Glidecam HD4000

[Jeffrey Loewe]

A few months ago I did a quick test while walking the dogs with my friends using the Glidecam 4000 Pro-Smooth Shooter and Red Epic. This was just a test to see if the Glidecam is capable to hold the weight of the Epic, Red Brick, Touch Screen, Side Handle and the Red Zoom 18-50mm. No balance was applied to the system, so it is a little rocky.

So, the system hold the Epic without any issues.

NOTE: Image strait from Redcine-X as shot, no grading or color correction made.

Pass: reduser

Thanks for the Share, I've been thinking about doing this for awhile. This confirms that I think i'll give it a test. Just a quick question did you use the Battery and Touchscreen as a counterweight?

At worst I'll send it back and return it. I feel the same as you Lliam. Money is tight and I'm also willing and usually have to deal with weight and annoyance when I'm shooting and while it's not optimal I can usually get decent footage and my shots don't last long in duration any ways so if weight becomes in issue I can rest. At worst it doesn't work and I'll return it. B&H is pretty good about returns if you follow there policy.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

edit : sorry for double post

 

[Christian Munoz D]

Jeffrey,
At the time of the test I used the Red battery and the standard weights included with the Glidecam as a counterweight. The touch screen was on the Epic.
As today I have the touch screen as a counterweight too...just I am trying to see if I can send the cables through inside the pole to avoid them messing around in order to balance the system properly.

IMO the Glidecam 4000 pro (HD4000 too) with the smooth shooter are completely capable to handle the a full rigged Epic. 90% of the time the expertise of the operator is the main factor in the results of your work….you can have a superb 80K rig and the results can be crappy as hell if your operator don’t know what he is doing.

 

[Martin Stevens]

Also, see...

http://www.glidecam.com/product-arm-brace.php

This is the Glidecam Forearm Brace which can help you use our Hand-held stabilizers for longer
periods of time.

 

[Martin Stevens]

Hi Martin,

So I think I might be in again. Speaking of which, you know I often check that "specials" area... to no avail Don't suppose there's any chance of a new Scarlet/Reduser coupon in the future is there?

Best

Lliam

Hello Lliam,

Nice avatar!

In regards to Glidecam "Specials", I just had a word with Tom at Glidecam about this on your behalf.
And Tom will be able to get you a deal/special.

So please call Tom at Glidecam and ask him about it and mention this thread etc.

I hope this helps.

 

[Arnold F.]

If this applies to all of us I'd strongly consider it. My reservations thus far are one user saying the Smooth Shooter is "bouncy," and not knowing if an Anton Bauer and monitor down at the bottom of the rig are included or excluded from the weight restriction. I would almost certainly buy the vest, arm and HD4000 (forgive me if I didn't get the names/components exactly right). Spending $2K for the ability to get the footage and resulting work is most certainly worth it.

Hello Lliam,

Nice avatar!

In regards to Glidecam "Specials", I just had a word with Tom at Glidecam about this on your behalf.
And Tom will be able to get you a deal/special.

So please call Tom at Glidecam and ask him about it and mention this thread etc.

I hope this helps.

 

[Arnold F.]

Christian, I think it looks very good and it's encouraging.

A few months ago I did a quick test while walking the dogs with my friends using the Glidecam 4000 Pro-Smooth Shooter and Red Epic. This was just a test to see if the Glidecam is capable to hold the weight of the Epic, Red Brick, Touch Screen, Side Handle and the Red Zoom 18-50mm. No balance was applied to the system, so it is a little rocky.

So, the system hold the Epic without any issues.

NOTE: Image strait from Redcine-X as shot, no grading or color correction made.

Pass: reduser

 

[Martin Stevens]

If this applies to all of us I'd strongly consider it. My reservations thus far are one user saying the Smooth Shooter is "bouncy," and not knowing if an Anton Bauer and monitor down at the bottom of the rig are included or excluded from the weight restriction. I would almost certainly buy the vest, arm and HD4000 (forgive me if I didn't get the names/components exactly right). Spending $2K for the ability to get the footage and resulting work is most certainly worth it.

The Glidecam Smooth Shooter and Glidecam X-10 Arms are not "bouncy" when used properly.
Even a heavy duty rig can bounce if used incorrectly. Also, just because the arm moves up and down
more than what some are use to doesn't mean that the camera footage is effected, as in, the camera
does not move up and down.

On the HD-4000 the 10 pound restriction is referring to the weight on top of the camera mounting platform, so yes
you can have more weight below, but remember you must still end up with the system vertically balanced.

If you need more information about these systems please call Tom Howie at Glidecam.
He can be very helpful.

 

[Christian Munoz D]

Christian, I think it looks very good and it's encouraging.

Arnold,

A perfect balance will make the footage shot on this rig no different than the footage shot on an 80K Steadicam.

After I get the right balance on the rig I will post a video with the results.

 

[Lliam Worthington]

Hello Lliam,

Nice avatar!

In regards to Glidecam "Specials", I just had a word with Tom at Glidecam about this on your behalf.
And Tom will be able to get you a deal/special.

So please call Tom at Glidecam and ask him about it and mention this thread etc.

I hope this helps.

Hi Martin, that's absolutely brilliant of you! Thank you. I will give Tom a call.

Re avatar. Haha, glad you like it Hopefully you'll get to see a bit more of those two ugly mugs in the years to come.

 

[corey sadoway]

i do not think anyone would be able to fly a glidecam HD 4000, with a decked out scarlet With out arm support, i recently had to shoot a promotional video for my high school, with a RED one, mounted on top of the HD4000 witht the smooth shooter vest system, with the zeiss 11-110mm t2.2 on the front end, and my i say that the red was bare bones, stricly body and lens, and i was still over the 10lb by three and a half ponds, so i ditched the counter wights at the bottom to get rid of the dead wight, mounted up my V-mount and monitor, and with the complete sled coming at a rather pudgey 22lb, the bigger problem was that the arm is only rated for 18lb with the springs on the max tension, you should be able to get away with just the brain and lens on the top of the sled and have your monitor and power source on the bottom for your rig. even then your going to be pushing around 15lb + complete sled, flying that wight with out an arm support rig wound be extremely impressive to say the least.

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

your going to be pushing around 15lb + complete sled, flying that wight with out an arm support rig wound be extremely impressive to say the least.

with the smalest IDX and light monitor it'll be less than 15lb, but just like i said, you need to able to do heavy bicep curls to fly that setup handheld )

 

[Lliam Worthington]

i do not think anyone would be able to fly a glidecam HD 4000, with a decked out scarlet With out arm support, i recently had to shoot a promotional video for my high school, with a RED one, mounted on top of the HD4000 witht the smooth shooter vest system, with the zeiss 11-110mm t2.2 on the front end, and my i say that the red was bare bones, stricly body and lens, and i was still over the 10lb by three and a half ponds, so i ditched the counter wights at the bottom to get rid of the dead wight, mounted up my V-mount and monitor, and with the complete sled coming at a rather pudgey 22lb, the bigger problem was that the arm is only rated for 18lb with the springs on the max tension, you should be able to get away with just the brain and lens on the top of the sled and have your monitor and power source on the bottom for your rig. even then your going to be pushing around 15lb + complete sled, flying that wight with out an arm support rig wound be extremely impressive to say the least.

I'll certainly let you know how I go )

 

[Arnold F.]

I don't think there has ever been a question in this thread that it would be very difficult or impossible to fly the Scarlet without an arm and vest. The question has more to do with weight distribution and possibly exceeding the 10lb limit.