WOW, AARON DID SPECIAL EFFECTS FOR A MOVIE!?

[Joe Redifer]

Real Steadicam or Steadicam JR?  Well I guess the JR is a real one since it is made by the same people.    Steadicams are awesome, but they do take a while to fully learn how to use properly.  My main cameras are too big for the JR, though.

[Pcenginefx]

after wondermomo?

LOL....no...it means "cat cat" in Chinese or something (my wife named her).

Real Steadicam or Steadicam JR?  Well I guess the JR is a real one since it is made by the same people.    Steadicams are awesome, but they do take a while to fully learn how to use properly.  My main cameras are too big for the JR, though.

Well, when I say steadycam I mean the Glidecam Smooth Shooter.  This is my exact rig & camera:

[Keranu]

Does that cam include the chick too?

[Joe Redifer]

Does that thing have a gimbal?   Probably not since that might infringe on Steadicam's patents.

[Pcenginefx]

Does that cam include the chick too?

Yep sure does...but my wife doesn't like it when I play with my equipment so I keep her stored in my camera case for special occasions.

Does that thing have a gimbal?   Probably not since that might infringe on Steadicam's patents.

Yes there is a gimbal (right above the chick's left hand).  Guess it is different enough from Steadicam's as they have never had any issues with them that I know of.

[ceti alpha]

That's a pretty sweet rig. 

[Joe Redifer]

That's a gimbal?  From the picture it looks as if it only rocks back and forth and you use washers to adjust the balance.  By gimbal I mean an actual ball of some kind.

Anyway how much camera weight can it handle and how much $$$?

[Pcenginefx]

That's a gimbal?  From the picture it looks as if it only rocks back and forth and you use washers to adjust the balance.  By gimbal I mean an actual ball of some kind.

Anyway how much camera weight can it handle and how much $$$?

Well a gimbal is a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object around it's axis...so in this case, yes it is.  The section that is actually holding the camera with the washers at the bottom is called the Glidecam, and the vest+arm section is the Smooth Shooter.  Put them both together and you get a "steadycam" (my definition of steadycam is a vest+arm unit, not just a hand-heled one). 

Glidecam website: http://www.glidecam.com/

Smooth Shooter (no monitor or Glidecam unit-$1,500): http://www.glidecam.com/product-smooth-shooter.php

Glidecam 2000 (can hold up to 6lb camera-$369): http://www.glidecam.com/product-2000-pro.php
or
Glidecam 4000 (can hold up to 10lb camera-$499): http://www.glidecam.com/product-4000-pro.php

[Joe Redifer]

Steadicam is an actual brand name.  I'm surprised it doesn't hold more with the vest involved.  Usually those are to offer support for really heavy cameras.  I need something that can hold at least 25 pounds.  Even with the smaller units and wimpy "consumer" camcorders the things get heavy after too long.  I am afraid of the real Steadicam SR unit... might throw out my back with the Canon XLH1 (which I don't really like).

Can you do smooth up/down motions with them as well?

[Pcenginefx]

The smooth shooter was made to provide a vest/arm solution for the camera market of up to 10lbs.  If you need to go heavier, then you are getting into the "big" bucks:

V-25 (for cams up to 25lbs - $9,995.00)
http://www.glidecam.com/product-v-25-system.php

V-20 (for cams up to 30lbs but older model - $4,500)
http://www.glidecam.com/product-v-16.php

You can do smooth up/down motions with the smooth shooter, but because it only has one section of the support arm that is movable it is every limited.  The Glidecam X-10 is the big brother of the smooth shooter and it has both arm sections movable (http://www.glidecam.com/product-x-10.php)

[Joe Redifer]

I think the V20 would definitely do it since you can mount a 35mm camera on that thing.  I can't believe the newer model (which holds less) is twice the price!  Oh well.  Buy it for me?

The problem I had the one time I used a Steadicam is that the camera is always pointed forward.  This is cool for up and down motions (makes it look like you're gliding on an elevator) but it was extremely hard to tilt up or down if I needed to, and it looked bad when I did.

[Pcenginefx]

I'll be making a steadycam trailer here soon for my video production DVD so I'll show you some stuff I shot with the smooth shooter setup.  I'm by no means an expert using a steadycam but the footage turned out pretty cool.

Tilting up or down pretty much sucks with the smooth shooter.  I can shoot with the camera turned to the front or the side (even shooting behind me as well) but tilting and up & down motions are the suck.

[Joe Redifer]

Here's a trailer of a lame flick I did where I used a Steadicam.  The whole thing is a major balancing act.  Many shots in this trailer were using the Steadicam, others were not. 

Click to download - 4.28 MB

[Bonknuts]

Heh, my friend bought a glidecam back in 2003(or was it 2004). They paid $4000 and it never gets used. Of the three directors, one loves hand held shots, other is in love with dollie and boom shots, and my third friend... not sure, but I do know no one wants to put that heavy contraption on (only for really short periods of time). It got used in just one shot of the whole end chase scene - .

[Joe Redifer]

Man, there is something about camcorders that just screams "originated on video!"