GlideCam Smooth Shooter or FlowPod - DV Sporster

Z

zone6

Active member
Anyone have experience with either of these ? I'm leaning towards the Glidecam products. They seem a little more professional. I read the review on the Smooth Shooter, but can't find any feedback on the Glidecam stuff.

Would love to know the pros & cons of each.
 
It all depends on what camera & accessories you want to fly. What sort of shooting do you plan to do. And what's your budget?

- Mikko
 
I'm shooting an HVX with matte box and/or a RedRock Micro on a Glidecam 16.

I did get a chance to use a Steadicam Flyer at NAB 2006 and thought it was a lot more comfortable. It also felt more compact, less klutzy. The Glidecam's arm tends to project outward more than necessary on the right side.

But I'm still able to get some nice shots out of it.
 
Want to fly an HVX with M2 and or matte box. Would like to think I could do most any type of shoot. My budget was for either the DV Sportster / Flow Pod or the GlideCam Smooth Shooter.

Thanks for advice!
 
The SS is better than the Sportster and Flowpod. Both copies of the Steadicam (which is well worth it if you can stretch the budget by the way) but the Glidecam does a better job than the Varizoom.

One question you have to ask is if you want to fly a 35mm adapter on your stabilizer - focus controll will require a wireless focus controller that cost about $4k for a basic one. And you can't really do it without it.
Run a search for "Steadicam 35mm adapter" and you'll find some discussions on this topic.

Then again, if you decide that you don't want the hassle of, and don't need, a 35mm adapter, then your HVX would fly on the Merlin - and with the new vest, woudl provide much better performance than both the SS and Flowpod/Sportster.

- Mikko
 
Mikko - I thought I read the HVX is too heavy for the Merlin? At least with any accessories attached to it. I do need the 35mm adapter, FS100, etc.
 
If you need the 35mm adapter, then look at your options for remote focus control first, and only then worry about what stabilizer can fly the total package you choose.

- Mikko
 
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