glidecam and focus

mastermind

mastermind

Well-known member
when shooting a live event with glidecam, how do you guys control focus and still hold your glidecam correctly. I don't like shooting in auto so this is not really an option....any tricks or tips? this ofcourse with the understanding that i'f i'm on full wide i have huge depth of field. i specifically mean on a longer focal length.

thanks.
 
How about renting a remote focus control unit and have an asistant do the pulling from a safe distance.
 
yes but that would work in a production setting where you can set focus marks, the shot is blocked...etc..etc....i mean more in live event setting like a wedding or whatever.
 
Absoultely ! Shy of autofocus, this is the only way to go. If you think that you can add a remote-wired focus to your spring arm, it has been done...by pros.. But with mixed results..but between just walking, going thru a door, going up and /or down stairs, walking backward., and staying level..if you can do all this AND roll focus...the military would love to hear from you.
A good AC can judge focus, and work the wireless focus for you. BIG $$$, better rent or hire an AC with his own gear.. Are you shooting a real wedding, or a wedding scene for a film..If your shooting a real wedding...geez, going up or down the aisle, you'll get in the way, and probably step on the brides dress, or hit one of the church pews. I can see that you might want to use your rig for the bride and grooms first dance, but have you ever,ever walked through a crowd with this rig on before ? Your audio will just be your voice saying:
"S h i t- and
-d a m n". Steadicam rigs that run through extras and other actors, get to have their shots blocked..not you, everyone will bump into you, and you'll probably take out the brides nephew......At a wedding, I would certainly use this rig sparingly. Good luck- OH surefooted one..
 
I agree with filmat...I hope you're getting paid extra because of how cool your Glidecam looks, 'cause these things strike me as a bit of a hassle. The fatigue sets in quickly and the actual improvement of the shot is negotiable. I haven't tried the vest-with-arm kind (yet) but I'm told it's the same way. Might want to consider trading in on a simple shoulder mount, I dunno.
 
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WOW!!!! thank you for the mocking responses "oh surefooted one" and i think i did make it pretty clear that i was shooting a LIVE event and i do understand that a good focus puller can judge it by eye etc...etc...I have DP'd on film so I guess i would understand these basic concepts.

Remote focus on a spring arm wouldnt help much as i'm shooting with a glidecam 4000pro and not a vest and arm rig but maybe I can place one somewhere else. My question was NOT "can i shoot an event with my 4000pro?" because YES I HAVE shot live events in the past with my 4000pro...everything from concerts to corporate events AND weddings .i think you would have to be majorly uncoordinated to fall all over the place and "step on the brides gown" with the rig. its nothing more than a monopod when you really look at it. How many wedding videographers use a monopod??? It seems like people were more interested in somehow proving that they know what an AC is and they know what a focus puller is and that they can judge it by eye...blah blah blah....

I was just wondering if someone had thought up a slick way to maybe hold the glidecam while still being able to keep your finger on the focus ring or something similar. Thank you for the responses however....i'm VERY impressed.
 
Sorry "Oh sure footed one" lol. I do sound like a condescending SOB sometimes. You never know someones experience level on these boards, unless you take the time to look up their bio before answering their questions.
But most people don't post anything about themselves anyway...That said, I read "glidecam" and assumed it was a vest/arm type rig...
I really don't recommend you touch the camera at all when your attached to this rig. The camera placed at the top of a monopod, and then held away from the body CAN act as a pendulum, and then effect the yaw movement when you wish to adjust focus,zoom, or check other settings. The further the camera from it's base(your body) the worse the camera movement. If you must adjust something while rolling, bring the camera as close as possible to your body, and even rest it against your leg and hips(vertically) and force it against your body. Then make your corrections, start your shot. Doing this on the fly is difficult, if not impossible with a rolling camera. I guess you could attempt the wired focus gag yourself, with your free hand...Sorry for stating the obvious in my eariler post...
 
yeah thats what i'm doing and it is really inconvenient becaue you need to hold the glidecam with your left hand on the base to keep it in position and if i let go to focus it usually will shift and screw up the shot...so when i am using it i simply stay on wide and dont dare zooming in. I dont use it for my entire shoot because of the potential problems that may arise...however if i know that im going to have to do long and fast tracking shots coming up...i'd usually use it because i definitely dont want any shake if its "professional" footage i'm submitting. i wish it was a shoulder mounted camera with more weight then i would go stricly handheld. I think i may drop the glidecam thing and go for some shoulder mounted rig. We'll see.

I'm sorry myself if I got a little rude in my previous post....a bit of a hard day and feeling a little snappy ;)

thanks for all the comments.
 
Again...what he said. Sorry if I was an ass. I myself had just figured out a combo fig rig/under the arm/shoulder mount that could work really well for me after trying a few different DIY and commercial Steadicam rigs, and the choice (personal, anyway) seemed clear. Of course, I haven't tested that rig out yet, so...we'll see.
 
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