Glidetrack

Alastair Brown · January 12th, 2009, 08:01 AM

Never say never! I have full Tool Room facilities at my disposal, so ANYTHING is possible. Give me a call and i am sure I can sort you out. Numbers on the site.

Off the top of my head, why not get a second smaller head to leave permenantly mounted to the carriage? Fit a quick release mount to the track, and you have a really quick to setup system, ready to go at a moments notice?

Steve Shovlar · January 12th, 2009, 01:29 PM

So, Satchler tripod, Manfrotto quick release, Glidetrack attached to quick release, another cheaper head on the glidetrack and Bobs your uncle. Right?

How sturdy would be the connection? Wouldn't it tilt a little when the camer is at the end of the track?

Alastair Brown · January 13th, 2009, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Shovlar

So, Satchler tripod, Manfrotto quick release, Glidetrack attached to quick release, another cheaper head on the glidetrack and Bobs your uncle. Right?

How sturdy would be the connection? Wouldn't it tilt a little when the camer is at the end of the track?

Every connection you add contributes the potential for un-wanted movement. In practice though, if there is any minor amount of movement, it happens gradually and at an even rate, as the glide occurs. As such, your not likely to notice it i.e. can you see any evidence of it, in any of the clips posted by all the users?

Danny O'Neill · January 13th, 2009, 06:50 AM

Depends on the weight of your rig, and the tripod head.

I havnt noticed any bend when using a single tripod for support with my FX1 with large battery.

Havnt used it in the field yet but plan to use with 2 tripods whenever possible. Just keeps things more sturdy.

Matt Bishop · February 10th, 2009, 11:50 AM

I just got my Glidetrack HD today and am already very impressed and happy with it. First of all shipping from UK to my house (US) only took 1 day..very nice! I needed the quick setup of the glidetrack and to be able to use it with only 1 tripod. I'll be using the xh-a1 and xl-h1 on this with a bogen head so I got the HD version. Very well made, sturdy, and the glide is very smooth. There's definitely no issues with the weight or bend in the track.
I can't wait to start using this and will be throwing up footage once I get to it. Thanks Alastair !!

Matt

Art Varga · February 10th, 2009, 12:58 PM

Matt - I've had mine about a month and love it. Alastair's been great with follow up questions too.

Art

Carl Wilky · February 10th, 2009, 01:13 PM

Good to hear. Thats going to be my 2009 investment too. Just have to score a few more gigs and I'm getting mine.

Ryan Morey · February 10th, 2009, 01:31 PM

Mine should be here any day now....yippy!

Nicholas de Kock · February 11th, 2009, 09:15 AM

I'll be building my own mini dolly soon, I would buy a Glidetrack however the postage to South Africa is going to cost me so much that it's not worth it.

Alastair Brown · February 11th, 2009, 10:17 AM

Thanks for the nice comments guys!

Nicholas, check your DV Info Mail!

Jason Bowers · February 13th, 2009, 10:16 PM

Hey Matt,
How did this unit hold up to Cinevates Pegasus that we used in Toronto? Is it just as smooth or is the Pegasus a better unit but out of reach at it's price range?

JB

Dan Burnap · February 14th, 2009, 04:44 AM

My Glidetrack arrived in Brazil very quickly after ordering it. Havent used it yet on a shoot yet but I am impressed with the build quality. Looking forward to seeing it in action.

Matt Bishop · February 14th, 2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Bowers

Hey Matt,
How did this unit hold up to Cinevates Pegasus that we used in Toronto? Is it just as smooth or is the Pegasus a better unit but out of reach at it's price range?

JB

Jason,
They are definitely different due to how each one is built differently but even after using that one, I'm very happy with the glidetrack. Price is obviously one factor and even the HD model is about 1/2 the price. The main factor for me was actually the fact that I could put a glidetrack on 1 tripod while the pegasus requires two. I always have a second shooter but still get most of 'the shots' myself and needed to be able to set this up as quickly as possible to do a shot.

Now, the pegasus uses ball bearings so it naturally glides with a bit more ease and requires less force to move it, but with a little use and understanding of how to get the smoothest shots on the glidetrack, I feel that there will be no way to tell which one I was actually using. For example, on the pegasus, you could have the camera on a head and be pushing the top of the camera and it would slide just fine. The glidetrack might stick a little if you were to do this so I simply push from the lowest point, on the actual plate, and it's just as smooth. I used the regular glidetrack while up there too and with some weight, it had the potential to stick slightly...I don't get that at all with the HD model.

Matt

Luke Oliver · February 16th, 2009, 06:00 AM

are there jitter problems when shooting 25p using this glidetrack, how slow do u haveto go not to cause jitter?

sorry to jump in

Hubert Duijzer · February 16th, 2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Oliver

are there jitter problems when shooting 25p using this glidetrack, how slow do u haveto go not to cause jitter?

Actually not, because most of the time the subject is af few meters away and doesn't move that hard across the frame. Don't forget to turn of the image stabilisation.

January 13th, 2009, 06:50 AM	#34
Danny O'Neill Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 915	Depends on the weight of your rig, and the tripod head. I havnt noticed any bend when using a single tripod for support with my FX1 with large battery. Havnt used it in the field yet but plan to use with 2 tripods whenever possible. Just keeps things more sturdy. __________________ mintyslippers.com

February 10th, 2009, 11:50 AM	#35
Matt Bishop Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Moline, IL Posts: 231	Glidetrack I just got my Glidetrack HD today and am already very impressed and happy with it. First of all shipping from UK to my house (US) only took 1 day..very nice! I needed the quick setup of the glidetrack and to be able to use it with only 1 tripod. I'll be using the xh-a1 and xl-h1 on this with a bogen head so I got the HD version. Very well made, sturdy, and the glide is very smooth. There's definitely no issues with the weight or bend in the track. I can't wait to start using this and will be throwing up footage once I get to it. Thanks Alastair !! Matt __________________ www.mediainnovations-online.com www.mediainnovationsblog.com

February 10th, 2009, 01:31 PM	#38
Ryan Morey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wildwood Crest, NJ Posts: 140	Mine should be here any day now....yippy! __________________ www.rhmphotography.com What you talkin bout Willis?

February 16th, 2009, 06:00 AM	#44
Luke Oliver Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Guernsey , Channel Islands Posts: 242	re are there jitter problems when shooting 25p using this glidetrack, how slow do u haveto go not to cause jitter? sorry to jump in

January 12th, 2009, 08:01 AM	#31
Alastair Brown Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Glasgow/Scotland Posts: 626	Never say never! I have full Tool Room facilities at my disposal, so ANYTHING is possible. Give me a call and i am sure I can sort you out. Numbers on the site. Off the top of my head, why not get a second smaller head to leave permenantly mounted to the carriage? Fit a quick release mount to the track, and you have a really quick to setup system, ready to go at a moments notice?

January 12th, 2009, 01:29 PM	#32
Steve Shovlar Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 697	So, Satchler tripod, Manfrotto quick release, Glidetrack attached to quick release, another cheaper head on the glidetrack and Bobs your uncle. Right? How sturdy would be the connection? Wouldn't it tilt a little when the camer is at the end of the track?

February 10th, 2009, 12:58 PM	#36
Art Varga Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 552	Matt - I've had mine about a month and love it. Alastair's been great with follow up questions too. Art

February 10th, 2009, 01:13 PM	#37
Carl Wilky Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montéal, Canada Posts: 115	Good to hear. Thats going to be my 2009 investment too. Just have to score a few more gigs and I'm getting mine.

February 11th, 2009, 09:15 AM	#39
Nicholas de Kock Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: KLD, South Africa Posts: 983	I'll be building my own mini dolly soon, I would buy a Glidetrack however the postage to South Africa is going to cost me so much that it's not worth it.

February 11th, 2009, 10:17 AM	#40
Alastair Brown Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Glasgow/Scotland Posts: 626	Thanks for the nice comments guys! Nicholas, check your DV Info Mail!

February 13th, 2009, 10:16 PM	#41
Jason Bowers Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Thunder Bay, ON. Canada Posts: 374	Hey Matt, How did this unit hold up to Cinevates Pegasus that we used in Toronto? Is it just as smooth or is the Pegasus a better unit but out of reach at it's price range? JB

February 14th, 2009, 04:44 AM	#42
Dan Burnap Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 335	My Glidetrack arrived in Brazil very quickly after ordering it. Havent used it yet on a shoot yet but I am impressed with the build quality. Looking forward to seeing it in action.