Bought the Smooth Shooter with Glidecam 2000 at DVinfo.net

Sergio Perez · March 29th, 2005, 02:36 AM

Finally received the Smooth Shooter. Took the plunge, even without seing any footage. Took me about 35 minutes to set up glidecam 2000 with my Panasonig DVXa. After that, I tried doing shots only with the 2000 (without the smooth shooter) and it was killing my arm after 2 minutes!
After that, just set up the smooth shooter (very easy) and connected with the Glidecam: PERFECT

I was flying with lots of control in only 10 minutes of practice (never used a stabilizer before!) The Arm is very good, it has two springs inside it. Very smooth! ANd very usable! I can see I can go for hours shooting with this thing! Amazing!

Charles King · March 29th, 2005, 03:50 AM

Care to post a demo of the product similiar to what I did with the steadicam flyer? I think everyone will appreciate it since glidecam does not have a demo yet. It will be nice of you.

Bryan McCullough · March 29th, 2005, 09:16 AM

Yes, please, please, please post some footage!

I'm right on the fence for this product and would love to see some footage!

Bryan McCullough · March 29th, 2005, 09:57 AM

BTW,

Are you just using the camera's LCD screen or do you have another screen on the rig?

One of my concerns is that only using the camera's LCD will really limit you and some of the moves you're able to make.

Martin Polach · March 29th, 2005, 10:21 AM

I still guess.. how do you focus when using small DV cameras with stabilizers like this? Do you have to have AF turned on, or is there somewhere in th package some tool for focusing?

Martin Polach · March 29th, 2005, 10:23 AM

Anyway, I too do hope to see some footage from Smooth Shooter!

Casey Visco · March 29th, 2005, 05:23 PM

Hello Sergio,

I get the impression from your post that you are using both springs in the Glidecam Smooth Shooter Support Arm with your DVX100a on the Glidecam 2000 Pro. Given this setup, it is likely you will get even better results by removing one of the springs from the arm. Obviously, you'll then need to readjust the remaining spring to take the full load of the 2000 Pro. I strongly encourage you to experiment with this!

Details on the proper way to do this, and plenty of photographs can be found in the manual that came with your Smooth Shooter.

Sergio Perez · March 29th, 2005, 07:40 PM

Well. I'd love to post a demo- But how do I upload?
I'll only be doing some shooting on friday, so, i believe i can only post videos by saturday/sunday...

The footage I have is from inside my apartment, with sleeping girlfriend and all (not very nice!)

Casey, It seems to work fine with both springs... But I haven't really done any demanding shots... I've read trough the manual and did see how to remove the springs.. Let's see how the picture looks like with both, than with one- thanks for the info!

Anything you guys want me to test in particular? ATTENTION! I'M A STEADICAM NEWBIE! (but shooting handheld/trypod and dolly for more than 6 years!)

Charles King · March 30th, 2005, 02:39 AM

Do some test of the arm in action. Lets see how it looks in action from the side line. By that i mean, let someone film you while operating it. ( something similiar to mine clip with the flyer). Then add a clip of it from the stabilizer point of view.

In oder upload it you have to have a server to put it up on for others to see. It all depends on the size. If you can't find a server than let me know than I can put it up on my server.

Sergio Perez · March 30th, 2005, 02:57 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Charles King : Do some test of the arm in action. Lets see how it looks in action from the side line. By that i mean, let someone film you while operating it. ( something similiar to mine clip with the flyer). Then add a clip of it from the stabilizer point of view.

In oder upload it you have to have a server to put it up on for others to see. It all depends on the size. If you can't find a server than let me know than I can put it up on my server. -->>>

Ok- don't know about someone filming me, but I can do these tests- like walking up the stairs and following a "talent"...

March 29th, 2005, 02:36 AM	#1
Sergio Perez Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 331	Bought the Smooth Shooter with Glidecam 2000 Finally received the Smooth Shooter. Took the plunge, even without seing any footage. Took me about 35 minutes to set up glidecam 2000 with my Panasonig DVXa. After that, I tried doing shots only with the 2000 (without the smooth shooter) and it was killing my arm after 2 minutes! After that, just set up the smooth shooter (very easy) and connected with the Glidecam: PERFECT I was flying with lots of control in only 10 minutes of practice (never used a stabilizer before!) The Arm is very good, it has two springs inside it. Very smooth! ANd very usable! I can see I can go for hours shooting with this thing! Amazing! __________________ If you don't believe in your film, no one else will.

March 29th, 2005, 03:50 AM	#2
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Care to post a demo of the product similiar to what I did with the steadicam flyer? I think everyone will appreciate it since glidecam does not have a demo yet. It will be nice of you. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

March 29th, 2005, 10:21 AM	#5
Martin Polach Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Czech republic Posts: 35	Focusing I still guess.. how do you focus when using small DV cameras with stabilizers like this? Do you have to have AF turned on, or is there somewhere in th package some tool for focusing?

March 29th, 2005, 05:23 PM	#7
Casey Visco Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 280	Hello Sergio, I get the impression from your post that you are using both springs in the Glidecam Smooth Shooter Support Arm with your DVX100a on the Glidecam 2000 Pro. Given this setup, it is likely you will get even better results by removing one of the springs from the arm. Obviously, you'll then need to readjust the remaining spring to take the full load of the 2000 Pro. I strongly encourage you to experiment with this! Details on the proper way to do this, and plenty of photographs can be found in the manual that came with your Smooth Shooter. __________________ Casey Visco Glidecam Industries, Inc.

March 29th, 2005, 07:40 PM	#8
Sergio Perez Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 331	Well. I'd love to post a demo- But how do I upload? I'll only be doing some shooting on friday, so, i believe i can only post videos by saturday/sunday... The footage I have is from inside my apartment, with sleeping girlfriend and all (not very nice!) Casey, It seems to work fine with both springs... But I haven't really done any demanding shots... I've read trough the manual and did see how to remove the springs.. Let's see how the picture looks like with both, than with one- thanks for the info! Anything you guys want me to test in particular? ATTENTION! I'M A STEADICAM NEWBIE! (but shooting handheld/trypod and dolly for more than 6 years!) __________________ If you don't believe in your film, no one else will.

March 29th, 2005, 09:16 AM	#3
Bryan McCullough Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 842	Yes, please, please, please post some footage! I'm right on the fence for this product and would love to see some footage!

March 29th, 2005, 09:57 AM	#4
Bryan McCullough Major Player Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Richardson, TX Posts: 842	BTW, Are you just using the camera's LCD screen or do you have another screen on the rig? One of my concerns is that only using the camera's LCD will really limit you and some of the moves you're able to make.

March 29th, 2005, 10:23 AM	#6
Martin Polach Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Czech republic Posts: 35	Anyway, I too do hope to see some footage from Smooth Shooter!

March 30th, 2005, 02:39 AM	#9
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Do some test of the arm in action. Lets see how it looks in action from the side line. By that i mean, let someone film you while operating it. ( something similiar to mine clip with the flyer). Then add a clip of it from the stabilizer point of view. In oder upload it you have to have a server to put it up on for others to see. It all depends on the size. If you can't find a server than let me know than I can put it up on my server. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

March 30th, 2005, 02:57 AM	#10
Sergio Perez Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Macau Posts: 331	<<<-- Originally posted by Charles King : Do some test of the arm in action. Lets see how it looks in action from the side line. By that i mean, let someone film you while operating it. ( something similiar to mine clip with the flyer). Then add a clip of it from the stabilizer point of view. In oder upload it you have to have a server to put it up on for others to see. It all depends on the size. If you can't find a server than let me know than I can put it up on my server. -->>> Ok- don't know about someone filming me, but I can do these tests- like walking up the stairs and following a "talent"... __________________ If you don't believe in your film, no one else will.