Smooth Shooter balancing at DVinfo.net

John Moon · December 22nd, 2006, 08:21 AM

This is probably a "Duh" questions but here it goes. Do you still have to balance all of the axis if you use a Smooth Shooter? I have a glidecam pod and it takes quite a bit of time to balance. Wondering if the Smooth Shooter eliminates at least part of the balance act???
Thanks,
John

Terry Thompson · December 22nd, 2006, 06:41 PM

John,

This is an easy answer. YES!

The only thing the Smooth Shooter does is take the weight off your arm and put it onto your body. The sled still needs to be balanced in order to provide proper stabilization.

The BIG plus you will notice immediately is that you can concentrate on your framing and camera movement instead of thinking about how to finish the shot quickly because your arm is killing you.

Enjoy the new world of camera stabilization.

Terry
Indicam

John Moon · December 22nd, 2006, 09:52 PM

Thanks, I thought that was going to be the case. I just wish there was a way to go from tripod to steadicam quickly without all the work in getting the thing balanced again. I am still thinking of getting the Smooth Shooter.

John

Sean Seah · December 23rd, 2006, 12:37 AM

John, u could attach a quick release plate. Just balance the glidecam with the release plate n presto! U can remove the cam n r attach it without rebalancing too much. Of cse, u have to ensure the cam is in the same state as when it was balanced, eg: LCD flipped open, mic blah blah.. I use Terry's indicam this way n it works great.

John Moon · December 23rd, 2006, 11:10 AM

Thanks, I will give it that a try.

Charles Papert · December 23rd, 2006, 01:59 PM

This seems to be the most popular quick-release assembly people are using, probably since the Bogen plate is adopted by various other tripod manufacturers. If yours is different, see if the maker of your head offers a similar device. It will add a bit of weight to the top (and raise the center of gravity), but it will greatly reduce your balancing woes. Hint: once you have achieved a balance you like with the camera, mark the various axes with a paint pen or silver Sharpie etc. so you can easily return to them as needed.

I think that anyone who uses a GC will like using the Smooth Shooter. If you ever end up doing a shot that requires more range than the arm allows, you can simply do that shot with the GC in handheld mode. Also, you should look into Terry's Indicam, which is a nifty setup and is compatible with your GC.

Terry Thompson · December 31st, 2006, 10:28 PM

Charles,

As usual...you are the man. Thanks also for the plug.

Hey, Any suggestions as to where I can get a bunch of these at a better price? I want to include them as an option for the Indicam PILOT system. I'm also working on a low mode adaptor as per your suggestions. Lots of stuff going on here but this isn't my thread.

Hope to see you and Amy in the near future.

Terry
Indicam

Charles Papert · January 1st, 2007, 05:38 AM

Probably contact Bogen/Manfrotto to see if you can get set up as a dealer...?

Dean Sensui · January 1st, 2007, 04:29 PM

This is the plate I use. It indexes precisely at the same place each time and mounts/dismounts fast.

Bogen / Manfrotto 394 Rapid Connect

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

I made the switch on all my cameras especially since I was struggling one day to slip a dovetail mount onto a tripod while in the cabin of a boat in rough conditions. Not only was it difficult but it was also making me sick! :-)

It's part of a Glidecam system that I use occasionally and it allows the camera to be pulled off easily for shoulder-mount work, then back onto the Glidecam without having to rebalance at all. And, as someone said, as long as the camera's physical configuration remains unchanged.

December 22nd, 2006, 08:21 AM	#1
John Moon Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 446	Smooth Shooter balancing This is probably a "Duh" questions but here it goes. Do you still have to balance all of the axis if you use a Smooth Shooter? I have a glidecam pod and it takes quite a bit of time to balance. Wondering if the Smooth Shooter eliminates at least part of the balance act??? Thanks, John

December 22nd, 2006, 06:41 PM	#2
Terry Thompson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auburn, CA Posts: 578	John, This is an easy answer. YES! The only thing the Smooth Shooter does is take the weight off your arm and put it onto your body. The sled still needs to be balanced in order to provide proper stabilization. The BIG plus you will notice immediately is that you can concentrate on your framing and camera movement instead of thinking about how to finish the shot quickly because your arm is killing you. Enjoy the new world of camera stabilization. Terry Indicam __________________ He's only mostly sDEADy. sort of from "The Princess Bride" www.indicam.com

December 23rd, 2006, 01:59 PM	#6
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	This seems to be the most popular quick-release assembly people are using, probably since the Bogen plate is adopted by various other tripod manufacturers. If yours is different, see if the maker of your head offers a similar device. It will add a bit of weight to the top (and raise the center of gravity), but it will greatly reduce your balancing woes. Hint: once you have achieved a balance you like with the camera, mark the various axes with a paint pen or silver Sharpie etc. so you can easily return to them as needed. I think that anyone who uses a GC will like using the Smooth Shooter. If you ever end up doing a shot that requires more range than the arm allows, you can simply do that shot with the GC in handheld mode. Also, you should look into Terry's Indicam, which is a nifty setup and is compatible with your GC. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 31st, 2006, 10:28 PM	#7
Terry Thompson Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Auburn, CA Posts: 578	Charles, As usual...you are the man. Thanks also for the plug. Hey, Any suggestions as to where I can get a bunch of these at a better price? I want to include them as an option for the Indicam PILOT system. I'm also working on a low mode adaptor as per your suggestions. Lots of stuff going on here but this isn't my thread. Hope to see you and Amy in the near future. Terry Indicam __________________ He's only mostly sDEADy. sort of from "The Princess Bride" www.indicam.com

January 1st, 2007, 05:38 AM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Probably contact Bogen/Manfrotto to see if you can get set up as a dealer...? __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 22nd, 2006, 09:52 PM	#3
John Moon Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 446	Thanks, I thought that was going to be the case. I just wish there was a way to go from tripod to steadicam quickly without all the work in getting the thing balanced again. I am still thinking of getting the Smooth Shooter. John

December 23rd, 2006, 12:37 AM	#4
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	John, u could attach a quick release plate. Just balance the glidecam with the release plate n presto! U can remove the cam n r attach it without rebalancing too much. Of cse, u have to ensure the cam is in the same state as when it was balanced, eg: LCD flipped open, mic blah blah.. I use Terry's indicam this way n it works great.

December 23rd, 2006, 11:10 AM	#5
John Moon Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 446	Thanks, I will give it that a try.

January 1st, 2007, 04:29 PM	#9
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	This is the plate I use. It indexes precisely at the same place each time and mounts/dismounts fast. Bogen / Manfrotto 394 Rapid Connect http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search I made the switch on all my cameras especially since I was struggling one day to slip a dovetail mount onto a tripod while in the cabin of a boat in rough conditions. Not only was it difficult but it was also making me sick! :-) It's part of a Glidecam system that I use occasionally and it allows the camera to be pulled off easily for shoulder-mount work, then back onto the Glidecam without having to rebalance at all. And, as someone said, as long as the camera's physical configuration remains unchanged. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing