Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

There's at least 100 posts on this subject. Try doing a search and you should find lots of info.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

I did a search and there's no more that a dozen messages of either of these particular items.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Go for the Glidecam 4000, as it's better able to cope with the DVX with accessories.

The Steadicam JR is a very nice unit as well, but the DVX is too close to the maximum limit of being usefull (too heavy).
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Actually, I would recommend the Steadytracker, just do a search on google for it. I purchased a Glidecam 4000 and it works great, just very hard to control the direction of the camera, and it was very heavy with the camera and balancing weights added. I bought the Steadytracker and have nothing but success with it.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

The primary difference between the Steadytracker and the Glibrcam is the lack of a "true" gimbal (in the case of the Steadytracker). This does limit some of the movements available to the shooter.
An alternative to the others though, just depends on your needs.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

[quote author=Zombie_Keeper link=board=Links;num=1096055294;start=0#2 date=09/24/04 at 14:29:13]I did a search and there's no more that a dozen messages of either of these particular items.[/quote]

I had this problem once, but discovered to adjust some of the settings in the search window. The default search does not go back very far. Set it to go back farther.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

I recently purchased the steadycam jr without the monitor and found it more than adeaquate for the dvx. I posted the settings I used for it at dvinfo.
I've devised a technique to walk forwards and still shoot people going forwards which is really one of the most useful shots. Just reverse the screen so they can see themselves and hold the dvx high up and to above one shoulder with one hand holding the grip and the thumb and index finger on the gimbel and use the ball of the other hand to rest on the base of the handle.
It just takes abit of creativity and alot of practise but I get shots I couldnt dream about before.
Yeah the steadycam is light and plastic BUT it sure is light. My only quip is that you need to screw it on to use it. Wish there was a mounting plate like on tripods.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Quick question about all of these, do all the following work with the DVX? Or is a special mounting plate needed for anyone of them?

Steadycam Jr.
Glidecam 4000
Steadytracker
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

steadytracker will work w/ the dvx w/ the included mounting plate.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Ok, one final question, what's the difference (if there is one) between the Glidecam 2000 and the Glidecam 4000? I mean other than the weight of the camera it holds? The 2000 holds up to 6lbs and the 4000 up to 10lbs. If they're the same, why spend the extra cash on the 4000 if you don't plan on adding to the camera. Again, that would be the reason to get the 4000 wouldn't it?

Thoughts?
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

The only difference is the weight of the camera it handles.
The usual logic is that today you don't expect to add anything to the camera, and get a 2000, usually, later, you'll want to add something.

Either will work fine though.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

..the DVX only wieghs about 4.4 lbs or so, so youve got 1.6 lbs to add to it before you exeed the limit.. if you really are going to be holding more than 6 lbs i would strongly suggest you get a vest system of some kind. cause its hard to hold even just the bare dvx on the 2000 after a while, and the 4000 wieghs more than the 2000 to begin with.  so youre rally going to be limited to shorter shots.  but ive done the 2000 with a mic and couple accesories on it for apx 10 or so minutes at a time before so .. it really depends on how much wieght you think youll be using, and how much you think you could actually handle using. ..

...of course you can always just work out your arms -shoulders and back to get more endurance for  longer flight times with more wieght.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

. . .and that's where the Magiqcam comes in(unless you can afford an actual Steadicam). After a while your wrist, arm, and shoulder will definitely ache, which will probably bite you in the ass in the end(especially on a long shoot), and I, for one, dont like being confined to my height to use a shoulder rig and loose a shot because I'm not tall enough (I'm only 5'7). The Maqicam IIA Vest kit, unfortunately has gone up in price($1600 to $2100 US), but still, that is the "next" stabilizer I want to get sometime soon.
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Thanks for all the great replies everyone! Since I'm a budget filmmaker and price is a consideration, and since I don't plan on using this for shots that take an incredible amount of time (I have a tripod for that), I went ahead and ordered an Glidecam 2000. I went with the 2000 due to the weight difference.

Again, i appreciate all the input!
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

Yeah, and I didn't mean to blow you off with my first post. I just found a lot of information on this site before I bought my Glidecam 4000.

Anyway, I'm glad you got some answers. Good luck with it...
 
Re: Steadycam Jr. or Glidecam 4000

sugahsean469

I have the magicam series II.. what can i say. its very nice. somtimes i wish i still had my glidecam 2000 though. cause alot of times you only need a short steady shot, and its overkill to do the setup, and deal with the whole vest system, but what i do is just throw the cam on the magicam sled real quick(bogen quick release), and just handhold it .. the sled wieghs ALOT more than a glidecam so short is good when doing this, but the extra weight of everything really helps it be even more stable.
 
Back
Top