Low cost stabilizer for the HVX

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
I've been trying for some time to find a suitable handheld steadicam for the HVX for less than the typical $400-$700 and think I may have found it. There is one all over Ebay called the "Flycam 3000" which looks much like the Glidecam.
Most sellers want $250-$300 but one had it for $115, so I took a chance. The seller was in India (shipping was $30) but the package arrived in just over a week ( seller had 1600 feedbacks with 97.3% positive). When I unpacked it I found it to be much like the Glidecam, which I owned many years ago, but with some improvements - like a telescoping shaft and weight cups that conceal the washers used for weights. The quality of components seems to be fine.
It took about a half hour to assemble and another half hour to balance (did have to buy 8 extra washers to balance the HVX) . I'm still working on perfect balance, but got it good enough for a test. I did a quick run down the front steps, steep front yard, around the mailbox and back around through my backyard. You can be the judge of how it turned out. This
attempt was the first time I have flown a camera in 8 years and back then I
did it maybe twice - so I'm very green. Here is the link to the video (a
Quicktime MPG4 file - 11 meg)

(link to be added shortly)





1181439430.jpg
 
Sorry for the delay in the Flycam footage, every time I post it on my own webspace and then open it up I get a page full of text. DVX user allows only 1 meg and the file is 6- will keep trying. Suggestions welcomed.
 
looked at your footage, looks pretty good-.

I checked them out on Ebay too.. I just may have to try that out!!
:dankk2:
 
Well, would you recommend it to others? Good footage :thumbup:. Oh, can you shoot low angle with it?
 
Since I shot that clip I also walked around a carnival and got some nice shots
down the midway, also manuevered it to do some combination tilt/pans and they turned out well. I really see little difference between this and the Glidecam I used to have which cost twice as much - plus those ugly balancing washers are concealed. As far as low shots, nothing is included with it but if I recall the low angle adapter is nothing but a U shaped piece of metal that attaches to the underside to hold the camera, right? Should be easy to fabricate.

Of course, like any stabilizer holding a camera this heavy, it can tire your arm but the solution is to shoot for a few minutes and then rest a couple. The stabilizer itself is as lightweight as they could make it.

I think for the price it's a steal.I'm sure the Merlin is nicer but I could buy 5 of these for that price. It would probably even adapt to a vest as
easily as other stabilizers.
 
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can you adjust the angle (look up and down) and maintain stability or does this system only allow level-to-the-horizon shooting?
 
I've had good luck with tilt up/down shots. I've tilted it up in the woods and got a nice "spinning trees" shot. Tilting down is easier - got a nice shot walking along a stream that way. So it's not a problem , just takes practice as do all steady shots. Will post some more shots soon.
 
Coming from India it probably is exempt from patent laws which exist here and in the US. Glidecam are probably kicking themselves for not going for a worldwide patent, but then getting around those P.Ls is pretty easy, just a bit of a re-design here and there is all it takes. Building a vest for this would be easy just go over to Homebuiltstabilisers.com and your laughing.
 
yikes man, that footage was horrendous. I am not sure if it is that balance factor, perhaps your camera is not correctly balanced on the rigg, but if it is, then you bought a garbage knock off.

i would strongly recommend staying with real brands for these items. They are not cheap for a reason, and you do get what you pay for.

Here is how your footage SHOULD resemble.
 
No, I disagree, its a simple mechanical device. The problem lies in the setup of these things not the construction. These things can be finicky to setup properly and time consuming, he'll get there just takes time.
 
true, it was dumb of me to think that the footage should be where it needs to be right after purchase.

it takes months if not years to learn how to use these things professionally. Report back to us in a few months :) Lets see how this flyer soars.
 
now that im watching the footage again, it looks like the rigg is a little top heavy. Could it be possible that this model is a replica of the glidecam2000 pro and not the 4000pro? Is the camera perhaps too heavy? Check this stuff out brotha.
 
Yeah, it could be that the camera is too heavy for it, man that rig must be over 10pds, I can't imagine holding that for any good length of time. Oh and the cost is low because over there in India they probably get paid a quarter of what the same technician gets paid in the US, don't know for sure but i'm guessing that is the reason.
 
Latest tests:
http://www.mediamax.com/mainstreetprod/Hosted/flycam latest.mov

http://www.mediamax.com/mainstreetprod/Hosted/firetruck%20glide%20for%20web.mov


Just found some new info on the web RE: balancing glidecams , evidently the
ideal scenario is slightly bottom heavy. Up til now, top has been heavier, as some mentioned it looked like. Still balancing and practicing. Footage looks pretty good to me, but I guess if you work with 50K steadicams, it wouldn't look so good. But if so your pockets would be a lot emptier, throwing you completely off balance!
 
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it should not be top or bottom heavy, it should be equally balanced at the gimble.
 
I got my info from this article at Glidecam.com:




"Now you need to balance the Glidecam for your movements. We found it best to begin by removing the weight until the unit started to become a little top heavy. Replace some weight until the Glidecam remains balanced when lifting and holding it stationary. Now, with the Glidecam in one hand, and with the camera facing forward (away from you), walk forward and observe the vertical center post. If the center post tilts or swings like a pendulum when you walk, then it needs further adjustment. In our testing, we found that when the Glidecam acted like a pendulum, it tended to be bottom heavy. We also found that a very light swing is normal when walking forward. Without a slightly bottom heavy condition, the Glidecam will not properly "float". "



Numerous other articles about balancing also mention balancing it with just enough extra weight on the bottom so that it moves from horizontal position to vertical , when held by the handle,
in 2-3 seconds.
 
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k lets just clarify something,

obviously the rig has to be bottom heavy due to gravity. If it werent, the unit would simply flip upside down and would be pointless.

When i use the term bottom heavy or top heavy, i am refering to its sway. It should have none.

2-3 seconds might be fine for the 4000, but my 2000 takes about a second and i have perfect balance.

I know this because i can swing my rig wildly side to side and there is no movement of the camera in terms of sway, tilt, or rotation of the glidecam.

i suggest you check out my tests on youtube. although i am using the glidecam 2000 pro, the horizontal test of throwing it side to side and bringing it back to the middle should tell you how your balance is. If it sways/swings/ whatsoever, keep adjusting to the millimeter.
 
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