Glidecam

Goddard11

Goddard11

Active member
I'm hoping to rent a Glidecam Smooth Shooter for my HVX200, I have never used a "vest" stabilizer.

I will be using it for a weekend, but does anyone know if I should rent it for a day before hand to learn how to use it (balance it, adjust it). Or is it easy enough to set up, and should I just go for it and figure it out the day before the shoot?

Thanks,
 
a glidecam will take weeks and months ot learn how to master. Not sure how badly you need this footage to turn out, but get as much practiec with it before you shoot as humanly possible.
 
i bought a glidecam for a shoot and was very disappointed with it. im sure it had to do with the fact that i was a rookie at "flying".i actually like the multirig pro better. i can use it smoother and it gives a smoother than handheld but still kind of rough quality to the footage as well. i agree with PaPa, this is not like just getting it and using it, it takes some mastering.
 
If you don't know what you're doing with it, it may take you all day just to balance it. I remember the hell Jeremy Ordan went through when he bought his. I seem to remember it taking him a couple of days (maybe more) to get it balanced correctly. After that, you've got to learn to move with it and how everything works together. Check with Mikko Wilson, he can give you the lowdown as well as anyone on the site.
 
I have a Smooth Shooter on the HVX, and we are still learning it. Probably one of the hardest parts is balancing the damn thing. Although our shots aren't as smooth (hollywood smooth) as I want them to be, it still gives a better look than handheld, but practice makes perfect.
 
It will take time to learn how to use it. If you buy, I would suggest working with it at least a week or more inadvance. Once you get the hang of it, it will still take a couple of hours to balance until you can master balance it. I've been on a shoot where that one 45 second stabilizing shot was the only thing we shot that day and it took 2 1/2 hours to balance the rig and about 30 takes to get it right. So be prepared. I've heard people modifiying the smooth shooter with an extra spring that gives you "Hollywood Style" smooth shots.
 
Blaine said:
Check with Mikko Wilson [...]
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:dankk2:

Yeah, unfortunately a day, or even a week isn't enough prep time with a Steadicam or similar stabilizer. There's a reason it's a profession of it's own.

Every operator is different, and how long it takes depends on skill, patience, practice, and some luck, however here are some rough times on how long each stage of learning to operate takes, if you actively practice...

1 week to learn to balance well
1 month to get the basics down = be able to produce basic shots with reasonable quality
6 months to get proficient = be able to reliably produce most shots
1-2 years to get "good"
Many years to become a "Master"

Note that these times will vary greatly from one operator to another. Taking a workshop is seriously recommended to help get started, it'll really accelerate that first few months, as well as show in the skill level in the long term.


Basically; If you ever see yourself needing Steadicam on an upcoming shoot, it's often too late to get started in time for it. The best plan is to hire an experienced operator.

- Mikko
 
Well, it looks like smooth shooter probably won't be an option. Does anyone have any suggestions for another stabilizer that would be easier to set up, but the smoothest shots possible? I won't really be panning much, its mostly push-ins and strafe moves, the project is going to be 4-5 minutes long. (probably 1/4th of the shots using a stabilization system)
 
Goddard11 said:
Well, it looks like smooth shooter probably won't be an option. Does anyone have any suggestions for another stabilizer that would be easier to set up, but the smoothest shots possible? I won't really be panning much, its mostly push-ins and strafe moves, the project is going to be 4-5 minutes long. (probably 1/4th of the shots using a stabilization system)
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Is there any chance of doing dolly shots?
 
I took a one hour Glidecam course and used it the next day.

It definitely takes time to get the hang of it, but I was getting the shots the director needed.

I'd take my chances and get one if I were you. Just spend as much time with it as possible.
 
I really like the glidecam, I've been using it with DVX100 for a year or so for pretty simple stuff, I'm no master. the smooth shooter is the best part about it, without that it wouldn't be much better than handheld. The spring arm takes care of any bounce and you just have to make sure you point to camera in the right direction with two ight hands.

I just tried to setup today for a HVX and I didn't have enough weights with the 14 I got with it.. I guess I need to buy more.. anyone know how many weights it takes to balance HVX with the ones that come with it?
 
I'm on a different shoot this weekend and they are using a glidecam, I'm first AC and I asked the operator how easy it is, and he balanced it adjusting the sliding weights in about 10 minutes, and he just kind of eyed it, and We're shooting the whole weekend so I'm going to ask him to show me his techniques. It seems pretty easy to get quick results, but its obvious its difficult to master. To be honest I don't need the camera to be perfectly stable, just needs to be better than handheld (its a fight scene)

And no, dolly isn't an option because we're shooting in rugged desert.
 
I think a couple years, and he has his own glidecam, so I expect he knows how to use it well, but today I helped balance it. It was fairly easy and just takes time to get it decently level. Also, tomorrow I'm going to ask him for some more pointers on actually doing moves with it.

So far it seems easy to get immediate results, but very difficult to master.
 
This is good. Having an experienced operator help you is a big help when getting started. It's not quite a workshop, but it can trim a lot of time off those first critical practices.

Tip: When he's showing you how to operate: watch him, not the rig.

- Mikko
 
beno said:
I really like the glidecam, I've been using it with DVX100 for a year or so for pretty simple stuff, I'm no master. the smooth shooter is the best part about it, without that it wouldn't be much better than handheld. The spring arm takes care of any bounce and you just have to make sure you point to camera in the right direction with two ight hands.

I just tried to setup today for a HVX and I didn't have enough weights with the 14 I got with it.. I guess I need to buy more.. anyone know how many weights it takes to balance HVX with the ones that come with it?
Click to expand...

Are you using the 2000 or 4000? The 4000 seems like a better choice for the HVX, which is what we got.
 
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