2008Operating forum
Goofy versus standard operating positions on Steadicam rigs and compatibility with specific equipment
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Standard Steadicam operation has the socket block on the operator's left, with the arm extending to the left holding the sled, the right hand controlling the gimbal (power hand), and the left hand providing light touch on the post (finesse hand).
- Goofy operation reverses this setup entirely, with the socket block on the operator's right, arm extending to the right, and left hand as power while right hand provides finesse.
- The V16 Glidecam does not support goofy-style operation.
- Operators develop strong preferences for one configuration over time and may find switching between positions difficult during active work.
- Some operators are left-hand dominant for gimbal control while being right-handed for other tasks, suggesting that hand dominance and hemisphere dominance both influence comfortable setup choices.
- Actioncam rigs are typically configured for goofy operation by default and may require adjustment to convert to regular setup.
- Operators using alternative rigs report that setup time and balance adjustment speed can be faster than with certain professional steadicam equipment.
Depends on
- Discussion focuses mainly on Steadicam and Actioncam equipment; applicability to other brands unclear.
- V16 Glidecam limitation is stated as fact but not explained mechanically.
- Comfort and performance preferences are subjective and vary between operators.
- Some participants mention personal experience with specific equipment but lack systematic comparison data.