NEEWER 31.5″/80cm Motorized Camera Slider Review

This NEEWER camera slider review will break down the core features of this versatile filmmaking accessory.

A camera slider offers a great selection of shot types to help expand your videography repertoire.

With its entry-level price and handy app, the NEEWER camera slider has helped me achieve smooth and dynamic shots.

I’ll break down the core features and user experience of the NEEWER camera slider in this complete review.

What is the NEEWER Motorized Camera Slider?

 

Specifications

• Materials: Carbon fiber, aluminum alloy
• Manual Settings: Supported
• Video Shooting: Supported
• Time-lapse Shooting: Supported
• Panoramic Video: Supported, 120°
• Customizable Settings: Speed, sliding method (constant speed or slow-start/stop), point A/B, loop, video length, interval, Bulb mode time
• Maximum Load Capacity (when placed horizontally): 11lb/5kg
• Maximum Load Capacity (when tilted at 45-degree): 5.5lb/2.5kg
• Length: 31.5”/80cm
• Wireless Control Range: Up to 26.2’/8m (with no obstacles)
• Slider Weight (including the motor): 5.3lb/2.4kg
• Total Weight (slider+accessories+bag): 8.4lb/3.8kg

The NEEWER motorized camera slider is an entry-level slider for hobbyist filmmakers and content creators.

It enables the user to create smooth and dynamic dolly shots that are otherwise impossible to accomplish by hand or with a gimbal.

Lightweight and portable, it offers a range of shots of scenery or indoors with smooth motion and tracking.

Great for b-roll and tabletop shots, it’s easy to set up and use and delivers an ample load capacity for most amateur camera rigs.

There’s also a handy app you can use to control it, as well as an optional remote control to alter settings such as speed.

Design and Build Quality

The NEEWER camera slider is constructed from a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum alloy, with some plastic components.

The central slider section, constructed from carbon fiber, is exceptionally lightweight and feels solid and durable.

While the adjustment knobs are plastic, they’re precisely engineered and lock into place nicely when tightened.

Likewise, the central video head and mount are sturdy and responsive when setting up and mounting the camera to the slider.

The overall feel of the NEEWER camera slider is sleek and minimalist, with an uncomplicated setup process that can be performed without referring to the instructions.

Weight and Portability

The NEEWER camera slider comes housed in a well-made carry case, with the slider and accessories stored in their own sections.

In addition to the slider itself, the case has cut-out sections for the various cables and head mount, as well as the battery and other accessories.

There’s a handy velcro strap to keep everything in place during transportation, along with a sturdy handle for ease of carrying.

While it would have benefited from a long shoulder strap, this is a minor downside, as the overall bulk prevents it from being carried over long distances.

That aside, the NEEWER camera slider’s weight, coming in at under 4kg, means it can be easily carried to your shooting location.

The slider itself weighs under 2.5kg, making it easy to quickly reposition when setting up for a series of shot angles.

Stability and Load Capacity

While the NEEWER camera slider is light, this isn’t to the detriment of its overall stability when performing dolly shots.

It has a good load capacity of 5kg when used horizontally, which is cut in half if you’re using the 45-degree angle mode.

This makes it ideal for filmmakers using a smartphone or mirrorless camera for their videography requirements who don’t need large lenses and cameras.

The slider comes with two small and adjustable feet, which can be used for operating the device on desktops or directly on the ground.

There are additional points in the slider’s center and ends where you can use a tripod or light stands and increase the versatility of your compositions.

With the inclusion of a spirit bubble level, it’s easy to ensure your slots are well-balanced, whether shooting time-lapse or standard dolly shots.

Features and Accessories

Everything you need to get up and running and start shooting footage with the NEEWER camera slider is included in the package.

It comes with an L-series lithium battery and USB charger, which delivers approximately three hours of running time on a full charge.

A selection of cables are also included, allowing you to set up shutter release for major camera manufacturers such as Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Panasonic.

To control the NEEWER camera slider, you’ll need to install the app, for which there is a QR code included in the slider’s instruction manual.

Installation is simple, with the app pairing to the device via Bluetooth once the slider has been powered up and is ready to use.

If you’re using additional NEEWER camera accessories, you’ll be using the same integrated app and can choose the slider from your list of devices.

There’s also full firmware support from the manufacturer to ensure everything is up to date and your slider’s features are operational.

Ease of Use and Performance

One of the biggest appeals of the NEEWER camera slider, together with its budget price, is the ease with which it can be set up and used.

Turn the NEEWER camera slider on, and it quickly calibrates the motor in a few seconds before being ready to use for all types of shots.

It comes with a small quick-release plate to load a camera onto the swivel head mount and lock it into place tightly and reliably.

Operating the NEEWER camera slider via the application is also intuitive, with a selection of shooting modes available to choose from.

For manual operation, there’s a left and right button on the app, with additional options for establishing specific start and end points.

Creating 120-degree panoramic shots is also incredibly easy to do by repositioning the knobs on each end of the slider’s central section.

Setting up the NEEWER camera slider for 45-degree angle shots is also intuitive, with quick camera head adjustments to ensure a level shot.

The app also features two movement selection modes, with the option to set this to slow and remove jarring stops and starts to the motion.

This mode introduces a pleasing feathering effect by speeding up and slowing down at the end of the movement rather than ending abruptly.

There’s also the option to change the sliding speed, as well as the duration of the motion, and an option to loop the entire process.

While there’s little in the way of in-depth features to dive into, what it delivers is reliable and intuitive with an exceptionally shallow learning curve.

It’s this simplicity that makes the NEEWER camera slider a great tool for hobbyist filmmakers who want to quickly set up dollys and time-lapses for their content.

How I Tested the NEEWER Motorized Camera Slider

For this review, I tested the NEEWER camera slider using a Sony A7III camera with a Sony 35mm prime lens for each of its shooting modes.

I took the rig out into the countryside to test it for portability, shooting a combination of time-lapse and dolly shots on a selection of landscapes.

Additional testing was performed at home to assess the smoothness of shots for interiors and with tighter control over a range of shot speeds and distances.

The NEEWER camera slider performed as intended, with no stability issues from the shots or the need for post-processing image stabilization.

Likewise, 45-degree angle shots were smooth and suffered from no issues with the weight of the camera and lens setup used for the tests.

Alternatives

The NEEWER camera slider is a great budget-friendly device for dolly shots and time-lapses for filmmakers with smartphones or lighter DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

If you’re a smartphone-only video content creator, alternatives such as the Smartta SliderMini 2 or JOBY Swing can be used to create similar shots in a smaller package.

These are more portable, although they offer a shorter tracking distance and slower pace that reduces their potential range of shots.

Alternatively, if you’re using higher-end professional camera equipment, you’ll need a slider with a high maximum load capacity for your setup.

The Edelkrone SliderPLUS v5 PRO Long offers up to 18kg of payload for heavy camera rigs, albeit requiring a tripod for mounting.

Value for Money

Neewer has successfully positioned itself in the camera accessories market as a capable manufacturer of budget gear for amateur filmmakers.

The NEEWER camera slider delivers the same combination of accessibility and performance at an attractive price point for hobbyist videographers.

While it lacks the advanced features of high-end alternatives, the core functions are solid and offer a great degree of flexibility to expand your selection of shots.

The intuitive app and easy setup make the NEEWER camera slider a fantastic addition to your videography repertoire that won’t break the bank.

Costing approximately US$300 for the 80cm version, Neewer also produces a 100cm and 120cm version for those who require additional length to their dolly shots.

NEEWER Motorized Camera Slider Review | Conclusion

Creating smooth and dynamic dolly shots and time-lapse videos with the NEEWER camera slider is an intuitive and fun experience.

Thanks to the easy-to-use app, unique shots can be accomplished without any experience, whether shooting landscapes or interior interviews.

Combined with its affordability and quick setup process, the NEEWER camera slider is highly recommended for budding filmmakers or YouTube content creators.