The Glidecam Smooth Shooter - short review

[Charles King]

A short review.

Glidecam seems to always find ways of catering to their low budget customers. That's good. At least they are extending themselves on a wider framework. After doing the review for the V-25 I had little expectations for the shooter. Simply because I am more intuned with systems  that carry more weight than systems that were made for lighter systems. The arm is pretty smooth and will handle anything under 18lbs as a combined weigt of both the camera and sled. This of course, is when you are using a two spring setup. I would not go any where above this because the static arm( the nearest the vest) does show signs od distress or torque when loaded to it's max. This is seen quite clearly when operating the rig in it's ordinary mode. Meaning arm to the side. If you were to hold out the arm fully extended at  180 degree then you will not notice it so much. But due to forces it is more seen when turning the rig from sided to side. The arm can handle the weight but it's the static arm that should have been more roburst than thin 'I' beam structure used. Just don't overload it too much.

Now, the shooter is a system I feel is made just to help leviate the weariness that comes from holding these handheld systems that Glidecam is offering. The system is not meant for professional operators or event videograpghers but more geared towards hobbist. Regardless of what you might think of the system and its expectations, it is still a tool to be used in minor situations then anything too complicated.

For those of you that already own a Glidecam handheld rig and feel you will be doing longer takes very often, then the addition of the arm and vest will offer a better alternative than the arm brace that Glidecam has been offering for quite a while. It will definately help those long hours of operating the rig.  It's a good buy.

If you are planning on flying bigger cameras in the future than you might as well save up for the Glidecam V-25 or the Steadicam Flyer.

[EricCorriveau]

Thanks for the review, Charles. But after reading your V-25 review, my curiosity about the Smooth Shooter just disappeared. 

Eric

[Charles King]

Decisions should always be the the one buying the rig. Don't get me wrong, the smooth shooter is a nice system but only if you do not intend to fly anything heavy. One thing I forgot to mention is the the springs in the arm can be removed for even lighter setups.

[Trevor Crump]

Thanks for the review Charles, have looked high and low but can't seem to find a price for the V-25 , but yet someone has already got the vest and arm..?

Trevor Crump
Australia

[Charles King]

You're welcome. See here for suggested price: http://www.glidecam.com/product-smooth-shooter.php

[Yvon Chartrand]

Charles,

I know that you are using a Windows computer, but as a Mac user, I find it very frustrating, being unable to open your video clips.

They load all right, but there is never anything visible or heard. Black is the movie showing.

I am not an expert in computers but I would like to know if it would be an inconvenience for you to post clips in Quicktime also.

I have discovered this site a few days ago and I practically been glued to it ever since.

Thanks,

Yvon Chartrand

[Charles King]

Yvon which clips are you referring to?

[Yvon Chartrand]

Thanks Charles, for answering.

The Glidecam Smooth Shooter clip, I cannot see.

As a matter of fact, I have never been able to see any of your clips.

Usually, my computer does not do such things.

Yvon Chartrand

[Charles King]

Yvon. I never did a clip of the smooth shooter. Neither did I do the one for V25.

[Yvon Chartrand]

Sorry, I gave you the wrong information.

At last, I found where the problem is:
In Equpment Reviews, under the topic: Steadicam Flyer demo clip.
No video, no audio, but the invisible clip has loaded: a black and silent screen.

Yvon Chartrand

[Tom Wills]

You did hit play right? Also, re-download Windows Media Player if you can't get it to work still.

[Charles King]

Yvon, if you read what I wrote under that artice than you would have seen that I had mentioned that the first 10m or so has no sound.

[michael stevenson]

Charles,

There's no doubt about it Glidecam makes a beautiful rig.

Michael