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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Steadicam or Glidecam

Also only Tiffen Steadicam arms are Iso elastic, and it is this property that makes them so smooth.

Also it takes significantly longer than 10 hours to learn using any balance based stabiliser system. Its all about practace and getting used to the rig, the professional operators have been practicing for years. It took me a year and a training course to get good enough to use my shots in anything, and I have a long way to go.

It does fell though that a bigger rig is easier to operate, just seems less swingy...
 
I am wondering now...if we just compare the posts of the Merlin (no arm, no vest) vs the post of the Pilot (with no arm and no vest)...so handheld only...which post would work best to shoot with say my Sony Z1u...is one post better than the other between Merlin and Pilot? Is one easier or harder to use..again just the post I am referring too.

Thanks for all the great feedback and hopefully a little bit more?
 
By "post" I am guessing you are referring to what is more conventionally called the "sled", i.e. the camera mounting assembly. The Merlin is designed to be used both handheld and with its vest and arm, whereas the Pilot is only meant to be used with vest and arm. However, in that configuration, the Pilot is easier to operate than the Merlin. Unless you have a specific reason to want to be able to operate handheld, the Pilot is the better choice.
 
Thanks Charles...the only one that seemed to know the answer to that...I did not know the Pilot cannot be operated with just the sled...the reason I say that...is I have an Canon HV30 and a SONY Z1U and would like to use both with a steadicam periodically...and the HV30 would be much simpler just to do handheld stuff like the Merlin does WITHOUT the vest and arms...so for simpler, quick stuff for family shots, etc...and I would only use the vest and arms for the Sony Z1u when I am doing longer shots or hiking or anything more intensive.

I wonder though, will the handheld stuff live up to my expectations with the Canon HV20...I have high expectations I think...

I suppose I need to go somewhere and try both system in the store and see how they feel and operate.

So just to confirm you CANNOT use the Pilot as a handheld standicam only (SLED only) like you can the Merlin? Is that good, because handheld stuff like the Merlin (without arm and vest) will never be fully steady?
 
Hmm, might want to look into a lighter mattebox and filter combo there Vigen...! You could probably strip 12 lb off your configuration right there with a clip-on and no baseplate etc.

I have heard of people flying absurd zooms on the RED like the 18-85 etc, I was wondering if this was the case as you described this as a "maximum" setup.

sbcooler, it is possible to get wonderful results with a Merlin with a good amount of practice. For your purposes it may be best to get that system with its vest and arm. You can always add the Pilot sled down the road if you find yourself doing more serious work with your larger cameras. Chances are you will own this rig longer than any given camera, so who knows what you might end up putting on there.

If you want more information on the Pilot, check out my review here.
 
Did you use the Black Hawk with a Red One?

Did you use the Black Hawk with a Red One?

Barry Gregg said:
I owned and operated a Glidecam V-16, also the Varizoom Black Hawk. The Black Hawk was a much better steadi, worked great with Aaton XTR-Prod super 16mm. The Glidecam's engineering was more like a hobbyist's garage project. It wasn't built well and it was hard to operate and not very smooth.

That said you couldn't go wrong with real Steadicam products.
Click to expand...

Barry,

DDid you ever use the Black Hawk with a Red one?

I am considering this but wanted to hear from someone who has used it specifically with the Red One. I am not sure how to set it up to work best, especially with the Red LCD and batteries instead of the ones Varizoom offers.

Any advice is appreciated...thanks...Bob
 
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