There is another handy tool that has showed up in recent years that is a type of mini-dolly. The original camera slider was developed for large movie rigs but has been adapted for smaller cameras like DSLRs. These are very useful for tight spaces where a traditional dolly would not fit.
The sliding rods are made of lightweight materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, or chrome-plated steel. The camera plate will have a bowl adaptor to accommodate your fluid head from your tripod. These sliders travel well, and really can add some production value.
There are several sliders worth checking out:
• Kessler Pocket Dolly – www.kesslercrane.com
• Pegasus Heavy Lifter – www.cinevate.com
• indiSLIDERpro – www.indifocus.com
• Glidetrack SD & HD Range – www.glidetrack.com
Be sure to check out the book, From Still to Motion