Glidecam 2000 Pro and XHA1

Kirock7

Kirock7

Member
Just received my new Glidecam 2000 Pro today and I've got my A1 sitting on it.
I took off everything I could to lighten up the A1 (lens hood, external mic clamp)
I've only spent about 30 minutes balancing everything and I'm close (but no cigar yet :-))
I was wondering if anyone else has used their A1 with the Glidecam. If so, how many counter weight disks are you using? (I have four placed almost to the ends on either side with the central post all the way extended)
I've seen the tips and some of the other posts, but never anything specific to the XHA1. Anyone have some specific tips for the A1/Glidecam 2000 setup?
Thanks!

NOTE: I'll let y'all know how it goes. I have to say that (even after just an hour or so) I'm totally convinced once I have everything tweaked out... it's going to make for some phenomenal footage!
 
I'd be very interested in what you do to get the glidecam 2000 pro and the A1 to play nice. I've got a glidecam 2K pro sitting around that I used w/ a GL2 way back when, but would like to use it w/ my new A1.
 
ive got it no problem

4 weights on each side, extend the shaft as far as possible

im using a tiny little release plate from my 50 dollar tripod, which weights next to nothing.
 
The A1 is too heavy for a handheld stabilizer wihtout a full rig. You may be able to barely get it to balance on a Glidecam but it wont be very stable and it will wear out your arm's ability to hold it steady in a few minutes. I used my Glidecam with a Gl-2 and it worked ok with additional arm bracinng. No way is my A1 going to work. I'll be putting the Glidecam up on Ebay. I suggest you find body bracing if you are going use an A1 or better yet, hire someone with a full rig.
 
Bill Ball said:
The A1 is too heavy for a handheld stabilizer wihtout a full rig. You may be able to barely get it to balance on a Glidecam but it wont be very stable and it will wear out your arm's ability to hold it steady in a few minutes. I used my Glidecam with a Gl-2 and it worked ok with additional arm bracinng. No way is my A1 going to work. I'll be putting the Glidecam up on Ebay. I suggest you find body bracing if you are going use an A1 or better yet, hire someone with a full rig.
Click to expand...

anyways...

my glidecam2000 pro with my A1 is in perfect stability, and yes i do know what im talking about. I have had no problem with using the A1, glidecam 2000 pro, AND the arm brace for lengthier shots, but i would not go much longer than 20 minutes without the brace.
 
Bill Ball said:
The A1 is too heavy for a handheld stabilizer wihtout a full rig. You may be able to barely get it to balance on a Glidecam but it wont be very stable and it will wear out your arm's ability to hold it steady in a few minutes. I used my Glidecam with a Gl-2 and it worked ok with additional arm bracinng. No way is my A1 going to work. I'll be putting the Glidecam up on Ebay. I suggest you find body bracing if you are going use an A1 or better yet, hire someone with a full rig.
Click to expand...

That's odd. We don't have any trouble at all using our A1 with our Merlin.

:huh:
 
PaPa said:
anyways...

my glidecam2000 pro with my A1 is in perfect stability, and yes i do know what im talking about. I have had no problem with using the A1, glidecam 2000 pro, AND the arm brace for lengthier shots, but i would not go much longer than 20 minutes without the brace.
Click to expand...
Footage and stills of your rig, please!!!! :grin:

Papa, can you give us a quick review of the Glidecam arm brace? (I think I'm going in that direction myself).
 
DammitJanet said:
That's odd. We don't have any trouble at all using our A1 with our Merlin.

:huh:
Click to expand...

100% agreed. Ive shot footage for well over an hour with it, coulda gone longer if necessary.
 
hmmmm. I thought the GC 2000 could only accurately work with a cam up to 4 pounds, of course the a1 could meet these requirements, I had a 2000 and it worked great with my dvx100, but unfortunatley it got stolen. I was going to replace it but I bought a hvx and was under the impression I would of had to fork out 500 bones for the GC 4000.
 
Kirock7 said:
Footage and stills of your rig, please!!!! :grin:

Papa, can you give us a quick review of the Glidecam arm brace? (I think I'm going in that direction myself).
Click to expand...

sorry, really dont have time, too much going on right now.


just extend the shaft completely, just untill it hangs and falls out

use 4 plates on each side, and make sure 3 edges of the circular base plate are tangent to the base plate ( outer 3 )

and use a light attache for the slidding plate to camera.
 
PaPa said:
sorry, really dont have time, too much going on right now.


just extend the shaft completely, just untill it hangs and falls out

use 4 plates on each side, and make sure 3 edges of the circular base plate are tangent to the base plate ( outer 3 )

and use a light attache for the slidding plate to camera.
Click to expand...

So are you saying to put all the 4 plates on each side touching the edge of the base on all three sides? Please clarify further...I'm comfused what you mean.
 
After several days of periodic playing (after working my REAL job :-)) I've found that using five weights on each side (ten collectively) and having the tube extended about 4 inches makes for a very fluid movement... the camera really looks like it's flying. I just couldn't get 4 each to work for me. It was too top heavy and made everything WAY too sensitive.
I went ahead and ordered the arm brace, it should be here Wednesday next.
I'll let ya know how that plays.
 
Maybe a little late response here, but I really have to disagree with this way of balancing your glidecam. It might work for you this way, but it all comes down to moving the center of gravity of the glidecam to the gimball. If you extend the leg too far and thus lower the center of gravity too far, you may end up with a glidecam that keeps swinging, or with the foot of the glidecam staying behind when moving it around.
 
Ferdi Willemse said:
Maybe a little late response here, but I really have to disagree with this way of balancing your glidecam. It might work for you this way, but it all comes down to moving the center of gravity of the glidecam to the gimball. If you extend the leg too far and thus lower the center of gravity too far, you may end up with a glidecam that keeps swinging, or with the foot of the glidecam staying behind when moving it around.
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly sure how it can be something you agree or disagree over. I have owned the glidecam 2000 pro for a good year and a half, going on two years and i know the rig very well. I have been capable of achieving perfect balance, without sway or any sort through this setup.
 
I mean that you might just be lucky that your camera is balanced practically only by extending the base plate as far as possible. With me that's not the case. I have a GC4000pro and the leg is extended for about 3 inches. If I'm a little off my GC will start swaying (thanks, couldn't find the right word =).
 
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