Flycam 500 /Anyone used this rig?

There are a few other threads regarding this item.

The summary seems to be: "You get what you pay for".
There is no comparison to the more expensive models offered by the established stabilizer companies.

Also, I've read accounts from several owners of these knock-off products of bolts snapping. I'd hate for my $5000 camera to go crashing to the pavement because of the poor build quality of my bargain stabilizer.
 
Neal,

I concur with the "seems too good to be true" adage.

However, I'd like to hear from those who have hands on experience with this rig to get their insight as well.

In the meantime, I'll look for some of the threads you spoke of.

Thanks.

Mark
 
Did you mean Flycam 5000 instead of 500 ? If so I have the Flycam 5000 sled and arm and vest and think it is worth the money if you don't have the budget for a Glidecam Smooth Shooter / X-10, a Steadicam Pilot, or Indicam Pilot.

The vest / arm are very basic and not going to give you the performance of those other rigs costing many times more BUT it does allow for amazingly smooth shots compared to any other method at that cost.

We fly a Sony V1 with the rig just fine. My only complaint has been that the sled has a couple of poor design flaws. It is basicly a knockoff of the Glidecam 4000 Pro but where the camera plate head connects to the post it does so with two small hex screws.

These two screws loosen constantly and have to be retightened. Just before the first wedding I was going to shoot with the rig one of the screws stripped out and caused the camera plate head to wobble. It ruined using any long shots with the rig but there are still some very good shorter segments we can use.

I paid $55 bucks and had a machine shop rebore larger holes / threads with larger more substantial screws. They told me that since the screws are going into an aluminum post they will be prone to stripping out again if tightened to hard.

Because I can't risk having another issue doing live Wedding Videography I just bought a real Glidecam 4000 HD sled which is a lot easier to balance than either the Flycam 5000 or Glidecam 4000 Pro sled. I will fly it with the Flycam 5000 arm and vest.

My plan is to use the Flycam arm and vest for 12-18 months and save up for a Glidecam X-10 arm / vest which is going to be about $2000 (would be $2400 except I will already have the sled).

Despite my issues I think the Flycam 5000 sled, arm, and vest were a tremendous value for $600. The vest and arm alone are worth that.
 
Neal Buconjic said:
There are a few other threads regarding this item.

The summary seems to be: "You get what you pay for".
There is no comparison to the more expensive models offered by the established stabilizer companies.

Also, I've read accounts from several owners of these knock-off products of bolts snapping. I'd hate for my $5000 camera to go crashing to the pavement because of the poor build quality of my bargain stabilizer.
Click to expand...


I don't see any scenario in which a camera would crash to the floor using the Flycam. Both threats would have to strip simultaneously for that to happen!

We used it for an entire wedding and reception shoot with just the one bolt securing the camera plate post to the main post and it was just fine.

I do think the $55 "fix" I had the machine shop do is going to work a lot better but I may never know as it is now just sitting as a backup to the new Glidecam 4000 HD I bought to fly with the Flycam arm and vest.
 
Yes, I ment the Flycam 5000. Sorry.
Thank you for you candor regarding this rig.

Mark

Notlad said:
Did you mean Flycam 5000 instead of 500 ? If so I have the Flycam 5000 sled and arm and vest and think it is worth the money if you don't have the budget for a Glidecam Smooth Shooter / X-10, a Steadicam Pilot, or Indicam Pilot.

The vest / arm are very basic and not going to give you the performance of those other rigs costing many times more BUT it does allow for amazingly smooth shots compared to any other method at that cost.

We fly a Sony V1 with the rig just fine. My only complaint has been that the sled has a couple of poor design flaws. It is basicly a knockoff of the Glidecam 4000 Pro but where the camera plate head connects to the post it does so with two small hex screws.

These two screws loosen constantly and have to be retightened. Just before the first wedding I was going to shoot with the rig one of the screws stripped out and caused the camera plate head to wobble. It ruined using any long shots with the rig but there are still some very good shorter segments we can use.

I paid $55 bucks and had a machine shop rebore larger holes / threads with larger more substantial screws. They told me that since the screws are going into an aluminum post they will be prone to stripping out again if tightened to hard.

Because I can't risk having another issue doing live Wedding Videography I just bought a real Glidecam 4000 HD sled which is a lot easier to balance than either the Flycam 5000 or Glidecam 4000 Pro sled. I will fly it with the Flycam 5000 arm and vest.

My plan is to use the Flycam arm and vest for 12-18 months and save up for a Glidecam X-10 arm / vest which is going to be about $2000 (would be $2400 except I will already have the sled).

Despite my issues I think the Flycam 5000 sled, arm, and vest were a tremendous value for $600. The vest and arm alone are worth that.
Click to expand...
 
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