Camera motion rotation tools guide
Using rotating tools to make pan or tilt shots is often the easiest and most affordable way to add captive motion to shots.
The rotational devices are usually lighter and especially smaller than sliders and jibs.
Recommended:
Mediarena camera rotation tools comparison table
Mediarena motorized sliders guide
Be advised to use motion sparingly in finished productions. All the currently easily available motion tools (drones, jobs, sliders, pan-heads) make cool single specialty shots. Used without restraint the effects will cause motion sickness.
The following list goes from cheap and simple to pricier and more advanced tools.
Egg timer
The egg timer can be DIY’ed to work as a camera tool, or be bought ready made. Either way, don’t bother unless you have very little cash, an abundance of time and no appreciation for quality. And want to be suspected of setting up tikking bombs.
There are too many glorified egg timers to list all. To mention some: Veho Muvi X-Lapse, GoPole Scenelapse, Camalapse, Flow-Mow 360, BubblePix BubblePod etc.
Spinpod
The Spinpod is a notch above the basic egg timer. It is aimed at the smartphone and action cam users, but is stated to even work with small DSLRs. The Spinpod has somewhat limited controls, but also has a unique feature in that it can be used to motorized small “skater” camera dollies.
Sevenoak SK-EBH01
Simple (and limited) settings, heavy build (aluminium casing). Reviews report some quality issues (cheap buttons, gear play).
TurnsPro
Buy at TurnsPro · Read full review · Compare
The TurnsPro is great concept with some unique features, but it is unfortunately plagued with quality issues (cheap plastic). Look elsewhere.
Motrr Galileo
Buy at Amazon / Adorama · Compare
For iPhones and GoPro. Rather expensive.
Bescor MP-360
Buy at Amazon · Compare
The Bescor MP-360 is a little different than the other options, as it is primarily made for video. Pan and tilt can be controlled via a cable remote.
Radian
The Radian is controlled by smartphones via cable. It can carry DSLRs both for panning and tilting and is suitable both for video and time-lapsing.
Radian 2
The Radian 2 is very similar to the original Radian but connects to smartphones wirelessly via Bluetooth instead of via cable.
Syrp Genie mini
The Genie mini seems to be quite similar to the Radian 2. It is especially made to expand on the slider functionality of the original Genie.
Mindarin Astro
The Astro is a great concept. The design allows quick setups within the device by twisting some rings. More advanced settings can be made by smartphones via cable. It is the best looking of all the devices in this list.
