Cheap and funny solution for getting glidecam shots with GS100

[Samuel Raj]

Yesterday I tried with my Velbon 607 light weight tripod itself as a glidecam(after seeing the glidcam 2000 pro structure and anatomy).

I didnt extend the legs, and just expanded the base legs and held the middle black stem in my hand and kept in such a way that my wrist acts as a shock obsorber. Guess what, I got a nice walking shot similar to professional cameras with out any jerks or sudden movements.

Those expanded three legs balance as the weights similar to the glidcam pro. Thought I would share this info with you guys.

Physics plays a major role in this stabilisation technique, in which a minor tilt is pronounced with bigger movement of the tripod legs, so as long as the legs seems stable, you get nice shots during walking.

Its funny though!

[Charles Papert]

Thanks Samuel--that has come up a couple of times before, in this thread for instance.

The Glidecam does go a step further to isolate the operator from the camera with its three-axis gimbal, which will help eliminate the rolling effect you get with a tripod setup such as you described. Units like the Steadytracker are basically tarted-up versions of what you discovered.

[Samuel Raj]

Thanks Charles!

Yikes, Good to know that you have already tried that method. You really master these glidecam stuff! Thank you for your creative suggestions and info.

[Frank Granovski]

Too bad they don't sell Velbons here in Vancouver. :(

[Yow Cheong Hoe]

I have probably posted this before, but you can also turn your small and unextended tripod such that the camera points to the sky vertically. You can then carry the tripod and the camera with the stability of a shoulder mounted camera! Instant shoulder-pod!

I have tried the tripod-as-stabiliser. Works well enough for rotational reduction.

Keep shooting Sam! :)