Glidecam Body Pod

[Shantel Kruger]

Hi everyone,

 

Been reading lots of forums trying to find the info I need but no luck, so decided to ask you guys.

I plan to shoot a documentary film and trying to go as light and compact as possible. I will be using a Canon 5d, Rode videomic pro, zoom H1 and 24-105 f4, mainly.

After weeks of researching I've decided to buy the Glidecam HD2000 (I like the Merlin -light and compact- but think is too sensitive, difficult to use, and not good for outdoors with some wind). Now I have the cowboy studio shoulder support, which I love, but it is not good for walking shoots. So I wouldn't like to carry both the glidecam and the cowboy studio and thought that the glidecam body pod would be a good alternative to the cowboystudio support. I would like to use the body pod to shoot when I am standing still for interviews on the go instead the cowboy studio support. Have anyone tried it? Is comfortable to use and keep the camera still while someone is speaking in front of the camera for long periods?

 

Thank you very much, can't wait to hear what you think.

 

Shantel

[Mark Schlicher]

I don't have any direct experience with these, but it seems like a reasonable strategy. You may just have to try things out to see what suits you. Buy from somewhere with a generous return policy.

 

Just a note, the Glidecam will be subject to the same physics as the Merlin, and will take similar time to learn and master. There is no shortcut to good shots.

 

Another thought, you may get more responses to your question from other forums: Cinema5D, DVXUser, and DVInfo for instance. More folks there with experience with lighter-weight and lower-cost gear. This forum tilts more to larger rigs.