Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Glidecam info

profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
Hey guys I'll probably be buying a Glidecam 2000 (pro or hd) soon, So I wanted some info. I know the main difference between the Hd and pro is that the hd is easier to balance but is easier balancing really worth the price difference between the Pro and HD. Also I was looking at the flycam nano hdslr model, are there any setbacks to flycams? Thanks for any good answers (K+) !
Jan 10 2012 4:11PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
Help me out!
Jan 10 2012 4:48PM
0 0
profile picture
dakesteeze
Posts: 214 - Karma: 137
I had the same dilemma a couple months ago and ended up going with the flycam nano.  First off, by no means do I think the flycam is a better product; It's not, but it gets the job done. The main difference is the build quality: the flycam is built with cheaper materials and less fine adjustment. Now, I'm not saying it's easy to break but every now and then you need to tighten up the screws/knobs.  The biggest piss off was balancing the damn thing, without the easy adjustments of the glide cam it took me well over 8 hours to balance.  Don't let the flycam's weight limit fool you, I've balanced double the suggested max weight.

 If you value your time/ looking for something that you can beat up a little more- get a glidecam
 If not - save a couple bucks with the fly cam and deal with it. I really don't understand why people on here bash flycams so much? I've used both and they do the exact same thing.
Jan 10 2012 4:48PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
So To balance it you think it will really take 8 hours?
Jan 10 2012 5:06PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
do you have a facebook so I can add you and we can chat sometime?
Jan 10 2012 5:08PM
0 0
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
Both have the same balancing mechanism, so one will not be better than the other so to speak. What makes the HD better is that is has a few adjustments which makes it easier to get perfectly balanced. I currently have the 2000 pro and it is tedious as fuck to get balanced; I can't get it perfectly balanced.
Jan 10 2012 5:16PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,027
What? you're doing something extremely wrong if you're taking 8 hrs to balance it and going to double the weight. The weigh limit is based on the counter weight, if your top end is heavier than the bottom (camera heavier than the weight limit) then it wont balance. Im not sure what you did for 8 hours, but it really only takes 10-15 mins MAX if you have it set up. if you have to set it up from the beginning, 30 mins MAX not 8 hours or more.
Jan 10 2012 5:23PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
but is the ease of perfectly balancing it worth the extra $?
Jan 10 2012 5:29PM
0 0
profile picture
blatt
Posts: 5584 - Karma: 3,097
For some yes. In my case, I am trying to get enough money to eventually afford the hd4000.
Jan 10 2012 5:37PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
what else would you put on it that would need that kind of support? any thoughts on the flycam nano? like so I would be able to balance my camera very well with a pro?
Jan 10 2012 5:40PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
or wouldnt I?
Jan 10 2012 6:31PM
0 0
profile picture
dakesteeze
Posts: 214 - Karma: 137
 No. Obviously not double the weights on the bottom. I'm talking about the recommended weight for the flycam ( for example: the max weight of the camera can only be 700g when they give you more than enough plates to counter weight a 3kg camera setup)  As for the balance, in reality it only took me like 30 minutes to get it functionally balanced. I was trying to get perfect full dynamic balance (which is next too impossible because the gimbal is not properly weighted.)

btw do use a flycam? because they are fucking difficult to get balanced. Right now, I've got it as good as I'm ever going to get it.
Jan 10 2012 6:56PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,027
I use a glidecam 4000 pro.
Jan 10 2012 7:04PM
0 0
profile picture
dakesteeze
Posts: 214 - Karma: 137
Sorry, I just read my last post and it came off a little douchey. Just curious, do must glidecam/flycam users take their stuff apart then re-balance  them approximately on the hill? Or do you keep the shaft/ weights together and just remove the quick release?
Jan 10 2012 7:18PM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,027
before I had a quick release, i used to have to take the plate on and off every time, sometimes id wouldnt even take it off because it was such a hassle haha. but now i have QR and i just leave everything and then when you get to the hill you just adjust it slightly, its nice.
Jan 10 2012 7:20PM
0 0
profile picture
cwillygood
Posts: 6831 - Karma: 1,829
i would def say the hd is worth it, i had the 2000pro and eventually sold it, i decided to get a good tripod instead, the 2000pro is mad hard to balance
Jan 10 2012 7:44PM
0 0
profile picture
west-coast
Posts: 985 - Karma: 204
holy fuck to say the least..it took me 30 minutes of adjusting off the hill, then after it survived the chair and everything else another 15 to get it good again. it pisses me off.
Jan 10 2012 8:38PM
0 0
profile picture
gabe_cohen
Posts: 193 - Karma: 250
i have the flycam nano and it works great for me. Also, i had mine balanced within 10 minutes.
Jan 23 2012 10:23AM
0 0
profile picture
[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Im confused on why people think its so hard to balance te pro. After the first time you balance, you only meed fine adjustments. Say im switching from tripod to the glidecam using a QR, you need a few fine adjustments, but takes no more then 5 min for me.
Jan 23 2012 10:39AM
0 0
profile picture
dakesteeze
Posts: 214 - Karma: 137
I think it's a hit or miss (Unfortunately, mine was definitely a miss.) It all depends on the screws in the gimbal; mine was drilled wrong.
Jan 23 2012 2:30PM
0 0
profile picture
CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
you also do not need to have perfect balance, your guiding fingers can easily compensate for the misbalance if there is any.
Jan 23 2012 2:40PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)