The problem with the skater is that it needs to work across a very smooth man-made surface to work correctly. This essentially rules it out for most outdoor work over normal ground, uneven roads or country terrains. It is also expensive, especially if you include all the extra pieces of kit.

The GlideTrack is a nice item and not only is it cheaper than anything else out there, it is simple, lightweight and not bulky or difficult to set-up.

However, if you look at some of the Glidetrack videos you'll see quite a lot of minor stutters and the odd mini-bump during the slides. I'm quite amazed that some of this is shown in promotion videos as it certainly would put some people off who search for the perfect smooth sliding pans.
But some videos are nice and smooth throughout, so I'm sure its mainly down to the cameraman and how steady his camera/tripod/track is when combined with his physical hand movements to push or pull the camera.

For outdoor work over varying terrain where you need to carry a lightweight outfit that doesn't break the bank, the Glidetrack seems perfect, and I'm certainly looking at getting one to try out on some future expeditions.

The big downside for me is how short the track is. I like to sometimes see long smooth slides and the very short distance between stops does limit you in a lot of work. Obviously extra-long rails would be more difficult to carry or transport, but if a folding rail could be made it would be perfect. The main problem would be that the grooves in any collapsible rails would transmit into tiny glitches during the slide; but I reckon if the joins fitted perfectly it might work smooth enough throughout a long slide.

Are most using the 1m glide or 1.5?


Im not sure which to order?

regards

luke

Luke, it depends on your camera and your personal criteria.

I have a 1m standard and, thanks to the generosity of the manufacturer, a 0.5m length also. The fact is that both flex, indeed, as the company agrees, any single piece extrusion, even their heavy duty version, will flex. The question is how much and whether that is acceptable. The lighter your camera the less the flex will bother you.

We use Z1 cameras and with one of those on a 1m length supported at both ends (the recommended support positions) the GT flexes in the middle about 4mm. That produces a skew to the images which for us (and I think for others) is unacceptable.

It's the same with the 0.5m length. I have sent the company pictures of the flex as shown by a spirit level but unfortunately they were dismissed as the cumulative effects of various factors inc tripod legs!

The basic idea of the Glidetrack is good, the execution is the problem. We're looking at solutions that should overcome most of the flex problem; making it pretty is another matter.

Despite these shortcomings we believe the GT is the best buy available at present. Its simplicity is commendable especially for a wedding videographer who needs to move fast.