small stabilizers

[Ian OBrien]

I have a Xl1s and a Glidecam 4000, which I have used on a
couple of ocassions, and like the majority of you, I too find the
two combined a bit weighty! I found I was best picking up the
Glidecam from waist height i.e from a tabe or workbench there
was no way I could get a steady shot from a ground pick up!
I have whilst on the subject, a Panasonic gs120 which I bought
as it has 3ccd and a good price to match, this size camera I have
used for childrens parties because of its small size, and you need
all the room you can get!!
But with all the disscusion on the Glidecam, I was thinking of
buying a stabilizer for the Panasonic! I have found one at a place
in the u.K called Hague. The stabilizer copes with cameras with
a weight from 0.4kg to a max 1.2kg, as my camera weighs 0.54kg
I am wondering wether it would be worth a try?
does any one have views on the subject?
*sorry about the length of this thread!

[Terry Thompson]

How heavy is the combined weight of your XL1 and Glidecam 4000?

I had problems with the weight of my rig and made a vest and dual arm for my Glidecam 2000 which worked so good that I decided to make them for others. I'm close to getting them on the market.

See www.indicam.com

Terry

[Ian OBrien]

Hi Terry, thanks for your reply and apologise for the delay in
My reply, I couldn't ger back on this site!!
however, the combined weight of Xl1s and Glidecam 4000 is
approx 10.5lbs or 4.76kg's I actually bought a bodypod with
the Glidecam, and although it does help, I have heard your
body movements transfer although minimumly to the Glidecam, it
really defeats the object, I am pleased to read also that you are
close to marketing your stabilizer vest and arm I might be
interested, I am doing a comercial video for a Limousine company,
and used My Glidecam for part of it, and the Company owner very
much likes the smooth motion of the Glidecam as do I but the
weight is a bit of a put off!!

[John C. Chu]

<<<-- Originally posted by Ian OBrien :
I have whilst on the subject, a Panasonic gs120 which I bought
as it has 3ccd and a good price to match, this size camera I have
used for childrens parties because of its small size, and you need
all the room you can get!!
But with all the disscusion on the Glidecam, I was thinking of
buying a stabilizer for the Panasonic! I have found one at a place
in the u.K called Hague. The stabilizer copes with cameras with
a weight from 0.4kg to a max 1.2kg, as my camera weighs 0.54kg
I am wondering wether it would be worth a try?
does any one have views on the subject? -->>>

For a light weight camera--I'd personally recommend the Hollywood Lite VS-1.
It has a beautiful gimble and the thing itself is lightweight and should be perfect for your Panasonic.

http://www.hollywoodlite.com/VS1_Hand_Heldx.html

[Cosmin Rotaru]

Hey Terry, I love the idea with the backpack! I think it looks so much better then a simple vest. Now is a vest with a purpose! :) Really a great idea! I might just stole that for my "under construction" rig! (I'm not doing anything commercial, so please don't sue me! :) )
"can store the chest plate and arm as well as the Glidecam sled for transportation" - that's just awesome! Why didn't O think of that?! :(

Charles King, are you here? What do you think of this?

One (important) thing misses your system: the vest to arm connector is not adjustable. At least from the pics I can't see that...

[Charles King]

Hi Cos. I posted that link on HBS along time ago. You probably missed it. Nice idea for very small setups.

[Ian OBrien]

Hi John, many thanks about the Hollywood Lite vs-1 I looked at
the website and the vs-1 looked the thing for the job!
Two questions though, you didn't mention if you owned a vs-1
and if you do, how does it handle? is any filming you have done using it noticeably better?
and my other question is how much do they cost as there
wasn't any prices on the website you kindly gave.

Thanks again John

[John C. Chu]

<<<-- Originally posted by Ian OBrien : Hi John, many thanks about the Hollywood Lite vs-1 I looked at
the website and the vs-1 looked the thing for the job!
Two questions though, you didn't mention if you owned a vs-1
and if you do, how does it handle? is any filming you have done using it noticeably better?
and my other question is how much do they cost as there
wasn't any prices on the website you kindly gave.

Thanks again John -->>>

I do have a VS-1--but because my camera got too heavy[after adding an a 16:9 lens] I am instead using a resurrected Steadicam JR with new parts from Tiffen.

The photo in the website has the handle in the "stowed position".

The handle is gimbled and the stage has nice micro-adjustments for fore and aft and lateral side by side adjustment(you then lock it down with an allen wrench). Veeerrry easy to fine tune.

As for the top heaviness and bottom heaviness....the gimble can be raised and lowered(it is tightened on the to the main shaft by an allen screw also) the allows easy adjustment of top and bottom heaviness.

This in my opinion, makes the VS-1 superior to the Glidecam for lighter cameras. The Glidecam is pretty heavy--the VS-1 weighs almost nothing...so with your light Panasonic camera--it should mean you can fly it all day without effort.

The only I would get though...is some "lock-tite" just to make sure the handtighted thumbscrews don't easily loosen from all the "violent" phyiscal forces the stage is subjected to.

I would of course, do more research just to make it is for you...but I like it a lot.

[Terry Thompson]

<<<-- Originally posted by Cosmin Rotaru : Hey Terry, I love the idea with the backpack! I think it looks so much better then a simple vest. Now is a vest with a purpose! :) Really a great idea! I might just stole that for my "under construction" rig! (I'm not doing anything commercial, so please don't sue me! :) )
"can store the chest plate and arm as well as the Glidecam sled for transportation" - that's just awesome! Why didn't O think of that?! :(

Charles King, are you here? What do you think of this?

One (important) thing misses your system: the vest to arm connector is not adjustable. At least from the pics I can't see that... -->>>

==================================

Thanks for the comeback Cosmin.

Our vest and arm can fly from 3 to 11 pounds total weight which takes in most of the new light weight digital cameras. It will probably fly the XL1 and Glidecam 4000 as I was told by Ian that his total weight was 10.5 lbs so it's within my range.

You are right about not having adjustability were the arm meets the vest but that is being worked on. The weight of my own personal system (Sony TRV900 with the Glidecam 2000) is so light that I have worn it around CES and NAB for the whole day without getting very tired. I didn't have any problems with front heaviness so I didn't worry too much about it but if someone was to fly an XL1 it probably would need some adjustability there. I can tell you that a heavier camera and sled would be more stable due to the unit's overall mass.

Anyway, Indicam is in the process of a provisional patent for the set up and arm design (something not seen on the web site).

We'll be at CES and NAB again this year in Las Vegas with a rig so we will see how it will be received.

One last thing...I made an extension for the rig to where my camera height is about that of a basketball players' POV (point of view). It's interesting to see video from "way up there".

I've enjoyed reading all your posts (Cosmin and Ian) as well as those of you others. Keep up the great info. Here's hoping that someday we'll get to meet in person.

Terry

[Cosmin Rotaru]

Sorry Charles, I must have missed your post...

Terry, I wish you good luck with your business! I think you're on a good track there!

[Mike Hardcastle]

Hello Ian, I Have a Hague HCS-PRO and have used it for 12 months with my XM2, it works beautifully with this size of camera, I have since bought an XL2 which is too heavy for this model so I am thinking of selling it, if you would like some info and pics please email me.

mike@hbomb69.fsnet.co.uk
Mike


<<<-- Originally posted by Ian OBrien : I have a Xl1s and a Glidecam 4000, which I have used on a
couple of ocassions, and like the majority of you, I too find the
two combined a bit weighty! I found I was best picking up the
Glidecam from waist height i.e from a tabe or workbench there
was no way I could get a steady shot from a ground pick up!
I have whilst on the subject, a Panasonic gs120 which I bought
as it has 3ccd and a good price to match, this size camera I have
used for childrens parties because of its small size, and you need
all the room you can get!!
But with all the disscusion on the Glidecam, I was thinking of
buying a stabilizer for the Panasonic! I have found one at a place
in the u.K called Hague. The stabilizer copes with cameras with
a weight from 0.4kg to a max 1.2kg, as my camera weighs 0.54kg
I am wondering wether it would be worth a try?
does any one have views on the subject?
*sorry about the length of this thread! -->>>