steadycam for xl-h1a at DVinfo.net

Rob Willemse · May 28th, 2008, 05:14 AM

Hi,

I'm looking for a steadycam for the xl-h1a.

My budget is around 500 to 1750 euro's (788 to 2758 dollar).
Its for wedding filming and other small videoproductions.

Does anyone has a suggestion?

I see some good reviews about the glidecam 4000 and an upgrade to the smooth shooter? This a little to high on budget (2400,- euro's with the smooth shooter).
Are there any other recommendations?

Don Bloom · May 28th, 2008, 09:37 AM

take a look at Terry Thompsons 'indicam'. (indicam dot com)
I don't know the dollar to euro conversion but it seems to be a really nice well constructed unit.

Don

Rob Willemse · May 28th, 2008, 04:13 PM

Looks like a solid steadycam for its standard price (thats without the arm mount if i understood).
Anyone got some experience with this indicam?
I see that the arm can also be an upgrade for the glidecam 2000 and 4000?

Any more suggestions for a steadycam?

Terry Thompson · May 28th, 2008, 07:16 PM

Rob,

Here's right out of the horses mouth...(at least it's not the other end),

The Indicam PILOT arm will fly our sled as well as the Glidecam 2000 or 4000 pro sleds. There aren't any modifications needed.

You would need our 214 arm to fly your camera as it is over the weight limit of our 207 arm. The 214 arm can fly cameras ranging from 2 to 14 pounds. Your XL H1 weighs 8.3 lbs. (3.75 kg) fully loaded according to web info.

The 214 arm sells for $2350 USD or 1501.65 EUR at today's exchange rate.
The Discreet Vest sells for $90 USD or 57.51 EUR and is desired by wedding videographers as it can be worn under a jacket. Anytime you are using a stabilizer at a wedding you have a chance to perform a great blunder and that is having everyone look at you and not at the bride. The Discreet Vest helps out a bit with this problem.

The system is tuff as nails as attested by Todd Brassard who uses his system on the back of an ATV for videoing dogsled and other races. They hit some knarly bumps he says.

We also have the "Stabilizer Basics" training DVD which takes a lot of time off of the learning curve. It's also fun to watch.

This isn't an add but we thought we should clarify the questions you asked.

Thanks Don!

Tery
Indicam

Sean Seah · May 29th, 2008, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Willemse

Looks like a solid steadycam for its standard price (thats without the arm mount if i understood).
Anyone got some experience with this indicam?

I had one not too long ago. Personally, I would say the sled is better than the glidecam for the fact that the gimbal is well balanced, and the gimbal position along the sled is adjustable. I have tried both so this is my conclusion.
The vest and arm of the smooth shooter looks more polished compared to Indicam but I have not tried it so I cant comment. However we cant forget the budget of the 2 systems so I think the indicam Pilot does its job darn well for the price point. Watch the video below to decide yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDs-V15i1Ck
A video I did with the indicam fresh out of the box 2 yrs back. The indicam should be more polished now :)

Rob Willemse · May 30th, 2008, 08:27 PM

Ok, so the indicam does its job very well in terms of price/quality.

But setup time is also a point i should keep in mind.
I have a cousin who bought the glidecam 4000 with the smooth shooter.
He told me that the setuptime for the glidecam is good enough for usage on weddings etc.

So how about the setup time for the indicam. Does it take long to balance and build up the indicam (on shooting location) in comparison with the glidecam?
Anyone got experience with it?

Christopher Drews · May 30th, 2008, 09:04 PM

I consistently use the smooth-shooter with the 4000 and have had good luck with it, although I do feel that it is cheap in a lot of important ways.
-C

Terry Thompson · May 30th, 2008, 11:39 PM

Rob,

You should be able to balance the Indicam much faster than the Glidecam due to easier camera stage adjustments as well as an adjustable gimbal but we'll let others do the talking for us.

Tery
Indicam

Stephen Eastwood · May 31st, 2008, 01:12 AM

Just want to chime in and say its a great device! We have been using the double arm with it well loaded, and it does extremely well.

The service was also excellent! I highly recommend the indicam.

May 28th, 2008, 05:14 AM	#1
Rob Willemse Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: netherlands Posts: 52	steadycam for xl-h1a Hi, I'm looking for a steadycam for the xl-h1a. My budget is around 500 to 1750 euro's (788 to 2758 dollar). Its for wedding filming and other small videoproductions. Does anyone has a suggestion? I see some good reviews about the glidecam 4000 and an upgrade to the smooth shooter? This a little to high on budget (2400,- euro's with the smooth shooter). Are there any other recommendations?

May 28th, 2008, 07:16 PM	#4
Terry Thompson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auburn, CA Posts: 578	Rob, Here's right out of the horses mouth...(at least it's not the other end), The Indicam PILOT arm will fly our sled as well as the Glidecam 2000 or 4000 pro sleds. There aren't any modifications needed. You would need our 214 arm to fly your camera as it is over the weight limit of our 207 arm. The 214 arm can fly cameras ranging from 2 to 14 pounds. Your XL H1 weighs 8.3 lbs. (3.75 kg) fully loaded according to web info. The 214 arm sells for $2350 USD or 1501.65 EUR at today's exchange rate. The Discreet Vest sells for $90 USD or 57.51 EUR and is desired by wedding videographers as it can be worn under a jacket. Anytime you are using a stabilizer at a wedding you have a chance to perform a great blunder and that is having everyone look at you and not at the bride. The Discreet Vest helps out a bit with this problem. The system is tuff as nails as attested by Todd Brassard who uses his system on the back of an ATV for videoing dogsled and other races. They hit some knarly bumps he says. We also have the "Stabilizer Basics" training DVD which takes a lot of time off of the learning curve. It's also fun to watch. This isn't an add but we thought we should clarify the questions you asked. Thanks Don! Tery Indicam __________________ He's only mostly sDEADy. sort of from "The Princess Bride" www.indicam.com

May 30th, 2008, 09:04 PM	#7
Christopher Drews Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 628	I consistently use the smooth-shooter with the 4000 and have had good luck with it, although I do feel that it is cheap in a lot of important ways. -C Last edited by Christopher Drews; May 30th, 2008 at 09:04 PM. Reason: error

May 30th, 2008, 11:39 PM	#8
Terry Thompson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auburn, CA Posts: 578	Rob, You should be able to balance the Indicam much faster than the Glidecam due to easier camera stage adjustments as well as an adjustable gimbal but we'll let others do the talking for us. Tery Indicam __________________ He's only mostly sDEADy. sort of from "The Princess Bride" www.indicam.com

May 31st, 2008, 01:12 AM	#9
Stephen Eastwood Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Great Neck, NY Posts: 291	Just want to chime in and say its a great device! We have been using the double arm with it well loaded, and it does extremely well. The service was also excellent! I highly recommend the indicam. __________________ Stephen Eastwood http://www.StephenEastwood.com

May 28th, 2008, 09:37 AM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	take a look at Terry Thompsons 'indicam'. (indicam dot com) I don't know the dollar to euro conversion but it seems to be a really nice well constructed unit. Don

May 28th, 2008, 04:13 PM	#3
Rob Willemse Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: netherlands Posts: 52	Looks like a solid steadycam for its standard price (thats without the arm mount if i understood). Anyone got some experience with this indicam? I see that the arm can also be an upgrade for the glidecam 2000 and 4000? Any more suggestions for a steadycam?

May 30th, 2008, 08:27 PM	#6
Rob Willemse Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: netherlands Posts: 52	Ok, so the indicam does its job very well in terms of price/quality. But setup time is also a point i should keep in mind. I have a cousin who bought the glidecam 4000 with the smooth shooter. He told me that the setuptime for the glidecam is good enough for usage on weddings etc. So how about the setup time for the indicam. Does it take long to balance and build up the indicam (on shooting location) in comparison with the glidecam? Anyone got experience with it?