Glidecam HD4000

Alan, looks like your rig is "trying to get away from you"--that is, you may want to adjust the pitch of the arm at the socket so that it sits vertical, which will make operating more comfy.
 
I was gonna spent my money on the Oydessy7Q but what the heck....I am been waiting far to long. I am just going to buy the vest this week and try to take it for a test drive soon.
 
CharlesPapert said:
Alan, looks like your rig is "trying to get away from you"--that is, you may want to adjust the pitch of the arm at the socket so that it sits vertical, which will make operating more comfy.
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Thanks Charles, but it actually wasn't. I was in a bit of an awkward position at the time of that picture which had my abdomen angled forward which then translates to an awkward angle at the handle, haha. Thanks again for the tip, though - every now and then the socket will get loose and I'll realize the rig is getting away from me and I'll correct it. Makes life so much better.
 
OK cool. Over the years I've seen a lot of folks with smaller rigs forget about that adjustment (more likely, not really get what it is for in the first place). It's a lot easier to remember when flying a 70 lb rig! Same thing about flying the rig close to the body--you have a lot more incentive to do it with a pig onboard. Sometimes assistants would note that when I pivoted the rig around my body mid-shot, the buffer zone between me and the battery was an inch or two at best. It was precision born out of laziness (aka conserving stamina)! Of course with an under-10 lb camera and a downscaled rig, it's possible to develop the habit of flying it far from your body because it takes that much longer for fatigue to set in--but over the course of the day, it adds up.
 
I was taught that, as soon as you get the rig on the arm, stand in your 'operating stance' (if that makes sense, i.e. a comfortable position for you to move and operate in) and let go of the rig, to see where it goes. If it moves forward, away from you, screw in the top of the arm block (loosening the bottom screw) and vice versa if it moves towards your body. Same with the side screws: If it moves away from your body to the right, tighten the top screw etc. When you've got all four screws perfectly set, you should be able to stand in the operating position, let go of the rig and just have it sit there (you can even operate 'no hands' with slight adjustments of the hip - if you want to show off)

I'm not sure if this makes sense to Glidecam users - do you they have those four screws on the arm block on the vest? - but it works for the Tiffen/GPI rigs I've worked with.

Colin.
 
That's how it works exactly with the X-10, Colin. Four screws and all. It works perfectly when you're standing in your operating stance - just sits there ignoring all your movements like it doesn't care you exist.

I always enjoy working for the marching band each year... cause the first time I show up and the new freshman band members see it, there's all kinds of confused looks and whispering as I walk around getting shots. They pretty much think it's magic.... so of course I do the 'no hands' stuff! Makes the "magic" all the more impressive. ;)
 
brazzam said:
That's how it works exactly with the X-10, Colin. Four screws and all. It works perfectly when you're standing in your operating stance - just sits there ignoring all your movements like it doesn't care you exist.

I always enjoy working for the marching band each year... cause the first time I show up and the new freshman band members see it, there's all kinds of confused looks and whispering as I walk around getting shots. They pretty much think it's magic.... so of course I do the 'no hands' stuff! Makes the "magic" all the more impressive. ;)
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Alan it sound like when you have the glidcam stuck to your body. She is your ***** lol. I cant wait to get my and tnago with her :-)
 
I recently bought the Blackbird complete with the bar that turns a light stand into a stand for balancing it. The two bubble levels on it are priceless for getting it up and running quickly. Nothing helps when trying to balance or fly it if there is any wind though.
 
I used a steadicam pilot for a few years on and off. I never felt as though i was 100% in control of it and getting dynamic balance was always such a testing time, especially if you're working quickly. I'd be tempted to suggest whether the money being spent on buying the stabiliser and vest be better spent on an experienced operator? I think going through that process of doing it myself (and we got some nice stuff and i did all the things described above) just made me appreciate that a steadicam operator could spend a career perfecting their moves but i'm never going to have the time to do it the justice it needs. In this case the right tool for the job is the operator, not the equipment.

I'd also caution against the damage these things can do if not done properly - the new exo suit from steadicam seems a step in the right direction too.

And just to be very controversial, how about a fig rig? Dead simple and good manual stabilisation. I've also used weighted monopods in some cases too. I'm interested in all the gimbles as well, i see that being quite an interesting area. If that can combine wireless FF (like the red rock stuff and the thumb wheel controller) then the future looks very interesting.

cheers
Paul
 
Alan,

I've been shopping around for a few months for a way to fly my cam. After years of tripod mounting, I can see the limitations with a static system like mine. Your video really motivated me. Ordered an X-10 system and looking forward to getting the dynamics you make look easy. Thanx for the kick in the arse.
 
And just to be very controversial, how about a fig rig? Dead simple and good manual stabilisation.

For that matter, I've successfully gotten footage that could just about pass for steadicam by simply using a wide angle (Tokina 11-16 at 11) and carefully handholding. I intended to use the Blackbird for this shot but left it at home, so handheld was the only option. Who knows what a little post stabilization could accomplish? (un edited clip)
 
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