Gliders (RED) Shoulder Support Camera Stabilizer

V

VK_Editing

Member
Thinking about getting this. I want one with the waist harness that would work good for the GH2 without it costing $500 or $2,000.

I understand what I'm getting. I'm not trying to get the most awesome steadicam copy out, I just want to know if anyone has used this and if it works good. It seems good for $165 and supposedly is normally $280......

http://www.thecinecity.com/eshop/product.php?productid=225&cat=3&page=1

I use a FIGRIG and honestly its okay.... It does the trick but you get tied. And I can't imagine the FIGRIG working better than this thing.

THOUGHTS? HANDS ON OPINIONS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE IT? OR HAVE USED IT?
 
Ah yes I've seen one like that. Polaroid has a similar one.... I thought with the waist support it would be more stable. How well does that work? I'm assuming you have one?

Seems like it will just unfold too easily, no?
 
VK_Editing said:
Ah yes I've seen one like that. Polaroid has a similar one.... I thought with the waist support it would be more stable. How well does that work? I'm assuming you have one?

Seems like it will just unfold too easily, no?
Click to expand...

The guy in the video does a pretty good review.

The joint locks so it does not unfold. I will be taking it for a spin for the first time this weekend at a wedding. I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Some have mentioned using the Joby GorillaPod Focus shaped to a chest or shoulder rig.

I bought a Joby GorillaPod Zoom last year and bent and used it to for this hip shot video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuy6VQLye7M

Depending on how you bend and position it, it may be more or less stable, but I sure liked the results. (Did you watch?)
 
I have the dvtec pro hd. Got it for my 150. It's not cheap but it's machined and built like a tank. There are lots of variations you can do, take off the huge shoulder pad. With the support pod and the belt, it's stable and more comfortable than anything out there. YOu can shoot all day with this. Drawbacks are it's bulky and heavy but once you have it on it's comfortable. he has several other models, lighter ones for dslr and so on. There are reviews in the forum.

He really works his stuff, plans it out for user and has high build quality. It's a mid price solution, $500-600.

BTW, I bought a cine city shoulder support a couple of years back and hate it. it's crap quality and not well thought out. You really need to be concerned with issues like how it attaches to the camera. A release plate is best. The cine city screw I have is so lousy little metal flakes come off it when it screws into the camera!

The more adjustments the better. You'll need to shoot from multiple positions probably.
 
Have you looked at how much those extras cost? like $600 total or more geez.
This stuff is so overpriced. They just jab us. It just isn't that expensive to manufacture.

The issue I think that this cheap cowboy thing might have is: poor way to screw in the camera
not adjustable and poor built quality.

IKAN has some interesting solutions: they have a recoil( a beefed up cowboy) for $89.
This may be interesting because it has a handle and seems to have some degree of adjustablity
and I hope better build quality.
 
Hmmmm. Link for IKAN? I heard of them but didn't see anything for $89.... I've heard good things about Cowboy.... (For the price). And yes the extras are expensive but the guy stated he had those pieces already.... I don't need the same brands he had. He said you could find similar parts for cheaper. Just a thought.....

Curious about this IKAN.

Anybody have a good solution that they've tested and tried?
 
VK_Editing said:
Hmmmm. Link for IKAN? I heard of them but didn't see anything for $89.... I've heard good things about Cowboy.... (For the price). And yes the extras are expensive but the guy stated he had those pieces already.... I don't need the same brands he had. He said you could find similar parts for cheaper. Just a thought.....

Curious about this IKAN.

Anybody have a good solution that they've tested and tried?
Click to expand...

The one you are probably talking about is the ikan Recoil for $99. I tried it out and liked it because it's pretty snug against the lower chest area. Here's a link:

http://www.ikancorp.com/productInfo.php?id=231

They also have an upgraded model of the Recoil combined with elements. A bit more pricey but seems to be more worth it for the extra goodies. Take a look:

http://www.ikancorp.com/productInfo.php?id=289
 
VK_Editing said:
Hmmmm. Link for IKAN? I heard of them but didn't see anything for $89.... I've heard good things about Cowboy.... (For the price). And yes the extras are expensive but the guy stated he had those pieces already.... I don't need the same brands he had. He said you could find similar parts for cheaper. Just a thought.....

Curious about this IKAN.

Anybody have a good solution that they've tested and tried?
Click to expand...


I've used ikan products for about 5 years and they have worked great for me. I primarily do run and gun stuff and their camera supports have been awesome. I really like the Recoil, and for 99 bucks you can't beat it. Not to mention every time I had a question their support staff always answered the phone and talked to me. Anyways that's my 2 cents, happy hunting...
 
Grisnjam said:
The guy in the video does a pretty good review.

The joint locks so it does not unfold. I will be taking it for a spin for the first time this weekend at a wedding. I'll let you know how it goes.
Click to expand...

Quick update on the Cowboy Studio Shoulder Pad (http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-...MQ7S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1300154815&sr=8-4).

I used this in two settings.

The first was a live concert at my church (very low key). Here I ran a static GH2 on a tripod and then roamed with the GH2 on this thing to cut to. Sets lasted about 40 minutes. Thoughts: 40 minutes is a very long time to stand still. Really wished I brought a tripod. Since the brace rests on your chest it moves when you breath. I was not really happy with it in this setting but that might just be using the wrong tool for the job.

The other place I used it was at a wedding. Here I had much more success; during the ceremony I used one up close to great effect with a VideoMic Pro up top. Lots of moving during the different phases and I was able to move quickly and setup a steady shot and hold it. At the reception I used it with a LED light on top of the GH2 and a flash bracket with the VMP. This worked out well to as the light adds a bit of weight and there is lots of moving at a reception capturing the entrance, cake, toasts, dances ECT where a quick setup is needed. It was not hard to hold still for the shorter durations here.

Overall it is hard to beat for ~$30. The plastic bracket can't hold a full follow focus but is adequate for a led light + mic and the whole thing holds reasonably still with far reduced effort.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top