Hey Matt,
How did this unit hold up to Cinevates Pegasus that we used in Toronto? Is it just as smooth or is the Pegasus a better unit but out of reach at it's price range?

JB

My Glidetrack arrived in Brazil very quickly after ordering it. Havent used it yet on a shoot yet but I am impressed with the build quality. Looking forward to seeing it in action.

Jason,
They are definitely different due to how each one is built differently but even after using that one, I'm very happy with the glidetrack. Price is obviously one factor and even the HD model is about 1/2 the price. The main factor for me was actually the fact that I could put a glidetrack on 1 tripod while the pegasus requires two. I always have a second shooter but still get most of 'the shots' myself and needed to be able to set this up as quickly as possible to do a shot.

Now, the pegasus uses ball bearings so it naturally glides with a bit more ease and requires less force to move it, but with a little use and understanding of how to get the smoothest shots on the glidetrack, I feel that there will be no way to tell which one I was actually using. For example, on the pegasus, you could have the camera on a head and be pushing the top of the camera and it would slide just fine. The glidetrack might stick a little if you were to do this so I simply push from the lowest point, on the actual plate, and it's just as smooth. I used the regular glidetrack while up there too and with some weight, it had the potential to stick slightly...I don't get that at all with the HD model.

Matt

re
 

are there jitter problems when shooting 25p using this glidetrack, how slow do u haveto go not to cause jitter?


sorry to jump in

Actually not, because most of the time the subject is af few meters away and doesn't move that hard across the frame. Don't forget to turn of the image stabilisation.

I'm excited to see the footage :)

I didn't think anyone working for stillmotion was 'still' aspiring - you guy's create a moving benchmark that everyone else aspires to.

does glidetrack make one that works vertically as well as horizontally? also which glidetrack is recommended for a FX1 type of weighted camera with a couple of accessories?

Many thanks

edit: on the vertical thing Ive just seen this on another thread

"Try fitting the rail to your current head at the end of the rail.
Fit a second head and then you can do up/down shots with a controlled arc."

So if I am understanding right, I can have my manfrotto 501HDV head on a tripod. Put a quick release plate on the bottom of the glide track with another head already attached. If I then slide the quick release to one end of the rail and mount it on the 501 head, I can then angle it down length ways and fit my camera to the 2nd head on the glidetrack to create a crane type shot. The only issue is wont the camera be at 90 degrees to the ground (ie - sideways)?!

nevermind, i'm impatient and bought a glidetrack SD 50cm compact. Will see what I can do with it when it arrives!

Looks like the Glidetrack website is down. Hope it's nothing serious.

I'm looking to order a Glidetrack to mainly use with our Canon 5D Mark II (we use our Sony EX3 with a Steadicam Flyer)

Someone on this forum said to not buy the Glidetrack as it doesn't have roller bearings and as a result it makes it difficult to operate smoothly. Anyone care to comment on that? Is there something else available that has roller bearings? Noise isn't much of a concern as we'll mainly use if for b-roll.

Thanks! :)

EDIT: One other question.... I've got a Sachtler tripod (FSB 8) that using a quick release plate. If I bought an extra quick release plate couldn't I just mount it to the bottom of the Glidetrack so it could be quickly mounted to our tripod head? Or is it better to remove the tripod head and get a half ball mount? I'm trying to make it quick/easy to switch the 5DM2 from tripod to Glidetrack.