Glidecam vs Rigs for FS100

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filmrebel13

Member
Hey everyone. I was curious on what your thoughts are between steadicams and shoulder rigs. I'm choosing either between a RedRock Shoulder Rig vs a Glidecam 4000. I'm worried that if I get both, it'll take forever to set up and move from glidecam to rig to glidecam etc... I'm an indie filmmaker and don't have time to switch, but I will if i must. What would you guys recommend? The glidecam will get smoother footage, but is the rig enough? Thank you!
 
I think you need both, I think you don't have time to switch on the job (if anyone does have time, speak up!), and I think you need two cameras, (and two people helps).
 
its pretty easy to switch between a shoulder mount and glide cam if you have them set up with quick releases. They both have their own place, if you need both, get both, get two quick release plates. easy as that
 
You know, I've never figured out why people like the glidecam. While it works well and the quality is good, the design is about as crummy as you can get.
I'll never figure out why they put the handle NOT under the center of gravity. (other than to insure that you also buy the arm brace or vest afterwards)

For those that have never used one, imagine putting 10 pounds in a briefcase, then try holding it so the handle is on the side. No problem for a 30 second shot, but try that for 3 hours of shooting. Maybe I'm a sissyman, but my wrist goes dead after a while. (and the shots all suffer afterwards)
 
The Glidecam (the lighter ones) are very much based on the bigger glidecam that holds the 20 pounds of gear and allows you to "fly" the cam whilst running and in confined spaces. But nothing stops you from creating a arm brace out of cheap parts that stops the torque on your wrist and distribute it across the length of your forearm - ala Glidecam Armbrace - and then hope your rig isn't so heavy that your bicep looses all resemblance of its former self.

The glidecam concept is a wonderful peace of equipment that allows a lot of freedom with steady shooting in confined spaces at various speeds (human movement). It does however require the iso-arm (isolating arm) which carries the weight of the camera since more weight equals more inertia, and the arm isolates the cameraman body movements from the camera.

Light cameras like the GH1 or handycams can get away with the Flycam type concept, however even in that design concept you are starting to see arm braces for when the rig gets to heavy for your wrist.

I like the glidecam concept due to the use of bearings and not a ball joint - the design concept (glidecam)allows itself to be beefier a lot easier - plus, wheather your camera is above the gimbal or below the gimbal, the forces acting on the bearings (and the body of the system) are the same and thus the friction is the same and hence the way the camera behaves is the same no matter the orientation. The flycam concept, once inverted (IF you want to invert it) your forces on the balljoint will be different - from a vertical pushing force to a vertical pulling force - unless you dismount the camera and mount it to the bottom arm, however then you need to balance it at the camera mounting plate again - rebalance the entire system.

In summary, the Glidecam (the original design concept) was designed and invented from the get-go to be used with the iso-arm. Only with the advent of lighter cameras and handycams, the iso-arm can be eliminated with the same effect, however, the moment you start using larger cameras (Canon MKII) you will increase the torque on your wrist, and if that is eliminated, force on your upper arm having to hold the camera - which will then also start to translate the body moments through your arm to the camera.
 
Unless you are shooting a boring wedding video or a specialist oner - how long are most shots ? 3-10 seconds?

The time spent vesting up means a vest rig is not suitable for many shoots unless you havve time/a dedicated operator

I think a handheld stabiliser is a useful tool

But it is what it is - rebalance every lens change, sun monitor issues, hard to hold a lock down shot - its a device for moving the camera

A shoulder mount is for taking static (ish) shots and repositioning yourself quickly

Thats a different job an a different tool...

S
 
A cumbersome but workable method is to get a two seperate manfrotto hexa mounts with plates. Screw one on the glide, one of the rig and remove one plate... clip on and off in an instant. That's how I go from shoulder to sticks anyways.
 
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