DV Sportster or Smooth Shooter????

stargzer

Member
I have a glidecam, and I think it floats really nice but fatigue sets in after a few steps and unless you are arnold swartznegger you cant do that all day. I was thinking about buying the smooth shooter or a dv sportster for support, anyone have any thoughts? If there is another vest/arm combo I should know about, feel free to post and let me know.
 
For the price the DV Sportster is nice. We've used it with great success. It really takes a load off, but like anything else, there's a learning curve.
 
Will it hold a Glidecam 4000 with a GL2 and a beachtek attached, ok? Someone said that it only had 1 spring and that was problem. Do you know the difference. the smooth shooter has 2 springs
 
stargzer said:
Will it hold a Glidecam 4000 with a GL2 and a beachtek attached, ok? Someone said that it only had 1 spring and that was problem. Do you know the difference. the smooth shooter has 2 springs
Yeah, not sure about a 4000. We were using a 2000 with the DVX, and the large battery.
 
Unfortunately I don't have anything right now. Hopefully I'll have something back by the weekend. I'll check some stuff tomorrow, too.
 
stargzer said:
SPZ, is it heavy? Or is it easy to learn to use?

It's not too heavy. I use it with the glidecam 2000 and the dvx. Without the smooth shooter, the glidecam is, at least for me, not workable for more than 3 minutes shooting. With the smooth shooter, I can shoot all day long!. It requires some practice and patience on balancing in the first 2 weeks of using, but after that its easy and produces great results. If someone could host some videos, I could send some Glidecam smooth shooter shots.

Anyway, I like it. It was worth the money, for me.
 
Great, I am thinking of making that purchase but if I can find something under a grand that works as good, that would be nice.
 
one word for ya . . . indicam.

one word for ya . . . indicam.

Hey, I dont remember the exact price of a full rig but... I recenly called and asked about just an arm and vest at http://indicam.com/ and they quoted me a price of $950 for everything minus the sled. I would check there because the price and the quality for the price. Good luck.
 
I think it looks kinda cheap made though, for 950.00, I would just spend the money and get a smooth shooter. Does anyone have any fottage using the glidecam product?
 
We're in preproduction mode for our first feature and just purchased a smoothshooter/glidecam via ebay, but didn't receive a manual... is there a PDF posted on the web anywhere? (we can't find one). We've only got 2 weeks to get tuned up for the shoot.

Thanks
 
Contact Glidecam and get their Promotional/Instructional DVD. It covers setup and balancing of the stablizer itself and by now will likely have the smooth shooter although the ss is a no brainer. I got a 4000Pro and Smooth Shooter last year. I really can't see anyone wanting to use a Glidecam stabilizer without the ss. Unless you like reach down and lift up the corner of buildings to see if any loose change rolled underneath.
 
My Smooth Shooter came with the DVD. Is more than enough for the setup. Be sure to setup the 4000 pole with the camera first! Then put it on the smooth shooter arm! I'm using the smooth shooter with the 2000 stick and with my dvx works PERFECT. I believe with the HVX it will be the same. The 4000 is just too heavy and difficult to balance. It works better with the xl cameras and is overkill for Dvx, hvx and z1/pd170.
 
Last edited:
Looking to sell a Flowpod/Sportster setup, if'n anybody's interested...

...low hours, well-cared-for. Any takers?
 
Sad Max said:
Looking to sell a Flowpod/Sportster setup, if'n anybody's interested...

...low hours, well-cared-for. Any takers?
Hi Max,
Still got the flow/pod sportster set up ?

$$?
 
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