Dolly or Glidecam? Which is a better investment?

W

wmiller@csulb.edu

Well-known member
It seems to me that a glidecam would be a better investment being that dolly type tracking shots could be achieved as well. With a dolly you are limited to the track you are on. Does anyone have any insight to this??
 
Depends on what you're needs are. A glidecam is definitely more versatile in a practical sense (less demanding set-up, environmental restrictions) though they are different tools for different uses. A dolly is more versatile with respect to the finished image in that focus, zoom, and accurate pans can be achieved more easily (and usually with more polished-looking results) with a mounted camera.
 
Buy the dolly parts here (and build it)
Then buy a Steadicam.






.. ok, (more) seriously.
Dustino is right. They are different tools for different jobs.
For narative/staged work, I'd say get a dolly first, hands down. But if you are shooting weddings or sports, then a Steadicam would be more applicable.

So, let us know, what are you planning on shooting, what's your budget, and what's your camera and other kit involved?

- Mikko
 
I have both a glidecam/smooth shooter combo and an excellent two person rideable indie track dolly with short crane mounted on the dolly. There is no substituting for either when they are used in the appropriate ways.
 
I have a DVX-100 and Letus35, and I will be doing all narrative work. I really like the steadycam "look" but I can see the advantanges of a dolly as well (especially with the Letus35 and focal lengths). Building a dolly seems to be a pretty easy undertaking for anyone with a little technical knowledge but I am just wondering if its worth it at this point if i were to just get a glidecam.
 
For a great movie shot it's pretty damned hard to be a well executed dolly shot. That said, a steadicam/glidecam shot can also add to your production value.
 
For what yoau re dooing, I'd recomend: get a dolly first. worry about a stabilizer later when you need it.
...using the 35adapter will be a ***** on a stabilizer too.


- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
For what yoau re dooing, I'd recomend: get a dolly first. worry about a stabilizer later when you need it.
...using the 35adapter will be a ***** on a stabilizer too.


- Mikko
Click to expand...

This is sound advice! Take it.

Cameras with 35mm adpators are extremely front heavy. To use it with a stabilizer you need to counterbalance the back end. (If you thought your rig was heavy before, sheesh, I'm gonna tell you...)
Then you need to add more weight below the gimble to make up for all the new weight you just added above it.
 
mikkowilson said:
For what yoau re dooing, I'd recomend: get a dolly first. worry about a stabilizer later when you need it.
...using the 35adapter will be a ***** on a stabilizer too.


- Mikko
Click to expand...

Said it all. Besides when doing stabilizer work, know that is the operator that counts, so better make friends with a talented operator than just buy the equipment.
 
homemade steadicams dont work. well i shouldnt say dont, but require alot of parts ot make a proper steadicam. not sure what that handle is called, but it basically attaches to the steadicam , or glidecam i should say, with bearings so that the movement and angle of your hand does not effect the positioning of the camera.
 
PaPa said:
homemade steadicams dont work.
Click to expand...
well, we have very different understanding what is working steady, what is not.
Because i've using homemade one for three years already. Idea: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/ . Several times i have think about getting something more profi. But no and probably no more.
I even using it by live event recordings . Despite of after five hours using i start feel my muscels.
Now seeing here such good dolly demos i think about making one. For completely different application. Just for something very precise and carefully planned. Steady is for me action tool for practically every situation. In other words, i never screw steady apart of my cam.
 
I got a glidecam 2000, and when my brother (who's in CA) wanted a stabilizer I sent him to the same product hpd is using, and his results look very good.

for narrative work, I'd get a dolly. a glidecam alone will not be enough with the kind of weights you have, you'll need a vest as well. so thats either 750$ for the DV sportser or 1500$ for the glidecam smooth shooter.
you won't be able to use the glidecam for long without a vest.

It also takes a long time to master a stabilizer and get the results you want.

of course, in the end the real uses for each one are different, so you should get both.
when you have a shot that can be done with a dolly, it will most likely look better and be easier to do with a dolly.
 
I own a Glidecam w/ smooth shooter combo and i own a letus35 flip
it is very very hard to run the focus while using all of this. It requires a
follow focus and still its pretty hard. so know you also need a follow focus
if you go with the glidecam. I say build dolly buy glidecam and folllow focus
 
obviosly I have a dolly, but I also have a Magiquecam (vest mount articulated arm stabilizer).

they are both needed for different reasons. if you want a really polished tracking shot, your going to go with a dolly, and if you need to follow someone down the street or through a building or up stairs and such your going to go with the stabilizer. sure you can do tracking shots with the stabilizer, but its almost never going to be as polished and smooth. the only time that i even attempt it is of course when its a very wide shot (like almost all stabilizer shots are), so you wont notice subtle camera sway, and when theres no wind, and the shot is very short. on top of that this would assume that youve put in the countless hours of practise with the stabilizer to even be able to pull a decent shot off to begin with. the learning curve on them.. even a glidecam 2000 such as my first one, is very steep. after a couple shots have good takes in the can off a stablizer, your likely going to be worn out, and asking yourself how your going to do the next one without breaking your back. its rough work, but to be honest i love the tool, and i use it alot. i think its just better kept for when it really shines, and keep the simple tracking and pulls/pushes and converges and such to a rock soild dolly that almost anyone on the set can operate with ease, and precision for repeated takes. on the flipside, id never try to circle around someone as they walk, or run behind them through an office building with a dolly.

its just a matter of using the right tool for the situation is all.
 
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