scenedirector
Well-known member
For you guys out there that are on the "other side of the wall" trying to decide on an affordable vest mounted system, and these two brands are on your list, let me give some advice, because I have purchased both and used both extensively.
I had first owned a glidecam V-8 that I purchased off Ebay that included: a custom hardcase, vehicle mount, and the low mode adapter. Even though it was used, it was in very good shape. I purchased it for the SAME price that I purchased my Magiqcam BRAND NEW, which came with it's own hardcase and low mode. The only thing it didn't have was a vehicle mount.
I had looked and Magiqcam for a while and saw their product, but I was hesitant because they were a small unknown company, at the time, and their prices seemed to good to be true. I didnt' have the money to waste on being burned if it was a flop. That is why I bought the more well known Glidecam V-8 system. But hard times came down on me, so I put the V-8 back on Ebay and sold it, and luckily made all my money back.
Come forward a year and a half, I now had funding again to get a vest mounted rig. I didn't want to just go back to the V-8 just yet knowing their were other products on the market.
Since this post is getting quite lengthy, let me just state what the magiqcam has and how the glidecam stacks up to it.
Especially since a lot of us that use this site are trying to stretch the very small funding we have for our tools, let me say that the cost of the Magiqcam is a BIG point to seriously consider. It is cheaper in price, definitely not in quality, compared to the Glidecam.
The VEST: Both vests stack up quite well. Both have a very durable and robust chest plate, but I noticed right away the lower back pad on the Magiqcam vest. This helps a lot, considering that ANY vest mount rig will cause fatigue on the back. This pad reduces (note: NOT eliminates) this fatigue.
The ARM: This is where the Magiqcam blows the Glidecam right out of the water. The biggest difference is that the Series IIa has TWO spring arms, instead of the V-8's one. With this, you get a much wider range of manipulation that the V-8 can not provide. And with my research, believe me, at the price point the Series IIa is at, with two spring arms, is almost a steal.
I also like that the arm "starts" very close to the body where it is mated to the vest. The V-8 has a swing arm that, in my opinion, puts the arm too far off of the body, making the rig wide. When you have shots that are in tight quarters, this becomes a serious issue.
I also like the fact that the Series IIa has fabric covering their springs for both: better preservation of the springs, and protection from injury to the operator. The glidecam's springs are completely exposed.
Both models have the ability to adjust the spring on-the-fly, but the Glidecam's adjustment is on the bottom, while the Series IIa is conveniently on the top of the spring arm housing.
The SLED: The biggest strength that the Glidecam has over the Magiqcam in this comparison is that it has a flat base, giving the operator the ability to set the sled on the floor or on a flat surface of any kind. The Magicam has to be mounted to it's docking bracket if the operator needs some down time. But you can get a C-Stand on Ebay for $50-$60 to solve this.
The Series IIa sled has a thicker padded handle giving the operator a little bit more comfort and better control over the sled.
The handle on the Series IIa, to me, seems to come out further from the sled than the V-8 helping to keep the sled isolated, keeping optimal balance to the rig
The Series IIa provides a monitor AND battery bracket that the V-8 doesn't provide.
And since I recently purchased my Magiqam, they have updated it to have an adjustable handle, which helps to keep the sled from being too long, yet still help the operator balance the base from the camera's weight on top.
The V-8's post is elongated, causing the rig to get bigger and less mobile.
Both have a good low mode option.
ACCESSORIES: For only $75, the Maiqcam comes with a custom case to carry all pieces of the rig. Each component breaks down to a very portable size to put into the case. Each part has a cloth sack to put in to protect the finish (way better than Glidecam!) of the rig.
I definitely recommend investing in the case. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.
And lastly, might I add that John and his wife, owners and manufacturers of Magiqcam, have EXCELLENT customer service. They are a small company, but the demand for these rigs is increasing everyday. I definitely know why! But they give everyone their patience and time. They don't treat you like a number in line for these rigs. They are very welcoming and very considerate to your needs.
The only downside, is the wait. They had told me it is a 4 week wait. They kept to their word; no later, no sooner. That was a very minor downside to me.
On a ending note: remember whatever you decide to buy, these rigs STILL TAKE PRACTICE! They don't work to the full potential they provide until it's operator has acquired the skill, talent, and the physical shape to operate these rigs. They are just like a musical instrument, practice makes perfect!!
I had first owned a glidecam V-8 that I purchased off Ebay that included: a custom hardcase, vehicle mount, and the low mode adapter. Even though it was used, it was in very good shape. I purchased it for the SAME price that I purchased my Magiqcam BRAND NEW, which came with it's own hardcase and low mode. The only thing it didn't have was a vehicle mount.
I had looked and Magiqcam for a while and saw their product, but I was hesitant because they were a small unknown company, at the time, and their prices seemed to good to be true. I didnt' have the money to waste on being burned if it was a flop. That is why I bought the more well known Glidecam V-8 system. But hard times came down on me, so I put the V-8 back on Ebay and sold it, and luckily made all my money back.
Come forward a year and a half, I now had funding again to get a vest mounted rig. I didn't want to just go back to the V-8 just yet knowing their were other products on the market.
Since this post is getting quite lengthy, let me just state what the magiqcam has and how the glidecam stacks up to it.
Especially since a lot of us that use this site are trying to stretch the very small funding we have for our tools, let me say that the cost of the Magiqcam is a BIG point to seriously consider. It is cheaper in price, definitely not in quality, compared to the Glidecam.
The VEST: Both vests stack up quite well. Both have a very durable and robust chest plate, but I noticed right away the lower back pad on the Magiqcam vest. This helps a lot, considering that ANY vest mount rig will cause fatigue on the back. This pad reduces (note: NOT eliminates) this fatigue.
The ARM: This is where the Magiqcam blows the Glidecam right out of the water. The biggest difference is that the Series IIa has TWO spring arms, instead of the V-8's one. With this, you get a much wider range of manipulation that the V-8 can not provide. And with my research, believe me, at the price point the Series IIa is at, with two spring arms, is almost a steal.
I also like that the arm "starts" very close to the body where it is mated to the vest. The V-8 has a swing arm that, in my opinion, puts the arm too far off of the body, making the rig wide. When you have shots that are in tight quarters, this becomes a serious issue.
I also like the fact that the Series IIa has fabric covering their springs for both: better preservation of the springs, and protection from injury to the operator. The glidecam's springs are completely exposed.
Both models have the ability to adjust the spring on-the-fly, but the Glidecam's adjustment is on the bottom, while the Series IIa is conveniently on the top of the spring arm housing.
The SLED: The biggest strength that the Glidecam has over the Magiqcam in this comparison is that it has a flat base, giving the operator the ability to set the sled on the floor or on a flat surface of any kind. The Magicam has to be mounted to it's docking bracket if the operator needs some down time. But you can get a C-Stand on Ebay for $50-$60 to solve this.
The Series IIa sled has a thicker padded handle giving the operator a little bit more comfort and better control over the sled.
The handle on the Series IIa, to me, seems to come out further from the sled than the V-8 helping to keep the sled isolated, keeping optimal balance to the rig
The Series IIa provides a monitor AND battery bracket that the V-8 doesn't provide.
And since I recently purchased my Magiqam, they have updated it to have an adjustable handle, which helps to keep the sled from being too long, yet still help the operator balance the base from the camera's weight on top.
The V-8's post is elongated, causing the rig to get bigger and less mobile.
Both have a good low mode option.
ACCESSORIES: For only $75, the Maiqcam comes with a custom case to carry all pieces of the rig. Each component breaks down to a very portable size to put into the case. Each part has a cloth sack to put in to protect the finish (way better than Glidecam!) of the rig.
I definitely recommend investing in the case. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.
And lastly, might I add that John and his wife, owners and manufacturers of Magiqcam, have EXCELLENT customer service. They are a small company, but the demand for these rigs is increasing everyday. I definitely know why! But they give everyone their patience and time. They don't treat you like a number in line for these rigs. They are very welcoming and very considerate to your needs.
The only downside, is the wait. They had told me it is a 4 week wait. They kept to their word; no later, no sooner. That was a very minor downside to me.
On a ending note: remember whatever you decide to buy, these rigs STILL TAKE PRACTICE! They don't work to the full potential they provide until it's operator has acquired the skill, talent, and the physical shape to operate these rigs. They are just like a musical instrument, practice makes perfect!!
