A slider that inspires anybody.
The U-Bangi system belongs to my standard equipment, since the beginning of my filmmaking career, about thirty years. Always the first choice, when the camera should be moved over the something and there is no space for the dolly, or even other tricky camera moves should be accomplished.
With my work for BMW, I started spending some time with the U-Bangi-Slider system from Panther, focusing more in its function as a slider. The vast majority of slider systems on the market for a full-fledged camera like the ARRI Alexa with a decent fluid head had been constructed too weak.
Then I started picking bits and pieces out of the extensive slider accessory range and eventually set up my own favorite configuration (see picture above).
Within this configuration, the U-Bangi-Slider can be converted from slider use to U-Bangi use, without any tools! The new Quick Change Adapter are incredibly useful, to interchange rail lengths in no time and above all without tools. I am using my slider for more than 1 year in this configuration and I am so enthusiastic about its flexibility and its robustness. Within many of my Commercial and Corporate work I prefer my Panther U-Bangi-Slider. Quiet and smooth movements in a sufficient length with highly convincing results.
Tom Fährmann is DoP of numerous of commercials and feature films ("Das Wunder von Bern", "Ulzhan", "Die Päpstin", and many more) and Head of camera department at the University of Television and Film in Munich as managing professor.
