Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 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!

Adding weight to the top of a glidecam?

profile picture
steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
Sorry if this question has been asked a million times. I don't frequent this forum too much.

I never really mastered my Glidecam 200 Pro0/T3i setup, and now I'm determined to get it right with my GH4.

I'm using:
Glidecam 2000 Pro
Panasonic GH4
Tokina 11-16 with ND filter
Rode Videomic Pro

Here's what I know:
Adding more weight to the bottom makes for easier stabilization. Cool, so I can add a lot of weight down there. But I need more weight at the top. The GH4 is such a small camera.

Any ideas for adding weight to the top of the glidecam? I'm not really sure what to do...I already have a mic up there. Right now my best idea is adding a battery grip, but that's just more money...

Looking for a more ghetto way I guess...like once of those weight bracelets for running or something.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
Jun 19 2014 10:17AM
6 1
profile picture
steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
Forgot to add that I also use a Manfrotto QR plate.

I've look at this thread just for ideas but there's nothing really there:
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/644986/Help-Glidecam-2000Pro-w--T2i
Jun 19 2014 10:22AM
0 0
profile picture
PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 29,989
I saw the dude from Indie Mogul add some ceramic plates to the top for more weight... maybe that would work?
Jun 19 2014 10:29AM
2 0
profile picture
nutz.
Posts: 3150 - Karma: 6,712
You can buy the top plate weights from b&h or you can take off weights from the bottom? Or zip tie washers to the top, I've seen people do that
Jun 19 2014 10:49AM
1 0
profile picture
steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
Both solid ideas. Thanks.

Anyone else feel free to put in ideas.
Jun 19 2014 11:19AM
0 0
profile picture
j.benziger
Posts: 689 - Karma: 8,026
I have a GH2 on a glidcam 2000 hd which is even lighter then a GH4. Putting ceramic tiles underneath the quick release system helped me a lot.
Jun 19 2014 11:30AM
0 0
profile picture
steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
j.benzigerI have a GH2 on a glidcam 2000 hd which is even lighter then a GH4. Putting ceramic tiles underneath the quick release system helped me a lot.


Did you do this with glue?
Jun 19 2014 11:47AM
0 1
profile picture
j.benziger
Posts: 689 - Karma: 8,026
SteezyJibberDid you do this with glue?


No if you tighten the ceramic tiles up underneath the quick release plate they stay in place no glue needed.
Jun 19 2014 9:27PM
0 0
profile picture
jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
Go buy an extra weight plate from b and h. Glidecam makes them and they have holes and everything. I have two of them but have only put one on the glidecam so far. Really cheap and useful
Jun 20 2014 1:55AM
0 0
profile picture
jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
jkauffman22Go buy an extra weight plate from b and h. Glidecam makes them and they have holes and everything. I have two of them but have only put one on the glidecam so far. Really cheap and useful


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=656408&gclid=CICIpbbih78CFRWVfgodJFAA5Q&Q=&is=REG&A=details
Jun 20 2014 1:56AM
0 0
profile picture
lIllI
Posts: 1255 - Karma: 1,986
Use the leftover weights that came with the glidecam. Make a platform out of them (two stacks in-line with the lens) and mount the QR on that. Works like a charm.
Jun 20 2014 1:20PM
1 0
profile picture
plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 528
lIllIUse the leftover weights that came with the glidecam. Make a platform out of them (two stacks in-line with the lens) and mount the QR on that. Works like a charm.


This is exactly how I have mine set up and it works perfectly.
Jun 21 2014 12:50AM
0 0
profile picture
andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
Also, I just went to the hardware store and they had like ten different ways to add weight. I just decided to get a heavy-ish plate thing

I put the plate on the top of the glidecam and then put my Quick release thing on top, got a longer 1/4 bolt and attached as usual
Jun 22 2014 11:56PM
0 0
profile picture
RockNRollNghtClb
Posts: 2013 - Karma: 2,509
put a grip on the cam too
Jun 23 2014 1:02AM
0 0
profile picture
Try2ki55me
Posts: 2 - Karma: 9
Hey there, so I don't understood what you don't like, and what you specifically want to do. At the moment I have Flycam Redking with Canon 80D Sigma 18-35mm. And I didn't have problems yet. Maybe you should look for a camera with glidecam that will fit to each other, in other words perfectly combined so you won't have any problems in future. Look on this site, here are many glidecam and gimbal reviews maybe you'll find solving your problem or something interesting for yourself.

**This post was edited on Sep 27th 2019 at 10:49:05am
Sep 27 2019 10:47AM
0 1
profile picture
JAlps
Posts: 555 - Karma: 1,939
I rocked the same exact setup and had sort of the same issue. One way I tried to ghetto rig it was a bolt /nut combo going down through each corner of the cheese plate and then put on as many washers as you need to balance it out, just make sure everything is tight. This was the easiest way I could think of to add weight on the cheap while ensuring an even weight distribution on the top so balancing isn't a total beyoootch.
Sep 27 2019 4:43PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)