Glidecam Smooth Shooter vs Steadycam Flyer

razamalik

razamalik

Well-known member
Here in UK the Glidecam Smooth Shooter + Glidecam 4000 Pro cost about £1500 (from CKE, do u know anywhere i could get it cheaper?) where as the Steadycam Flyer cost about £5800 from Optex. I understand that the Steadycam is a much superior product (or is it? i mean value for money? ) i want to know the exact differences & the pros & cons of each system. As the Glidecam system will cost £4300 less one could easily buy a HVX200 for this much when it comes out (the price i been quoted by some in UK is £3000 exc VAT). My point is what will i miss out if i go for the Glidecam system? what does the Steadycam Flyer offer or can do that the Glidecam does not offer or can not do?

I also seen this FLOATCAM on ebay for 1000 euros which looks good but i aint seen it in use nor read or heard anything about it so if anyone knows any good or bad about this i'd like to know.

I just saw a sample video of MK-V at http://www.alien-revolution.com it looks amazing i mean very very very amazing but the price tag is a much much much higher one "MK-V Nexus & AR package - £ 42,475" now how would the Glidecam or Steadycam Flyer compare to this? :grin:

Any other body mounted camera stabilizer system you would reccomend for under 2K? :thumbsup:
 
The flyer is an incredible rig, designed by Garrett Brown, the inventor of the Steadicam. That rig is much superior. The Smooth Shooter looks good, but there have been more than a few problems with Glidecam sleds in the past. If you can afford it, go with the Flyer. It uses Anton Bauer batteries to power it's internal monitor though (or Sony NP1 batteries), so be sure to get a few of them. I can't remember if it comes with them or not. I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

Mikko? You here? I'm sure your hands-on advice could come in handy here.

Oh, I forgot the AR. It's incredible, but don't worry about it, unless you're planning on being an op for bigger cameras and need to have your footage perfect.
 
I am actually going to begin work tonight on a homebuilt camera device reminiscent of the AR, that basically does what it does. But, because I like MK-V, and I feel that letting some of the things I might come up with here out would be an evil thing, This project is purely for fun. :)
 
Yeah i'm here..

Yes the Flyer is a fantastic rig. And that I will defiantly give it my endorsement.
I haven't flown the smooth shooter, but i'd be warey of what the gut out in quality to get the cost that low.
The Flyer does a fantastic amount at a very high quality for the price. To cut that much more from teh price.. i dont' know. just makes me ask "what's missing".

As for the AR.
I agree it is a very cool peice of gear. But really to be honest, it is well out of the range of just about all of us here.
The AR's job is NOT to correct the horizon on bad operating! It's job is to allow the sled to be rotated during the shot (by keeping the horizon) this allows going from high to low mode during the shot. - or shooting with the sled horizontal, through a window for example.
But really, if you are asking about the Flyer (let alone SS) then forget about the AR.
Though someone could always start a thread about the AR :-)

- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
Yeah i'm here..
The AR's job is NOT to correct the horizon on bad operating! It's job is to allow the sled to be rotated during the shot (by keeping the horizon) this allows going from high to low mode during the shot. - or shooting with the sled horizontal, through a window for example.
- Mikko
Click to expand...

Oh, I thought one of the perks of the AR was not having to keep your horizon level by yourself. Some ops were concerned about it because they felt it would endanger the elitist society of ops, because newer ops could still keep the horizon level.
 
Varizoom

Varizoom

Any thoughts about VARIZOOM DV SPORTSTER + FLOWPOD - STEADICAM STEADYCAM? Is it any good? i have not seen any demo or sample video if you have a link please pass it on.

Thanx
Raza
 
Tom.
It is true that one of the 'perks' of the AR that it does keep the camera level. But it's JOB is to offer more flexibility on shooting and camera positioning. And of course the more flexibility/freedom (read: power) you get, the more discepline and skill (read: responisbility) you need to have.
The AR is operated mcuh furthur from the body, whcih makes it much heavier, your camera is now moving in a totally different dimension again, it's more and more complicated to get a good shot with it.
Also the AR can be operated manually, or locked in any position, so that you can actually force it to do dutches and funny angles.. not to mention lock it level at the top and it'll work like a regular rig :-)
Ok, that was alfully endorsing there, soory, i'm just exacited about all that they say this thing will do. I have yet to fly it myself.. ...IBC can't come soon enough folks!

As for the DV Sportster, to me it looks preaty crappy, but again I haven't flown it so i can't really speak to harshly of it. There is a review over at DVinfo.net: http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/camsupport/dvsportster1.php

- Mikko
 
Hmm,

A combo design.

Part Glidecam
Part early Glidecam
Part Steadicam-ish
Part multi Homebuilt Stabilizers

$2500+- for a washer balanced "pro" homebuilt (with all the addons).

Go with the Flyer.
 
I 2nd Pookie's coments on the "FS PRO" ... i've neaver seen it before, it looks preaty decent for a homebuilt rig, but no more than that.
They havedone a nice job with the photos on teh site, but to me that's about all that makes the product look paticularly good.

Again go with the real thing, the Steadicam (note: "i" NOT "y") Flyer!

- Mikko
 
Thanks for your posts Mikko & Pookie i appreciate your comments, you guys know what you are talking about. I have no other reason not to go with the Flyer except for money i simply cant afford it at £5800 if it were 2k yeah i could save up every penny i could & get one by the time i graduate :grin: do u know anywhere i could get it cheaper? only place i found selling it in UK is Optex & the price is very high comparing to USA i mean the same thing costs about $6k there which should really be around £3k if we just convert the $ to £ but its not that simple is it?

You think Glidecam Smooth Shooter is the best thing after Stedicam Flyer?

I think i will go with the Glidecam 4000 Pro for now & get the Smooth Shooter when i have the money. The only negative thing i have heard/read about the Glidecam is that you have to re-balance it every time you take the camera on/off the thing but i guess adding a quick release plate would eliminate this problem. Is there anything else i should be aware about the Glidecam system?
 
Budget wise (if you can call it that) the Smooth Shooter is a very good option, and much cheaper than a Flyer (even in the UK I imagine).

You'll need a quick release yes, it will save you serious time on setup, but you need to setup any Steadicam type unit each time anyhow.

Then, practice, whether you've just got the Glidecam 4000, or a full setup.
 
I used to own an old Steadicam Model II, and when rigged with a full-size Betacam camera, I was marginal at best as an operator with that thing--and I'm a "certified" Steadicam operator! I just bought a Steadicam Flyer, and can honestly say that with the Flyer, I'm actually a decent operator! Everything is just sooooo smooooth, and the balancing adjustments so precise, that it's a breeze to balance the rig accurately and quickly. With an accurately trimmed Flyer rig, it's AMAZINGLY easy to keep your horizon level (one of the acid tests of an amateur Steadicam operator--they can't keep the damn horizon level!).

I once rented a Hollywood Lite system for an NBC show and this rig apparently was very poorly maintained by the rental house--the post swivel was binding, and permitted the transmission of motion to the sled whenever you moved your hips (like when walking!). Maybe it was the substandard design--I dunno (Steadicam gimbals are internally lubricated in a sealed system). Also, the Hollywood Lite system's gimbal was very limited in its tilt range of motion (no ability to do a 360-degree tilt). The gimbal design is one of the most important components of the rig both in its fluidity and in its range of motion.

I suppose, if you simply can't afford the Steadicam Flyer, I would guess the next best thing to be a new Hollywood Lite or a Glidecam (never used a Glidecam, however), and as long as the gimbal/post mechanics stay in good shape and don't bind up, and as long as you don't mind the reduced tilt range, then they will perform just about as well as a real Steadicam. But if you can possibly save up for the Flyer, the quality difference is significant.
 
I noticed no one here talking about Magic-Cam? For an inexpensive system, it would be good to have a user opinion in comparison!
 
Glidecam VS steadicam

Glidecam VS steadicam

Flew Steadicam Flyer for a couple years, got caught on a job that needed more than 15 lbs...it was ugly.
Bought Glidecam V-25, a little more expensive than the Flyer, but the capacity is what I wanted, never again getting caught with too much weight. At the beginning I was having problems flying my lighter SD porsumers cams, relized I can tweek the screws far past the "0" on the glidecam, now I can fly down to 5lbs cameras very nicely. Not recommended to do this in the field, I unscrewed one too far and its a pain in the but to get the sping back on and rethread. 5/6 turns past the thread enguagement to ensure no failures.
 
I'm currently flying my HVX on the Glidecam X-10 and couldn't be happier. I've got about 13 years Steadicam experience, much of it on the Master Series and also the ProVid and Video SK.

You just don't have to spend so much on the Flyer. But you have to have a dual arm and the Smooth Shooter won't get you there.
 
tomthemacman said:
Oh, I thought one of the perks of the AR was not having to keep your horizon level by yourself. Some ops were concerned about it because they felt it would endanger the elitist society of ops, because newer ops could still keep the horizon level.
Click to expand...
There is no way for a junior op to run an AR system. Aside from price, the lack of experience will cause them to crash the rig and seriously hurt themselves.

That is the same reason you can find Flyer systems for rental but you cannot rent a large rig.

On the original question:

Razamalik, if you intent to seriously pursue a career in being a steadicam op, go for the flyer and work your way up. It will take time, commitment and a lot of money (gear, lessons, accessories). It's worth the price.

 
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