
Syrp
Syrp

Paired with a Syrp Genie, the Slingshot becomes a large motorized video slider; add a second Genie and the tool is capable of three-axis motion control. The Genie app allows users to customize the camera’s motion across the zipline, adjusting tracking, panning, and tilting motions, with adjustable speeds up to 7.6 seconds per foot or six seconds for a complete turn.

The cable system is rated to hold up to 17.6 pounds, which could also allow for aerial shots from cameras too heavy to carry via drone.

Syrp says the Slingshot can be set up in minutes, not hours as required for most DIY cable systems, with everything for fastening and adjusting the cables included in the system. The entire zipline disassembles to fit into a backpack that’s included with the kit.

Syrp says the system can be used in some wind, but heavy winds would pose a problem for keeping the footage stable.

There’s another trade-off for that long sliding capability inside a portable system — the Slingshot alone without the Genie for motorized movement retails for $989 with an 82-foot (25-meter) cable. Adding the Genie ballhead bumps the price up to $1,887 while the full three-axis motion comes in the two-Genie kit at $2,155, or $3,102 bundled with the 300-foot cable.

Editors' Recommendations

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
DJI’s 2022 drone contest offers record prize pool
A photo taken from a drone.

Leading drone maker DJI has teamed up with the SkyPixel online community for its eighth annual photo and video contest.

Whether you’re an experienced drone pilot or an absolute beginner still finding your way, the contest is the perfect opportunity to send your machine skyward in a test of your creative skills.

Read more
How $80 of photo processing software magically saved me thousands
photo editing topaz labs denoise ai phil camera

It's a good time to be a photographer, whether you're just starting out and really don't have any idea what you're doing, or if you're a seasoned pro looking to try something new.

The gear is better than ever, making even entry-level bodies better than what the previous generation started out with. Software options make cataloging and processing your photos faster and less destructive, so you can revisit things for years and give old pics new life.

Read more
Sony A7 III mirorless camera is $300 off for Black Friday
Sony Alpha a7 III Mirrorless front view.

There are a lot of great Best Buy Black Friday deals going on right now, and whether you're looking for TVs, laptops, or even headphones, there's a little something for everybody. Of course, many folks may not realize that Best Buy has some fantastic deals on high-end photography gear, such as this Sony Alpha a7 III mirrorless camera. While it usually goes for a whopping $2,200, Best Buy had brought it down to $1,900, and while that relatively doesn't seem like much, you could always spend the $300 savings on a new lens.

Why you should buy the Sony Alpha a7 III
The Sony Alpha a7 III is a camera with so much tech that it might as well be three different cameras. It has excellent dynamic range, low-light performance, and high-speed performance, and the full-frame sensors make the images look absolutely stunning. Interestingly, the a7 III manages to do an excellent job at both low and high ISOs, the latter of which can go as high as 51,200 non-boosted, which, granted, adds a lot of noise, but noise reduction helps with that. As for the video, well, sadly, it's not as impressive, at least in terms of advancements in image quality, and while it can do 8-bit 4K at 30 frames per second, it's no longer ahead of the pack in that regard, like the Panasonic Lumix GH5 is with its 400Mbps 10-bit codec and 60-fps 4K.

Read more