Tiffen W3 Universal Folding Dolly with Handle

by Tiffen

Product Details

• Item Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008WIX5
• Item model number: W3
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #18 in Camera & Photo > Accessories > Tripod & Monopod Accessories
  • #68 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Tripods & Monopods > Complete Tripod Units
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The Tiffen W3 is a universal folding/adjustable dolly that fits any tripod. It can be easily attached and removed, and folds with carry handle for compact transport. The 3-inch ball bearing rubber/metal wheels with step-on brake locks/unlocks rolling and swivel movement. It has a maximum load of 35 pounds, folds to 24-by-7-inches, and has a circle diameter of 31 inches.

For over 75 years, Davis & Sanford produced a comprehensive line of well engineered, quality tripods and support systems for the photo, digital and video markets. These rugged tripods offer all of the key features that serious amateurs and working professionals demand.

Product Description

This Universal folding dolly is adjustable to fit most tripods. Easily attached and remove, it folds down to a convenient compact size of 24"x7" and has a convenient carry handle. The 3" ball bearing rubber/metal wheels give smooth rolling characteristics and have built in brakes that keep this positioned where needed. Maximum Load 35lbs. Folds to 24"x7"; Circle Diameter 31".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Dolly, But I recommend one DYI upgrade..., October 20, 2010

By 

Rexomus "59 Fender" (Jacksonville) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tiffen W3 Universal Folding Dolly with Handle (Electronics)

I have spent a lot of time looking for a simple and easily portable dolly. Tiffen, Opteka, and Ravelli all make affordable dollies but they all lacked one option any camera operator needs for a dolly, pneumatic wheels. I was impressed by a product called the "Orbit Dolly" but the price is ridiculously high (starting at $1700). The "Orbit Dolly" is the only dolly I found that had a pneumatic wheel option, and it's an extra $300 option at that. That is way to expensive for such a cheap to manufacture part. So I set out to buy an affordable dolly and add my own pneumatic wheels.

There are two main differences between this dolly and the "Orbit Dolly". First, the "Orbit Dolly" has interchangeable wheels. You can switch the wheels from a hard acyclic to a soft pneumatic rubber for use on both hard and Carpeted surfaces. Second, the "Orbit Dolly" can be calibrated to move in a circle or arc around the subject your are shooting. Those are both nice features but hardly with the $2000 proce tag.

The Tiffen dolly is easily capable of mimicking the "Orbit Dolly" (minus the adjustable arc setting) with one do-it-yourself upgrade. I didn't want to or really have $2000 to spend on what to me is a very simple piece of equipment. So I ordered this dolly with the intention of adding pneumatic wheels. I began to hunt the internet for a company that sold pneumatic casters that would be compatible with this dolly. I found "Caster City" located in California. Now the casters cost $100 dollars more then the dolly for a combined price of $200. But it's worth the difference in price between this and the "Orbit Dolly".

After I ordered the wheels I went to the hardware store and purchased three 1/2 chrome plated nuts, three locking washers and three regular 1/2 inch washers along with a 1/2 inch drill bit for drilling metal.

I removed the original wheels, pushed the tripod leg locking brackets back about an inch and drilled out a 1/2 inch whole where the original wheels used to be mounted. Then I placed the locking washer on the new casters, ran the 1/2 by 1 and 1/2 inch threaded bolts of the new casters through the whole and placed the regular washer on threaded bolt and tightened the 1/2 inch nut onto the bolt. It works perfectly and now I can use the tripod on both hard and soft surfaces with out having to worry about the dolly bouncing or hopping on different surfaces.

The dolly is light weight and made mostly of aluminum and some plastic. The legs expand and lock into place with a spring mounted pin for two of the legs, the other leg is permanently locked into place. The legs easily collapse back in to place by releasing the locking pins. The center of the unit has a handle for easy portability and storage.

I highly recommend purchasing this dolly as well as adding the pneumatic wheels. I do not regret it, and I will be purchasing at least one more of these dollies which I will also upgrade.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hello Dolly, March 9, 2009

By 

M. McDonald - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tiffen W3 Universal Folding Dolly with Handle (Electronics)

Hello Dolly,
Where have you been all my life?
This is a well made and easily set up.
Makes moving your camera and tripod effortless.
The wheels lock firmly into place making your tripod very stable.
When the wheels are unlocked by the touch of your toe the dolly rolls really smooth...I wont set up without it.
Nice Dolly / Nice Price / Way better than strapping on roller skates :)

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-priced inventive dolly solution!, February 20, 2010

By 

A. Almanza - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tiffen W3 Universal Folding Dolly with Handle (Electronics)

So you say you want to get those follow shots, trucking shots without zooming, or Hitchcock zooms but simply do not have the money for a professional dolly? This is your solution! It's cheap, fits almost any tripod (excluding tripods with really large footprints unless you don't fully open the legs), rolls easily over hard surfaces and carpet alike, and even has brakes on the wheels for steady shots. I think this is such a cool little setup, and the shot options it can give your video for such a low price really makes it worth while. I personally have one large heavy tripod for still shots and a medium lighter tripod that I leave attached to the dolly (the dolly will add stability to a less well built tripod), and I find it really gives me lots of possible options. If you are even considering dolly shots in your pictures at some point and time but wrote them off as impossible or simply decided to freehand them, buy this and you'll find a cheap option to make those shots professionally and easily!