best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

M

milverdu

Active member
Hi guys,
I just bought a glidecam 2000 pro and a quick release plate and I'm having a hard time balancing that thing. I spent 3 hrs last night trying to get the vertical a horizontal balance right but no luck.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

P.S. I really need it for a shoot in 2 weeks
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

I'm afraid there's no easy way to balance it. Just follow the instructions that came with it and have patience. Your biggest enemy is frustration.
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

I spent over 4 hours trying to do the same thing and quit (why don't they provide some kind of chart to figure out the weights and the length of the arm?) I could never get the vertical balance down.

DO NOT attempt that sled arc test -- it's a camera killer!
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

A chart wouldn't really work because the thing is so sensitive that even if your eyepiece is off by a fraction of a mm, it will make a huge difference.
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

I actually dropped and caught it mid air, almost had a heart attack.

patience and practice seems to be the best way.

thanks guys
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

[quote author=disjecta link=board=Links;num=1105021350;start=0#3 date=01/06/05 at 12:00:35]A chart wouldn't really work because the thing is so sensitive that even if your eyepiece is off by a fraction of a mm, it will make a huge difference.[/quote]
Knowing the length of the arm and the appropriate amount of weight would be a start though -- it would cut out some of the variables. As it is, you have so many things to adjust: x position, y position, length of the arm, counterweights, and position of the counterwieghts.
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

I'm laughing because I set it up perfectly balanced with the small battery, the night before. Yep, the big battery was sitting on the charger. Put in the big battery the morning of the shoot. Square one....doh! ;D
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

Balancing "any" Steadicam device is exactly the same as learning to ride a bike, impossible at first, then, after practice, it becomes second nature.

There is no magic bullet for adjusting dynamic balance, only practice.
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

I agree with that. It was excrutiating to balance the Glidecam when I got it first. I think it took me about 3 weeks to get it perfectly balanced but it's been easy ever since.
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

The tapes that are always included, showing how to balance the unit, always seem to make balancing so simple it's almost an afterthought.

In the real world though..... :P
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

Exactly but how could they possibly sell anything at all if the truth was told? :D
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

can you guys telll me at least how many counter weights you have at each side of the plate, that would def be a starting point.
as is I have the tape and a 3500mah batt nothing else.
it would be great if the DVD shows you how to balance, but aparently not

Thanks for the support.

Mil
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

If you're going to use the LCD view finder, don't forget to flip that out before you balance.
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

[quote author=Gabe link=board=Links;num=1105021350;start=0#12 date=01/07/05 at 06:39:10]If you're going to use the LCD view finder, don't forget to flip that out before you balance.[/quote]

thanks, I will
 
Re: best way to balance glidecam 2000 pro

i have a steadicam mini and the first time i try to balance the unit..the dvx almost fell off the base plate. Dude..if anything happend to my dvx, i would be forced to shoot on Hi8 again. i've used the glidecam 2000 pro but never really liked it. (no offense man). It's more affordable than the mini though. shoot some stuff and post some samples.
 
Just got my fist Glidecam 2000 Pro yesterday. Took me two hours to assemble it and balance it. Then I decide to experiment with different positions of the counter weights and telescopic pole lenght... took me another hour and a half to set it up again. Now I need a quick release adapter (Manfrotto 577). I know I'll spend some more time with balancing again. The thing is damn heavy, takes practice not only to balance it but to use it also (guiding hand and holding hand), but the results are rewarding. Thanks Glidecam!
 
Balancing the HD2000 with Canon DSLRs

Balancing the HD2000 with Canon DSLRs

I know I know, this has been discussed a thousand times, you have to practice practice practice.
However, I need to know if I am in the good direction :)
I am posting this because I would like to have some advice from experienced people balancing and flying steadicams.
So far, I have been using the small B-Hague steadicam with the Canon 600d and the EF-S 10-22 f3.5-4.5 lens for very small insert shots.
This thing can balance not so badly and is very portable. However, I cannot tell that it is rock solid and reliable for reproducing a good fly.

We are now starting to get more projects where I would like to use a steadicam more often, and I have bought a Glidecam HD2000 together with a steadicam vest and 2-part arm (and the connecting piece for the glidecam). The thing is that I have spent hours and hours trying to balance the glidecam, and always get so and so results, worst in any case compared to the small b-hague. So I was wondering if you could give me some more insight about how to proceed.
Sidenote: no instructions came with it, I have only watched several youtube videos.

I use a giottos baseplate on the HD2000.
First I have tried to balance the 5dmark III with the older EF 20-35mm L f2.8 lens, two weights in the front, two weights in the back, I have managed to achieve a more or less 3 sec drop time, however the camera rotated during drop. I have tried to fine tune with the micrometric screws on the plate of the HD2000, but it never got any better. The setup appears to be somehow close to well balanced but when you start moving the camera around the camera wobbles, does not stay level so the footage is not satisfactory.
Then I have tried to balance it with the 600d and EF-S 10-22 f3.5-4.5 lens with one weight on each side, but again, I seem to get quite close but not as it should be. For instance, during the 3 seconds drop time the camera still rotates.
Could you give me a clue on things that I should check, or advise me better on the whole process? I am getting mad :) and for the moment I cannot justify my purchase of the vest+glidecam if I still have to use the small b-hague for getting consistently better results.
Thank you all very much for your time,
cheers,
Kostas.
 
Kostas: Sounds like you have an issue with your dynamic balance if the rig is rotating when you do the drop test.

There is a great resource available to all stabilizer users that didn't exist when this thread was started, and that is the Steadicam Operator's Handbook. inside you will find information on not only the "how to" of static and dynamic balancing, but also the "why" which is equally important if you want to improve your balancing time. Hint: it's not about specific "recipes" for a given camera, you need to be able to balance from scratch every time and with practice, it can be done in minutes. Outside of balancing, the Handbook also has a lot of exercises and tips that will help hone one's operating skill. Well worth the purchase.
 
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