glidecam/stabilizer

J

jcrewmaster01

Member
I REALLY want to purchase a Glidecam but everything i find on the internet is about how hard it is to use/balance/control. I also see a lot of "examples" on YouTube. These are not the best marketing materials for these either as I feel most people that have little experience of using the thing.

I've noticed a lot of posts on here arguing for and against them and other products too. Can anyone comment on their quality after using them for quite some time AND actually having knowledge of how to use them correctly?

I'm looking to use them for narrative movies and wedding video. I will primarily be using a 5D mark ii with a 28mm lens. Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated!
 
The reason you see so much wobbly Glidecam video out there is because too many people buy a stabilizer thinking that they'll be able to use it right out of the box. They aren't patient enough, or willing, to invest the time needed practicing before they go shoot yet another useless "test video" for their Vimeo account.

The balancing isn't terribly difficult if you pay attention, and once you've done it the first time it's a cinch after that.

Usage, on the other hand, takes hours and hours of practice. It's like learning to ride a bike in some ways: you have to get a feel for maintaining balance while at the same time learning how to steer. While the stabilizer is, in theory, self-balancing, the slightest touch, breeze, or other external force can create wobble. While one hand supports the stabilizer, the other must remain on the post with an extremely light touch in order to be able to rotate the gimbal without affecting the balance.

These can be very useful tools, but if you decide to get one at least go into it knowing that you'll spend a few days (if not weeks) practicing before you're ready to use it in the real world.
 
Alex,

I appreciate the reply! I figured with a little work they can be great tools and accomplish what I'm looking for. Do you know of any training material that exist out there? Also, would you recommend the 2000 or 4000? What about the arm brace...thingy... that i see sometimes with it?
 
here is a quick bit of reality about stabilizers.

before you rush out and buy one. do this. get a half gallon plastic jug of milk or half-fill an empty gallon jug with water (or a tea pitcher. just find a similar size container with a handle). thats about the absolute LEAST that a basic DSLR+lens and a budget stabilizer will weigh. now hold that out in front of you (with one hand) about 18" in front of you and at about sternum height. now walk around your house for 2-3 minutes, raising it and lowering it here and there. just pointing it at things. like you might with your camera.

unless your'e in good shape or a regular weight-trainer, after about 30-45 seconds youre going to start feeling fatigue in your shoulder and forearm. after 2-3 minutes, youre probably going to be fairly shaky. it's at that point you'll realize the love-hate relationship you will have with a hand-held stabilizer. and the MASSIVE value in an arm+vest model. you'll still eventually feel fatigue with an arm+vest unit. but it will take a few hours as opposed to a few minutes. the arm and vest allow you to carry the weight with your shoulders and core. freeing your arms to steer with practically zero eternal, vertical resistance.

yeah. most shots arent 2-3 minutes long. but there will be plenty of times you'll have to hold it for that long or longer between moves and a hand-held stabilizer is only as vertically steady as is the person holding it.

and dont think that a lighter camera setup will avoid this. as its WEIGHT that makes these things work. most people with very light hand-held setups eventually have to add weight to make them work well - i.e. that a breeze or simple direction change doesnt throw them off balance.

like alex mentioned. the common mentality these days is that you buy a piece of fancy gear and BOOM, youre good to go. that simply is NOT The case with ANY gimbal-style stabilizer, at ANY PRICE. pretty much ANY commercially produced stabilizer CAN work acceptably. but you have to invest the time to learn the fundamental physics of how they work and the quirks of your particular unit.

the steadicam website has a balancing / training video that more or less applies to any stabilizer. and a little thoughtful searching on youtube will turn up quite a few helpful instructions too. i know steadicam has (and so might other manufacturers) a "recipe book" of sorts that will give you specific instructions to balancing specific camera models. but once you understand the basic physics of stabilizing. you can pretty much apply the logic on your own with a little trial and error.
 
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Well you both have made me feel more confident in purchasing a glidecam. Have you seen/used the Glidecam Body Pod? I've only heard mixed things. They are either terrible or great.

Do you recommend the HD2000? I've heard the HD4000 doesnt balance well with a 5D because its too light. Any experience?
 
the only glidecam brand units ive used were handheld. and they SEEMED ok. so, i'm not going to be of any use to you on that subject

you need to read between the lines when you read reviews. some of the worst reviews of ANY product will come from young, inexperienced folks who simply expected said product to change their world right out of the box. then they never took the time to figure it out.

you can always find ways to add weight to your camera platform if need be. clumsy though it may be.
but you need to be an educated consumer and figure out what your current camera rig weighs (and what it might weigh with some gear you plan to buy) and buy the unit thats advertised to work in that range.
 
wgzn said:
here is a quick bit of reality about stabilizers.

before you rush out and buy one. do this. get a half gallon plastic jug of milk or half-fill an empty gallon jug with water (or a tea pitcher. just find a similar size container with a handle). thats about the absolute LEAST that a basic DSLR+lens and a budget stabilizer will weigh. now hold that out in front of you (with one hand) about 18" in front of you and at about sternum height. now walk around your house for 2-3 minutes, raising it and lowering it here and there. just pointing it at things. like you might with your camera.

unless your'e in good shape or a regular weight-trainer, after about 30-45 seconds youre going to start feeling fatigue in your shoulder and forearm. after 2-3 minutes, youre probably going to be fairly shaky. it's at that point you'll realize the love-hate relationship you will have with a hand-held stabilizer. and the MASSIVE value in an arm+vest model. you'll still eventually feel fatigue with an arm+vest unit. but it will take a few hours as opposed to a few minutes. the arm and vest allow you to carry the weight with your shoulders and core. freeing your arms to steer with practically zero eternal, vertical resistance.


Very true- I once went to a car show with a much heavier HVX200 on a Glidecam and walked around for 2 hours walking around classic cars with it. The shots looked great and I thought I was fine- but I suffered the next 6 months with daily shoulder pain.
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like alex mentioned. the common mentality these days is that you buy a piece of fancy gear and BOOM, youre good to go. that simply is NOT The case with ANY gimbal-style stabilizer, at ANY PRICE. pretty much ANY commercially produced stabilizer CAN work acceptably. but you have to invest the time to learn the fundamental physics of how they work and the quirks of your particular unit.
Click to expand...

I have been a steadicam operator for several years now and I agree with the above. I used a handheld with a DVX100a for two hours and decided it was not for me. The body pods will help some but the vest/arm/sled versions are the best, with the time and practice put in. you do not just purchase one, strap it on, and bam, your footage is smooth and steady. It takes research, time, dedication and practice to get it right. As well as a decent bit of money too.
 
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