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Glidecam Vest.

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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
Hi M&A,

Recently I have been thinking about purchasing a Glidecam Vest.

Obviously this will not be happing anytime soon but I was wondering if any of you M&A'ers have ever used one of them?

I just have a few questions;
-Is it worth purchasing?
-Does it increase much stability?
-How easy are they to use?

I was thinking about this one below;
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/584397-REG/Glidecam_HD2000_Kit_1_Stabilizer.html

Let me know your opinions.

Thanks,
Zac
Jan 8 2012 5:05AM
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eheath
Posts: 61604 - Karma: 123,115
I'd say save your money, that kit is made for someone to shoot for like many hrs straight without putting the camera down. You should be just find with your glide cam and your arms.
Jan 8 2012 5:36AM
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Brock.
Posts: 5698 - Karma: 1,332
Duncan Lake shot with one of these, correct? I think he might have been using something a lot heavier than a DSLR though.
Jan 8 2012 7:39AM
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eheath
Posts: 61604 - Karma: 123,115
I don't think he ever did.
Jan 8 2012 1:00PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
think about this: Do you honestly see yourself taking one of those things skiing every day?

get a good tripod or good audio before a glidecam vest anyways, for the same price you could get both.
Jan 8 2012 1:10PM
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deleted2
Posts: 958 - Karma: 107
I don't think you would really need that, if im correct, don't you already have a kenyon stabilizer thing
Jan 8 2012 1:20PM
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I.B
Posts: 8137 - Karma: 24,353
Only reason to buy, is it's super bad ass looking. And no more arm work outs.


But yeah, i agree i don't think you would need it.
Jan 8 2012 2:58PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Unless your camera rig looks like this, you aren't really going to benefit from it.

Click for larger image

Their main function is load bearing, and DSLRs are light enough that you might as well stick to the hendheld.
Jan 8 2012 4:02PM
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gordie.
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 84
wait, what is this from? I recognize this photo in particular from something, a magazine or something.

And to Zac- I was looking at low-cost GC add-ons a while back, not for stabilizing necessarily, but simply distributing weight. Doing long follows with a Glidecam isn't super easy, depending on what you're using to shoot. Check out the arm braces and smaller vests maybe? Either way, you won't want to use a full steadicam vest + arm- they offer little tilt adjustment, so skiing and following a skier up in the air would be tough.
Jan 8 2012 4:46PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Tree of Life by Terrence Malick.
Jan 8 2012 4:58PM
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JAHrig
Posts: 738 - Karma: 2,649
If your shooting with a dslr I wouldnt. I dont think they make it any more stable. Just less tiring. buy a dope lens instead.
Jan 8 2012 6:12PM
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gordie.
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 84
Right, but do you know that photo specifically? I swear it was in HDvideoPro or empire or something. Anyways, Just recognize it from somewhere. Don't even want to think about what would happen if he slipped!
Jan 8 2012 10:05PM
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blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
Im gonna agree with everyone else; there's no point. It's not like it will make your footage that much smoother. Not to mention it's $1700..... Go spend your money on something worthwhile like lenses or save it for the next great body that gets released
Jan 8 2012 10:08PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Probably nothing...tis the beauty of film cameras.
Jan 8 2012 11:54PM
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Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
that is just an overpriced drum harness with a camera stuck on it. You could definitely make one of those for 1500 dollars cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Dynasty-T-max-Snare-Carrier-Mount/dp/B004856WN2/ref=sr_1_31?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1326086967&sr=1-31
Jan 9 2012 12:29AM
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@ScubaSteve
Posts: 378 - Karma: 822
Its totally un necessary and a pain.
Those vest are made for people with like 20 pound camera set ups and who shot steadycam during a 12 hour day.
I've been using this (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/193818-REG/Glidecam_GLARM_Forearm_Brace.html) glidecam arm brace that I barrow from my school while skiing.  Any of these things won't make your shot steadier, just helps you out if your outta shape.  My brother made me take a wieght trainning class at school last year and that helped way more than using this arm brace.  But it is easy and fast to get on and is nice for long shoots.  I may buy one myself in the future since it seems pretty well priced. Bet you could make one easy.
Jan 9 2012 12:31AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Hardly. Most of the money is going towards the adjustable load-bearing spring arms, not the vest itself.
Jan 9 2012 12:39AM
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erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
i think i saw one time you said you had some sort of giro powered stabilizer? if that's correct why are you using a glidecam?
Jan 9 2012 2:45AM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
They do different things.
Jan 9 2012 3:13AM
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ja.
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 144
forearm brace kit?
Jan 9 2012 2:17PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
what about using a sling (for like collar bones)? has anybody tried this before? it would take the weight off and i think would help with stability
Jan 9 2012 5:08PM
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BolderPro
Posts: 767 - Karma: 426
A little late on this thread but i didn't want to make a new one but I am shooting a movie for my resort and a couple local companies this year and I was wondering if it would be worth it to get a vest? I feel like holding the rig on a glidecam would be kind of tough on long nights of urban filming, and resort shoots. Do you think it would be a good idea.

I know its alot of money but alot of the movie will be shot on a glidecam so I'm thinking it might pay to do this?
Sep 10 2012 7:30PM
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s.erickson
Posts: 504 - Karma: 992
vests are awesome, I'd definitely say they're worth it if you have the money
Sep 10 2012 7:46PM
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RockNRollNghtClb
Posts: 2013 - Karma: 2,509
i noticed stept was using some sort of body mount for the eighty six. i wonder which one it was
Sep 10 2012 7:49PM
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BolderPro
Posts: 767 - Karma: 426
I noticed that as well I think it was the vest for the glidecam hd4000
Sep 10 2012 7:52PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
pm DeSena, he does their glidecam work
Sep 14 2012 12:35PM
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EC-Skier
Posts: 3899 - Karma: 668
they use a glidecam hd4000 and also a steadicam.

the steadicam is for if they are running with it, simply because the steadicam is nicer.
They do use a vest with it because they are doing longer shoots and they put there cam, lens, mattebox, fliters, and sometimes a mic on it. So it gets really heavy, its a crazy setup and they practice with it a lot to perfect there shots.
Sep 15 2012 10:11AM
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