Glidecam 4000 Pro Test

It was deffinetly better than handheld footage, but it wasn't as good as a lot of glidecam footage. Keep working on it though and I'm sure it'll be dope!
 
Hi Brandon, that was not bad for a first test, my first try with a Glidecam was much the same.
I find that with the Glidecam, and using a heavy camera like the HVX200, the best thing to do is move quite fast. You'll get smoother shots. As soon as you slow down, the tendency for the camera to sway will increase.

It also seems to work vest if you move in a straight line, again moving quite quickly, and just 'banking' the camera when you need to turn. For the next test, why not get the BMX rider to do a little line through the park, and chase behind, again at a fast pace. Also you could try over cranking the camera a little, maybe 36FPS.

Despite what people say, you can never quite get the same shots as you will on a proper steadicam, it's all about knowing the little tricks to overcome the shortcomings of handheld stabilisers.
 
it seems youre havng a pretty common new-user problem (keeping the horizon level)

but this footage wasnt really a good "test" as you really werent moving the camera enough to really have needed a stabilizer in the first place... you could have achieved the same results with a tripod or monopod. or perhaps even more exciting simply hand-held...
 
Well that's my first test. It's better then freehand because I was using the Glidecam 4000 Pro. Let me see examples if I'm doing something wrong... Words aren't telling me anything? I don't mean to sound harsh but I'm trying & people are not showing me anything better...
 
Seems like the rig is not balanced properly, hence you get the swaying. I can't really help you too much as I'm not familiar with GC4000. I work with a Steadicam Pilot with a vest so it's a bit of a different story but I do recall similar swaying on my first tries. I later figured it out that the rig was not balanced right.
 
Well this little video was not a multi-million dollar budget of course it's not going to be amazing to your eye if your a 100 percent perfectionist which doesn't even exist then I can't help you other then to say please don't watch if you can't enjoy ESP. If you haven't been following my threads.

Thanks,
Brandon
 
brandondull said:
Well that's my first test. It's better then freehand because I was using the Glidecam 4000 Pro. Let me see examples if I'm doing something wrong... Words aren't telling me anything? I don't mean to sound harsh but I'm trying & people are not showing me anything better...
Click to expand...

Well first off, you really need to be more open to constructive criticism. So far your responses have been pretty defensive. Once you master the Glidecam you're gonna look back at this thread/test and laugh, because of how much better your footage will be and how there was a time when you thought this was really good. It happens to everybody.

People shouldn't have to back up everything they say with their own video examples in order for you to take their advice.

I'd try moving more, like others have said. Try running forward or backward, or circling something. These kinds of movements really show off what a stabilizer can do.

Keep practicing! Video production gear is great, but it takes time and practice to really get your moneys worth out of it.
 
Brandon:

Perhaps a better approach is to introduce your video as you did, and then ask:

"How can I improve my technique?"

People would respond with suggestions.

But I agree that your responses to this and other posts are altogether too defensive.

Nobody is attacking you; they are observing what you shot, and based on their experience, offering their views.

You should welcome that, rather than resist it.
 
Last edited:
there is a certain "style" of walking that you have to get used to with a stabilizer. i think ive heard it called the "steadicam shuffle" or something like that. but it requires something youre not going to like... its called practice

if i get some time in the next couple days, i may bust out my merlin and walk off a few shots for you.

but yeah, you need to quit being so pushy and expecting everybody to spoon-feed you the easy solution to things that dont have an easy solution...
 
Last edited:
brandondull said:
Alright well I like what I shot with the Glidecam 4000 Pro. It's better then when I got it from Day one.
Click to expand...

Ugh, dude. Do yourself a favor and develop a thick skin early on.

I'm sure it is better than when you got it day one. But learning from constructive criticism instead of getting defensive about it will get you to your goal a lot faster.
 
brandondull said:
Is that so??? Let me see both your samples then. Please post the links...
Click to expand...

as somebody mentioned before, i dont have to post links to "prove" anything. i do this for a living. i was giving you words of encouragement when i said keep practicing. but if your gonna act like a little chick about it then forget it. you posted a link with no description, were you expecting us to "ooh" and "ahh"? the assumption was that it was a test and you wanted feedback. if you were looking to have your ego stroked then you should've said so and that way we coulda not commented on the thread.

wgzn said:
it seems youre havng a pretty common new-user problem (keeping the horizon level)

but this footage wasnt really a good "test" as you really werent moving the camera enough to really have needed a stabilizer in the first place... you could have achieved the same results with a tripod or monopod. or perhaps even more exciting simply hand-held...
Click to expand...

@brandondull - this, along with the other advice in this thread is what you need to hear. if you dont have thick enough skin to heed basic polite advice then you're in for a rude awakening if you're trying to make a living out of this eventually.
 
Mickey Munday said:
as somebody mentioned before, i dont have to post links to "prove" anything. i do this for a living. i was giving you words of encouragement when i said keep practicing. but if your gonna act like a little chick about it then forget it. you posted a link with no description, were you expecting us to "ooh" and "ahh"? the assumption was that it was a test and you wanted feedback. if you were looking to have your ego stroked then you should've said so and that way we coulda not commented on the thread.



@brandondull - this, along with the other advice in this thread is what you need to hear. if you dont have thick enough skin to heed basic polite advice then you're in for a rude awakening if you're trying to make a living out of this eventually.
Click to expand...


well I want to see a glidecam video you did. please post :shocked:
 
ok, so youre wanting ONLY glidecam footage? or are you looking for any hand-held stabilizer footage?

glidecams work fine. or they wouldnt be in business this long. i dont know what it is youre hoping to see from footage... camera moves in a non-lineal path. vertical axis doesnt tilt. done. thats all anybody needs to achieve.
 
brandondull said:
well I want to see a glidecam video you did. please post :shocked:
Click to expand...

at what point did i ever say i had a glidecam? we use a steadicam with the full setup on our shoots. what are you hoping to see by comparing video footage of a person who knows how to use the equipment versus your test footage using a completely different setup without a vest and from which you're still learning?

again, as mentioned above, there's nothing wrong with the glidecam - it's the user.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top