anyone had any experience with these products or can give advice.

I want to purchase for HD100. Thanks

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I had a glidecam 2000 when I had a GL1 and I think they are a waist of money.

I could get shots just as smooth by using a cheap tripod with legs folded up as a mono pod.

yea thats what I wanted to know

Am I disillusioned to think that these devices are more than just standard monopods with fancy handles? Don’t they have some sort of mechanisms that stables the level so there’s no jerkyness.

I could buy a Flycam 5000 with arm brace for $300, which is half the price of a Glidecam. If its half the quality then its not worth it I guess.

From what I've seen posted in other forums, it's a reasonably good knockoff of the Glidecam.

A good gimballed stabilizer can deliver smoother, more controlled shots than a weighted stick (i.e. tripod or monopod or pipe rig). It does require a certain amount of expertise and practice to achieve this though. I've never laid hands on a Flycam, but the Glidecam, Merlin and various other products can certainly produce good shots.

yea thats what I wanted to know

Am I disillusioned to think that these devices are more than just standard monopods with fancy handles? Don’t they have some sort of mechanisms that stables the level so there’s no jerkyness.

I could buy a Flycam 5000 with arm brace for $300, which is half the price of a Glidecam. If its half the quality then its not worth it I guess.

With a tripod folded up under a camera you can get similar results (just guessing because I don't have a true stabilizer)..... BUT there is a fair amount of pendulum action. The tripod method also does not have a gimballed stabilizer grip, and I found just holding the camera a big awkward.

BUT..... theose nice gimballed grips cost you a few hundred dollars.

BUT..... properly balanced weights with a gimballed grip give you the ability to tilt (front - back or left - right) and stay balanced. with a pendulum weighted system you have to exert constant force to keep at an angle that is off center. That can be hard to do smoothly.

jason