I have a small platform that has a pocket videocamera attached to it. Since I have the camera and platform in a remote location, I need to be able to move the camera slightly in two dirctions: toward and away from an external lens (the lens is not attached and focus is done by moving the camera toward or away from the lens) and also slightly in perpendicular directions to and fro (because some objects are not centered in the lens and the camera can move slightly to compensate).
I first tried making two small stacked platforms on top of modified drawer sliders with strings attached. The idea was to pull a string to move the camera in either of the directions above, but there is too much stress needed to get the camera to move and I must find a better way.
Then the idea has occurred to attach a nut to the bottom of each platform and then use a threaded rod with a motor attached to the rod to move the platform in either direction. Since the camera needs to be able to move slowly in any of the directions and go forward and reverse, I'm not sure what type of motor would be suitable. I have some 3 Volt DC hobby motors, but I think these are way too fast for the job plus I doubt they reverse direction with polarity change. Can someone suggest a suitable motor, preferably something surplus? BTW, the threaded rod wouldn't need to be anything larger than 1/4" diameter or so.
Thanks, Bill