Let's talk stabilizers!

Jeremy Ordan

Jeremy Ordan

Major Contributor
OK, well I have convinced myself that I am going to purchase the Glidecam 4000, and in another two weeks, that's my plan.

Prior to this purchase, are there are other recommendations that anyone wants to make in the >$500 market that they think will rival the Glidecam?

Anyone built there own and think it rivals the Glidecam?

I'm all ears and would rather hear it now than after I drop 4 bills.
 
I bought a Glidecam 4000 recently, it takes sometime getting used to and more and more time and practice if you really want good footage out of it. The way i see Glidecam 4000 is that it is not good for any long shots on its own..... it will kill your arm in a few minutes... for me its about 4 minutes max that i can hold it. If you plan to buy a full rig like Glidecam Smooth Shooter this could be a nice start. Until you have an Arm Brace or Glidecam Smooth Shooter remove all accessories i hate to say it but i cant use it fully loaded with my cam dont forget all the weight is coming on your wrist. The lighter the better. A quick release adapter plate like Manfrotto 577 is a must its a great time saver.... as you will only have to set it up once if you use the same set-up, good for run and gun and you can switch quickly between the stabilizer and your tripod etc.
Yes Glidecam 4000 Pro will do a good job in my opinion. I just wish i had the cash to buy Sdeaticam Flyer ah well...
Check out Varizoom FlowPod and Manfrotto FigRig... they fall in the same price range but i did my research and found Glidecam was the best option for me under $500. I bought mine off ebay $379.
 
TheYankee said:
You think it is better than anything you can build yourself?
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Yeah I've often wondered that. I know obviously that a stabilizer you build can never be as good as the real thing, but would it at least work at a rivaling level?
I bought Cody Deegan's guide, and I'm probably going to send the designs to my uncle in Wisconson. He's a metal machinist.
 
Depends on how good a DIY you are and what plans you follow.... yes i think it could be made much cheaper if you know what you are doing and have the right tools for the job. What sort of stuff will you be shooting?
 
I'm looking for a stabilizer for some dramatic stuff... Want that floating free dolly feel.

I don't know why I am asking about building something, I have zero mechanical ability
 
Unless "Hand me the piano!" is part of your normal vocabulary, I would "strongly" recommend getting the smooth shooter with your Glidecam 4000.
 
That was actually my plan. Well get the 4000 and then after playing with it and trying to get a decent feel going ahead and getting the smooth shooter. Seems like a low budget way to get to the full on steadicam type system
 
craigbowman said:
Unless "Hand me the piano!" is part of your normal vocabulary, I would "strongly" recommend getting the smooth shooter with your Glidecam 4000.
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Ha! That's pretty funny.
 
Well here's a question: For those that have used it, how do hand held units compare with the body mounted units?
 
The advantage to a body-mount is that you can bear the weight of the camera etc with your hips and back, which makes it possible to operate for MUCH longer, than if you spend all your time hand-holding the stabilizer...I'm good for about maybe fifteen-twenty minutes hand-holding my Flowpod, but using the vest and arm I can go all night like a lumberjack.

There's a learning curve involved in getting good shots with an arm/vest, just like with learning to use the stabilizer itself, but IMO it's well worth it. You'll be able to work much longer, with less fatigue-induced shakiness.

I like my Flowpod. It offers some minor functionality advantages over the Glidecams, but not having used the Glidecams, I'm not dissing them, either.
 
The Flowpod can double as a very effective adjustable monopod. It converts very quickly and easily to low-mode. Laterally, it's a bit more compact, thanks to the way the bottom weights attach. I think (I think) that in basic form, it's also a little bit lighter than a Glidecam 4000, but I'll let someone with more experience have the last word on that.

I also like the way that the flowpod puts the gimbal, hand, and wrist all directly under the mass of the camera, rather than offset to the side. It seems more ergonomic (and, once again, I have to say "seems" because all my time has been spent with the flowpod, not the Glidecam).

I'd like to know what someone with time spent on both, has to say.

FWIW the flowpod arm/vest comes with adapters so you can fit it to a Glidecam, a Steadicam Jr or DV model, and maybe one or two other manufacturers' products. So if you have or will be getting a Glidecam, and want to attach it to an arm/vest, the flowpod unit is one of your options.
 
http://www.dvxuser.com/V3/showthread.php?t=30273&page=1&pp=10&highlight=glidecam

You can have a read on this thread. Also do a search on Glidecam, Steadicam, Varizoom etc all the names you can think of in the Hardware section of this site. Read all that there is to it, read reviews and see what works best for you.

When it comes to stabilizers i'd listen to what Mikko Wilson (dvx user id "mikkowilson" ) and "pookie" have to say, you can find them in the thread above, PM them... am sure they'l give you a better opinion than some one with limited knowledge of stabilizers like my self.
 
razamalik said:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V3/showthread.php?t=30273&page=1&pp=10&highlight=glidecam

You can have a read on this thread. Also do a search on Glidecam, Steadicam, Varizoom etc all the names you can think of in the Hardware section of this site. Read all that there is to it, read reviews and see what works best for you.

When it comes to stabilizers i'd listen to what Mikko Wilson (dvx user id "mikkowilson" ) and "pookie" have to say, you can find them in the thread above, PM them... am sure they'l give you a better opinion than some one with limited knowledge of stabilizers like my self.
Click to expand...

Actually I did read that thread. My comments were geared more towards handheld units rather than full on systems. I have PM'd with Pookie in the past, gotten his input. I appreciate the gesture though.
 
razamalik said:
When it comes to stabilizers i'd listen to what Mikko Wilson (dvx user id "mikkowilson" ) and "pookie" have to say,
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Well thankyou :thumbsup:



The main diffenreces between units have allready been discussed here.

Basically a handheld unit will work for you.. until you get tired. and the heavier it is the sooner that will be. - here's a simple test: take your camera, and hold it by the handle.. at arms length.. sticking out horizontally on it's side. See hwo long you can hold it there. without it wobbling too bad. - that is about how long you can hold it on a handheld stabilizer.

The glidecams have the handle off to the side, this will put tourque on yrou wrist if you don't have the wrist support. (it'll still be heavy for yoru arm though)
A rig like the Steadicam Merlin (coming soon) or the Steadicam JR has the handle below the gimble,a nd thereofr has ZERO tourque on your rist.. so it won't hurt so fast.
The flowpod is unique beacuse of it's ability to also work as a monopod- however i don't think it is equal to Steadicam or GC when it comes to stabilization. - Though i can't be sure, i've never tried it. I think of it more as a Monopod that also works as a stabilizer.

of course with any handheld system you are limited by how long you can hold it for. If you go the vest route (which is more expensive) it does have it's major benefits.

In my oppinion the Steadicam rigs are much better - and you can find a used JR on e-bay for the same as a Glidecam.. - but they dont' have quite the capacity of the Glidecams (for a reason.. either does the operator's arm!)

- Mikko
 
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