Glidecam 2000 and Halo Rig

[abeas]

My neighbor bought a glidecam 2000. It is an older one, not the newer HD one. Anyways he's letting me borrow it because he got tired of trying to find the correct weight for his HV20. I am messing around with it and am having a hell of a time balancing it with the HMC150.
I have a Halo, and I use it; not often, but I've used it to get some nice movement shots with minimal shake. I guess what I am asking, is the glidecam that much smoother than using a Halo? I realize you can do more with the glidecam, but for small movement shots, say walking a circle around someone, is the glidecam 2000 that much better?

 

[nantnee]

Glidecam is good for certain applications. But I use the halo for a few reasons. It allows for 2 handed use, which after hours of shooting you'll be thankful. But it also allows for additionals acc. Like monitors, lights, mics, etc. And once you have have a hmc on it with acc. The weight will get rid of a lot of the shakyness. Oh, and you don't have to balance it.

 

[McKittrick]

Although I haven't used a Halo system yet, I would agree with nantnee that the accessories option with the Halo seems to be an added value for all day shooting. I have a Glidecam 2000, and I use an inexpensive quick relase plate on it so I can get the shots I want with the GC2k (w/no add ons), then go back to my "standard" production setup with all the bells & whistles.

It can be a pain in the a**, but what can I say - my company got the Glidecam instead of the halo. So I make the best of it.

-McK

 

[AGMedia]

Three weights (plus large washer and screw on thing) on each side of the 2000 pro -- push them as far away from the base as possible (edges of the "sled"), and then adjust the length of the pole for micro adjustments -- longer is heavier, shorter is lighter. If you get that drop test perfect -- you've got it -- and you'll get good footage.

The HV20 is way too light for the 2000 pro, you need to add weights to the camera side and even then it's a headache. He needs that new tiny Glidecam designed for consumer camcorders. (HD-1000, I think).

The Glidecam requires very significant practice. You can get away with short captures handheld, but for anything extended you absolutely need a vest and arm. The Smooth Shooter will work, the X-10 is better.

The argument in favor of the Glidecam is that if you get it right -- it'll look a thousand times better than any "halo." The argument against the Glidecam is that getting it right is a genuine investment of time and effort.