2005Operating forum
Reducing side-to-side roll when operating a Glidecam Smooth Shooter stabilizer rig
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Unwanted roll movements typically result from applying too much hand pressure on the gimbal rather than external factors, and can be minimized by using only minimal force during operation.
- Adding weight to the bottom of the rig can create a sling effect where the rig overcompensates and swings to the opposite side, making neutral balance and light touch control preferable to heavy weighting.
- Wrapping bicycle handlebar grips around the sled pole increases grip diameter and friction, allowing operators to maintain finer control with reduced hand pressure compared to the bare metal pole.
- Attaching a circular spirit level to the base of the sled accelerates the balancing process and helps reduce side-to-side roll during shooting.
- Securing loose components like monitor batteries and power converters with adhesive velcro prevents balance shifts during operation.
- Thicker gimbal handles similar to Steadicam designs encourage lighter touch operation, while overly thick grips may inadvertently prompt excessive force application by inexperienced operators.
Depends on
- Advice based on experience with Glidecam V8 and Smooth Shooter models, which may not apply to all stabilizer types.
- Heavy-rig modifications and weighting recommendations were developed for specific camera models and may require adjustment for different setups.
- Some disagreement exists about optimal grip diameter and its effects on operator control across different skill levels.
- The discussion includes anecdotal modifications rather than manufacturer specifications.