Steadicam Advice?

I

Imacanon

Active member
So I have a Glidecam 4000HD for my 5D MKII and 1D MKIV.

Works great for the price but I want it with the vest and a bit more stabilisation. Should I get the Smooth Shooter to add to my Glidecam or save for the Steadicam Pilot, Flyer or the new Zephyr?

I cant really afford em ha...but annoyingly like most things you get what you pay for so to speak!

I will Appreciate the advice :)
 
i've been looking into the same thing...i did come across a thread on cinema5d (however, apparently that site has been hacked or has a virus or something)...but people are combining the glidecam hd4000 and the steadicam merlin arm/vest. The arm/vest combo costs $1500 and is a dual arm unlike glidecam's single smooth shooter arm/vest. And from what I've read the merlin arm is the same arm as the pilot and can actually exceed the merlin's 7lb weight limit. All you need is a monitor and battery solution if you don't already have one.

check out this guys videos, he has several that pertain to this setup.

http://vimeo.com/9112646

now all i need is the $1500

and here is a DIY solution for adapting the much larger diameter glidecam handle to the steadicam merlin arm.

http://cheesycam.com/steadicam-glidecam-hybrid-good-idea/
 
cool thanks man...so you think get the merlin arm vest and not the smooth shooter one?

just cuz Jared from Cinema5D messaged me saying he just got the smooth shooter for his Glidecam and it works cool for him.
 
From the research I've done. The steadicam arm is superior to e glide cam. The main reason being the design and range of the dual arm vs the single.
 
i own the steadicam pilot rig + glidecam 2000 pro with the smooth shooter vest and arm.

the vest from the glidecam system is much better built than the steadicam vest.

the arms are both good from both systems but the dual arm from the steadicam pilot is nicer because of the extra up and down reach. once you get used to it it spoils you. if your not concerned with that much up to down distance then i find the glidecam arm very nice as far as performance in absorbing the movements. some say that the steadicam is way better but i personally cant say that i see much of a difference...but then im not an expert either.

the steadicam vest is more velcro that anyone would ever want to deal with. can be very annoying and picks up lint like duct tape would.

im very happy with the pilot rig but it did cost a lot more than my glidecam system. i wish the build was a little more "tank like" on the steadicam system...where all of the glidecam stuff would survive more rugged use.

david
 
thanks for all the feedback guys...
the velcro part sounds abit annoying

one of my main worries is set up time, dont really want a band or client waiting around for me while I take forever setting up the rig...

any ideas on faster set up times between the different steadicams / glidecams vests and arms?
 
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It's very simple in my opinion. When you show your reel and explain your capabilities to your client, you're just have to explain that the more gear you bring and the more complicated your shoot is, the more set up and break down time it takes. Be realistic. Plan and communicate that you need to show up before you're expected to start shooting and that there will be down time between setups. As obvious as that might seem, some clients do think you can just show up and hit record, which isn't entirely untrue if they've only had experience dealing with someone hand-holding an HVX200.

You can also speed your setups along by having the steadicam pre-balanced to your rig, and that means knowing what rig you're going to use in the shoot before going into it. Maybe wear your vest going in if you know you're going to use it, use one universal quick release system across all your setups so you can switch quickly between a tripod, steadicam, shoulder mount, etc.
 
im the plan ahead type of guy so I would of done exactly how you said meauonji haha...

say if had to to change cameras with the Glidecam...if the camera weight changes would I carry on as normal counter balancing the Glidecam or would I have to change the arm balance, sorry if that sounds dumb as I haven't work with an arm/vest yet.
 
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