As a professional commercial photographer, my main priority has always been to capture the perfect still image whether for client delivery or personal project.
As demand for video work has grown, I’ve consistently sought ways to add a little bit of movement into my stills work. Having tried using gimbals, fluid heads, and manual sliders in my previous attempt to add some motion into my work, I have come to the conclusion that I would probably need a motorized slider for a more precise and automated movement especially if I am filming alone. In this article, we will be taking a look at the Accsoon Toprig S60 motorized slider from a professional photographer’s perspective and how it will add value to our work. Full disclosure, the S60 slider was purchased entirely with my own money and has no strings attached,
Why Did I Choose the Accsoon Toprig S60 Motorized Slider?
Based on my previous experience with several video sliders, my requirement for a motorized slider is pretty simple. I needed something that has a somewhat decent payload capacity for moving vertically and horizontally, the ability to run smoothly, and, most importantly, is easy to set up and use without needing to fiddle too much with the connecting app and getting it to run.
This is when I stumbled upon the Accsoon Toprig S40 & S60 motorized sliders, which generated some buzz in the photography and videography community when launched. The Accsoon Toprig is a compact motorized slider that is 100% self-sustained without the need for additional attachments. It has been praised for its professional-grade features, such as its capability to support a horizontal load of 4 kg (8.81 lb) and a vertical load of 2.5 kg (5.51 lb). It also provides judder-free, smooth movement by utilizing its high-performance brushless motors.
After using it for several months, here are some key takeaways based on my personal experience.
What I Like About the Accsoon Toprig S60 Motorized Slider
One of the most outstanding features, in my opinion, is its portability, thanks to its compact and self-sustained design. It is lightweight, easy to set up, and simple to transport, making it an excellent option for working photographers like myself who want to add a little bit of motion to their work without too much hassle.
Besides that, unlike many other motorized sliders, the S60 is capable of operating with a variety of Sony NP-F batteries, which are cheap and easy to get. This eliminates the need for external power sources, and being very power-efficient, a single Sony NP-F550 battery is sufficient to provide up to 60 hours of usage. As a result, this greatly maximizes convenience when used for fieldwork.
Compared to other motorized sliders on the market, it is also a pretty affordable 24”/60 cm motorized slider, costing just below $400. At this price range, you would expect a lot of lower-cost sliders to be poorly made. However, the build quality of the Accsoon Toprig S60 is well-constructed and feels very solid compared to other sliders I have used.
Coming from a photographer's background, I also find the S60 slider particularly easy to operate without needing to dig into the user manual. The buttons and port layouts are straightforward. When paired with the app, it allows precise control over speed, start/stop points, and repeatability. The app also allows control for more advanced features such as time-lapse shots, where the slider operates in a stop, shoot, and move motion. The app automatically calculates the number of shots and video length for ease of use. However, you do need to purchase an additional 60 cm 3.5 mm shutter release cable to connect your camera to the slider to trigger the camera.
What I Dislike About the Accsoon Toprig S60 Motorized Slider
Who would have known that being a compact and self-sustained design slider could end up being a double-edged sword? This is because you are now limited by its own length of 60 cm for the S60 slider, which might be restrictive for certain types of shots as you are unable to extend the rails further. Besides that, you are also stuck with its size and not able to downsize it for easier storage and transport.
Despite having a brushless motor, there is still a slight jerk at the beginning and end of the slider movement. This might be a turn-off as you can no longer use the full length of the footage. However, it is important to point out that the footage generally looks pretty smooth in between movements, which means you may just need to buffer a longer movement before ending the footage to overcome the beginning and end jerks.
While the S60 motorized slider handles lighter camera setups pretty well, the maximum payload capacity of 4 kg (8.81 lb) horizontally might be a turn-off for many. It can be restrictive for heavier cinema cameras or complex rigs, which may end up limiting its usage in more demanding professional setups.
Last but not least, even though the S60 slider does allow easy parallax movements to be set, in my experience, it's not very precise or effective when in practical use. There is also no locking mechanism on the slider when it is not switched on and in use. This may be an issue as your camera may end up sliding up and down during setup and transport.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Accsoon Toprig S60 motorized slider offers a great balance of portability, ease of use, and affordability, making it a solid option for photographers transitioning into videography if you look past its minor drawbacks. Its smooth motion, compact design, and self-sustained operation are notable advantages for fieldwork. Despite these minor concerns, I’d confidently say it’s a solid choice and remains an excellent option for those seeking to enhance their work with precise motion.
Lastly, above is a short video that I have produced entirely with the Accsoon Toprig S60 slider for you to judge its movement quality.
