Stabilizer Battle: Looking at the Glidecam, the Merlin and others - Footage

If you are starting up your own budget production house, and you've chosen your camera(s) and possibly your adapters, your tripods, and so on and so on...

You are going to at least want to give some thought to your apparatus for dynamic motion shots...

With that said, prospective buyers or renters tend to focus on a few brands in their search. Among the options are the various Glidecam models and the Steadicam Merlin. And further accessories are possible, for example, adding the Smoothshooter stabilizing vest to the Glidecam. Easy to spend a lot of money here...

And as usual, the proof is in the footage, so I've gathered up a few clips of these various alternatives being put to use.

GLIDECAM 2000

The following is a clip of the Glidecam 2000 Pro being used with a Panasonic DVX100.



Glidecam 2000 + Sony HC7...


Glidecam 2000 pro test from ccproducciones on Vimeo.

And here is a clip by a person with 4 days experience with the Glidecam 2000. He speaks well of the product but insists that it takes a significant amount of time and practice to become competent with it - saying that the Glidecam is no quick fix for your shooting techniques.


Glidecam 2000 Test Footage from Andrew Gupta on Vimeo.

GLIDECAM 4000


SONATINA from martin marzidovšek on Vimeo.

With the Canon XHA1...


Canon XHA1 Test1 from Edge Line Studios on Vimeo.

With the XL2...


Strung Out on Eriatarka from Kevin Johnson on Vimeo.

GLIDECAM with SMOOTHSHOOTER





Glidecam and Smoothshooter with Canon XL2...



Glidecam 4000 + Smoothshooter + Canon XHA1...


Christi from ben on Vimeo.

Another Glidecam 4000 Test...



And last but not least... The Glidecam 4000 and Smoothshooter - with the Canon XHA1 and a Letus Extreme...



STEADICAM MERLIN



Steadicam Merlin - Driving "Bump Test"...


Steadicam Merlin - Bump Test from Marlo I.B. on Vimeo.

Steadicam Merlin with the Canon XHA1...



Steadicam Merlin with the HV30...


Canon HV30 & Steadicam Merlin: Walmart from Nate Long on Vimeo.


Canon HV30 & Steadicam Merlin: Target from Nate Long on Vimeo.

Steadicam Merlin with the HV20...


Boxers (Dogs) at Park from B C on Vimeo.

Steadicam Merlin and Canon HF10...


Steadicam Merlin and Canon HF10 demo from Paul Benbow on Vimeo.

Steadicam Merlin with the JVC-GR-D290U...



Steadicam Merlin with the Sony A1U...



Steadicam Merlin with the Sony HDR-SR10 (Running Alongside the Subject)...


HD - Dirtsurfer - Steadicam Merlin from Simon Watmore on Vimeo.

Steadicam Merlin with the Sony V1...


Premier essai du Steadicam Merlin from opop on Vimeo.

Steadicam Merlin with the Panasonic DVX...


Steadicam Footage from Mike Padilla on Vimeo.

More Steadicam Merlin footage...


Steadicam Merlin First Test from Michael Marygin on Vimeo.

And finally, here is a Steadicam Merlin Video Review...


Steadicam Merlin from Elliott Cost on Vimeo.

DIY STABILIZERS