Yikes! Tried the PILOT in "goofy" position and it was like trying to write left-handed (I'm right handed). It felt like I was learning the whole process all over again. It was hard to figure out which hand went where.

Something else I noticed...different muscles were talking to me. What a strange experience that was. I can now remember what it was like trying to learn for the first time. This will be helpful when explaining to others.

One thing I didn't count on was the back strain I felt. It wasn't bad, just different. I now realize I have been building up certain muscles over the years so operating my rig has been fairly easy. A new person would probably feel the way I did as I went goofy so I can understand their concerns better now.

Thanks for the suggestion Jaron.

A word of encouragement to those new to stabilizers...everything will feel better and more natural the more you practice.

Terry
Indicam

I hear that! Once used to one side, it's very difficult to move to the other. How was the sight-line on the monitor?

Jaron,

We hopefully did the final shoot on the training tape. What a chore! 10am to 2:30pm. We did do some clips on the "center" where the weight of the system should be. It's different for the PILOT and my friends Steadicam. His is more over the left hip whereas mine is middle left as previously mentioned.

Yes, the sight-line was excellent. I suppose we should buck the system and go for goofy more. I would hate to relearn skills and strengthen "that other muscle" myself but for newbies, hey why not. I was a good suggestion. Thanks again.

Terry
Indicam

... (cough)

Over the years at the workshops I've seen people try it both ways and their body seems to "tell" them which is preferred. It's interesting if you look at the early images of Garrett where he operated with one hand and the rig attached on the right and flying on the right (i.e. the arm positioned under his arm); this made sense because it positions the mechanical elements in and around the body sort of like the robo-outfit that Sigourney Weaver uses to fight the mother alien in "Aliens 3", but in practice this is tough on the body because all the weight falls on one side. It took a few years for Garrett to "discover" two handed operating and swing the rig over the left, which not only offered more control but better weight distribution. Most of us who learned via Garrett never considered goofy-foot operating, and to this day probably 80% of the working operators wear it on the left side. It has been noted than many folks from the video world who are used to carrying a Betacam on their shoulders only feel comfortable with goofy foot.

I myself have converted the rig over to goofy when absolutely forced to perhaps twice in the past 10 years (can't remember after that), but it wasn't a great experience and I will do just about anything to get the shot another way. I know very few guys that can and do operate on both sides. Useful if you can get around to learning it, but relatively obscure in the big scheme of things.

I agree that for someone who has learned on the left, it's probably best to just work on those skills. Especially if your rig has a monitor...and I'd guess by your work Charles, you could probably see what you were doing!

However, this particular stabilizer (without a monitor) seems to be aimed at those people who haven't had much or any experience. For those people with a blank slate, and with flip-out monitors where they are, it just seems like it could work out well to learn goofy first. Those of us who learn Steadicam, Pro, Xcs, etc..., like you said Charles, learn a certain way because that's how Garrett taught, and his proteges. An operator who learns on this system, or a glidecam (no monitor) could start off the bat goofy (and in good form). Then later, one could step to a larger rig, while remaining in good form. That's opposed to learning on the left but out front of the body (in order to see the flip-out monitor) - which, to me, seems like it could create some pretty bad habits.

I see your point, Jaron, about the monitor. Hadn't occurred to me before, and it makes perfect sense.

From what I've seen though, the temptation for pretty much every new operator to hold these little rigs out in front rather than to the side is irresistible--it's a natural tendency to keep it from hitting one's body, I think.

It's awesome to get feedback from you guys who are out in the field with so much more experience!

Charles, your past posts on proper operating and tips have been a tremendous help to me in getting pretty good pretty fast once I got my PILOT sled :) I'm so thankful that you are so willing to share your expertise!

Anyways, I was reading the Glidecam Smooth Shooter manual (http://glidecam.com/pdf/man/glidecam...ter_manual.pdf) and it says, "The GLIDECAM SMOOTH SHOOTER is designed to work best when the
system is operated with the SLED positioned directly in front of you, as in
figures 17 and 18. This position allows you a clear view of either the LCD
MONITOR on your camcorder or the LCD MONITOR on the BASE PLATFORM
of your SLED."

I've attached a screenshot of the figure showing "middle operation."

I guess Glidecam is advocating bad Steadicam posture and a formula for sore backs... What do you guys make of Glidecam's suggested posture?

Thanks!

P.S. Jaron, I think your suggestion for operating in goofy mode is a great idea for systems without an external monitor. Makes more logical sense and would promote better posture overall.

Peter:

Glad to hear you are enjoying your stabilizer.

To me setups like the Smooth Shooter/GC are light enough that the difference in stress on the body when the rig is in front of you vs to one side is negligible. However, that's after years of carrying rigs that weigh four times as much, where you can immediately feel the difference. I know there are many people who do experience back pain from using DV stabilizers. It's my contention that much of this has to do with poor posture, form and adjustment of the vest more than where they hold the rig, however. Most newer operators will tend to hunch forward which requires them to muscle the rig back towards their bodies, which adds to the fatigue. You should be able to let go of the rig at any time and have it float in front of you without pulling away, if you are standing properly and the rig is correctly adjusted (arm/vest combos that allow for 2-axis adjustment will make this a LOT easier to achieve).

That said, I don't believe that centered is the best place to hold a rig for other reasons. Certainly if you have a center-post mounted monitor, it's a no-brainer that holding it in the middle of your body will result in the post blocking the monitor to some degree!

The arm on the Smooth Shooter may not be long enough to comfortably accomodate the rig flying all the way to the opposite side, I don't recall if this is the case or not. The one time I used it, I had to use the flip out screen on the camera and thus was forced into flying it in a centered mode, unless panned to the left.

What kind of axis adjustments do you make on a rig? I thought the only adjustments were in the spring tensions...


I thought the same thing that the post would block the monitor ;)


I recently borrowed a friend's Glidecam V8 and tried operating on the left side but it always ended up middle-left subconsciously so I can keep the LCD in view. I don't know what the problem was but when reviewing the footage, occasionally I would get a knocking sound like the steps I was taking was causing the arm to hit something? Any idea why that might have been? Perhaps the arm isn't long enough to properly fly on the left side like you suggest?

Depends on the rig. The Smooth Shooter doesn't have any adjustment but the larger Glidecams do, as does the Tiffen Flyer. The adjustments set the attitude of the arm relative to the operator; fore-aft and left-right. This allows the arm to always fly level (i.e. not pull away to one side or away from the operator) when the operator is standing comfortably. Obviously a skinny guy and a big-bellied gent will have a different pitch to the part of their body where the arm attaches to the vest, so you can imagine why this is a necessary adjustment to be able to make, otherwise you have to compensate by leaning your body to counter the rig, or as I said most will use force to reign in the arm.

The knocking noise I wouldn't have an answer for you on, other than if it shows up in the footage, it may well be what you are thinking, otherwise it could be the spring shifting around in its mount.

Thanks, Charles.

How do the adjustments work? The only thing I can think of is that the fore-aft and left-right adjustments change the angle that the arm comes out of the vest... at the socket block?

fore-aft <-> tilt angle of arm up or down
left-right <-> bend angle of arm left or right

Is this correct? I've never seen a professional "big rig" up close in person or in pictures so I have no idea.

Indicam review continued
 

Hea All,

First, Terry's gizmo is an extrordanary piece of machinery. Hands-down the best bang for one's buck. I tried a Glidecam4000, not even close.
Second, who in his (or her) right mind would build the reverse of many years of development? Unless customer service was important. I've been to Terry's shop, and seen his protype bin! (Yikes!)
Finally, Terry's quality control is pretty phenominal. the gimbal is a work of art.

I did buy the "Goofy" rig Terry was grappling with, why??? Because I use DVX100 cameras and the monitor is not as high as the new Sony and now the camera flies off-center to the right! Perfect monitor placement. I also have little experience with stabilizers, so there's no re-inventing any wheels.

I found the reversed setup a pleasure. 10 minuites out of the bag to flying. Being right-handed is not a handicap, I find I have a lighter touch and actually rememer to let the sled fly hands-free. (Which it does easily)

I have a feeling everyone (newbies like me) will want their rig "Goofy"!

Rusty