has anybody sucessfully balanced the GH1 on a Glidecam HD-2000

T

tikigod19

Well-known member
I'm looking for some help on balancing the GH1 on the Glidecam HD-2000.

The issue I have is that my drop time is too fast even with minimum weight and fully retracted center post. I'm going to try adding a H4N and bigger lens for extra weight but I can't get it balanced with the Tamron 17-50 via m43 adapter.

Any experience you guys have had would be greatly appreciated
 
I have the 2000 pro and I can get it somewhat balanced but but not as good as seen in the videos, still has some rocking movement no matter what
 
That's a shame. Could you tell me what sort of configuration you used? What swifts, column extension etc?

edit: just noticed iphone changed weights to swifts. Good old iphone.
 
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I use my GH2 with the 14-140mm kit lens on a Glidecam HD2000. A lot of people use this Glidecam model with Canon 7D/5Ds, which are significantly heavier, so I also found my camera was too light. I thought about downgrading to the lighter Glidecam HD1000, but realized it's all about weight in stabilizing camera movement.

I actually added two ceramic tiles (about 2.5x2.5" each) to the head, and attached a Giottos M621 Quick Release Assembly on top of that. (I'll have to post a photo when I get a chance.) With that additional weight on top, I'm able to use two of the Glidecam weight plates below, with the center column extended maybe 3-4 inches. This setup performs well.
 
thanks for your reply. I did suspect this might be a possibility... Do you use two weights at front and back or two in total (one front one back)?

Would love to see a picture of this tile set up.. i need to do something similar I think. Is it not recommended to just put a H4N or something on the cameras hot shoe? I suppose that would probably raise the center of gravity causing problems?
 
In the photos below, you'll see my set-up. I actually used one full tile, and one I cracked in half. (Took me a few tries to get a decent break.) I simply put a few strips of electrical tape on each side of the tiles for friction, and used a long screw to tighten the quick release assembly on top to hold it all together. (It hasn't fallen apart yet.)

I'm still learning how to best operate the Glidecam, but in the sample video (from a project for a church) below the photos you can see the results. So far, I've found it handles forward/backward (especially fast) movement best, and sometimes I get some rocking when I do side-to-side moves. (I'm also still trying to get used to guiding the center column with my extra hand without introducing noticeable jerk.)

glidecam1.jpg


glidecam2.jpg


glidecam3.jpg


 
I have the Glidecam HD4000 cause I need to fly larger cameras as well as the Gh2 and the AF100... The key is indeed to increase the top mass so you can have the camera in the weight range... I bought 3 of the 14 ounce glidecam weight plates and that with the GH2 and lens is about 4.5 pounds... Perfect weight. The only thing that's a bit tricky is that its much more front heavy so adding some counterweights to the back as stated above is a good choice...

Stabilization is much easier with a heavier camera and less prone to pendulum and harder to overcome inertia... which is what you want. The biggest thing that helps in balancing the glidecam is using a C-stand and even better the balancing bracket... Don't also forget that it takes atleast 15 minutes to get it pretty balances even after you've been doing it for a while. If it's not in CG then you'll be fighting the thing the whole time....

So yep it's possible on the 2000 if I"m able to do it on the 4000...
 
thanks very much guys. I will look into a way of adding more weight to the top then Griffinity i like your set up but I'd worry about the tile slipping out as I'm following a bride down the aisle in a quiet church!! I might look into using some of the existing weight plates as Justyn suggested. I think I'm also going to abandon the quick release plate and buy the small monopod head that I mentioned earlier (if when I research I find that it adds enough weight to justify the purchase instead of just adding another weight or two)

I was instantly dejected when I first attempted to fly the cam but reading this has given me more confidence. I sorted the drop time when testing with a 60d and zoom by using one weight on each side instead of 2. Next step is to add more weight to the top, switch the 60D for GH1 and get practising...
 
my god this is driving me mad now! I find the Gh1 so much harder to balance than the 60d but I dont seem to get either right. I've got the drop time sorted but there is too much sway when I move. Thats with only 2 weights at the bottom in total!

Griffinity do you happen to know the weight of your glidecam quick release plate complete with tiles, camera, lens etc? I'm wondering if mine is still much lighter with yours even though I've used a longer screw on the top and managed to get an extra 1, 2 or even 3 of the glidecam weights under my quick release plate.

I'm sure its just lack of experience but I think a lot of these must have gone on ebay within 1 month of someone purchasing them in the past as I've come very close!
 
tikigod19 said:
Griffinity do you happen to know the weight of your glidecam quick release plate complete with tiles, camera, lens etc? I'm wondering if mine is still much lighter with yours even though I've used a longer screw on the top and managed to get an extra 1, 2 or even 3 of the glidecam weights under my quick release plate.
Click to expand...
I don't have a reliable way to weigh my set-up, but my drop time is 2.5-3 seconds, with 2 weights on the bottom and the column extended about 3-4 inches. How long is your drop time? (My GH2 is 14oz, and the lens I have on it is 16oz. Your camera is 24oz, I believe. How heavy is the lens?)
 
i've seen someone use some of the weights you usually put in the bottom part and adding them to the top plate next to the camera. Similar to what you did with the tiles but seems much safer and practical
 
I too am beginning my quest to get my GH1 with the 14-140 kit lens to be perfectly balanced on a Glidecam HD-2000. The first unexpected discovery was the bottom of the kit lens is lower than the camera body. When I mounted the camera to the Glidecam the lens was resting on the top plate. I ordered a Manfrotto 577 rapid connector adapter with a sliding mounting plate to add weight to the top of the Glidecam and to raise the camera up. Once the 577 arrives and I try it out I'll post my results.
 
Success!!! Adding a Manfrotto 577 to the top of the Glidecam HD-2000 worked with my GH1 and the 14-140 kit lens. It lifted the camera up so the lens doesn't hit the top plate of the Glidecam and it also added enough weight for proper balancing. I did need to mount the Manfrotto sideways to the leaver used to tighten the quick release plate was at the rear of the camera and not on the side. This allowed the leaver to move it's entire 180 degrees and also gives more contact between the quick release plate and the camera. Video camera are long and skinny whereas DSLR's are short and wide so turning the 577 sideways works well. I was also able to use three screws to connect the 577 to the Glidecam top plate.
 
I used my Glidecam HD-2000 at a wedding over the weekend and it worked well. Here are some of the discoveries I made.

A $2.95 Bullseye level from Grainger's fits perfectly onto the bottom plate between the post and the weight slide pieces on the Glidecam HD-2000. Some people have mounted levels up on the plate with the camera but I've found mouning on the bottom where the weights go works just as well. Also, the level is up next to the post so it doesn't mess with the balance. It snaped into place and will stay put. It will fall off of the Glidecam if it is bumped while on its side. Sure makes it easy to level the Glidecam during the initial setup. Just need to figure out the best way to permanently mount the level.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/JOHNSON-Bulls-Eye-Level-2H366

My next discovery was I can remove the Lumix 14-140 lens, replace it with the Lumix 20mm pancake lens, add my LED light to the hotshoe, adjust the top plate forward on the Glidecam and lower the post a little and I'm back in balanced again. Used it for the cake cutting, dancing and tosses.
 
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