Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System - for Glidecam 2000 and 4000 Pro

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

The vest is "a must have" if you plan to work many times with glidecam and maybe become a seasoned glidecam/steadicam operator.
BE PATIENT! You won't achieve very good results before 30 full days of work. It's sometimes exhausting and frustrating. But reward is awesome.
Finding the right balance, the right posture, the right weight/counterweight balance need patience. And as soon as you change, add/remove an accessory on your sled...you must re-balance...
I recommend that item IF you are very motivated. It is not simple but gives Hollywood results. You must be imaginative and creative to fit everything on place and balanced.
The vest offers to work with one or two set of springs (two springs per set). If you work with one set, best is to have a 9 pounds weight charge on the sled. If you work with all springs, best is to have 18 pounds of weight charge.
Be prepared for A LOT of try, try, try. Add weight/remove weight. Tune springs (they are fully customizable for resistance), try them, tune, try, tune, try, fine tune, try, re-fine tune, retry...
Once you have found the correct setting(s), you're golden and then have fun looking at your productions.
Highly recommended for motivated people. If possible, rent one with a veteran operator before buying.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

My kit arrived on time and packed securely, with support vest in one box and the swing arm in the second. I spent about two hours unpacking, sorting, reading the manuals, and completing the basic assembly required. The swing arm cam with a special hanger that fits on the top of a typical light stand and supports the swing arm under the gimbal bearing, this part is very handy I'm please they included it in the kit.Next, the fitment of the vest to me and the balancing of the whole system. I'm not a small person and at first I could not get the vest to fit me. I was about to make extensions for all the snap/buckles on the straps until I realized there was more adjustment in the straps. Now with all the straps at full extension I just fit into the vest. But for the future operators that may be larger than me I found nylon workman belts with the same plastic snap/buckles, as the vest, at [@]. You could extend the straps on the vest if needed.With the vest now fitted to my body I turned to setting up the camera, battery, and monitor on the swing are. The directions state that the whole system works best when load to near its max capacity. At first I thought if the camera is balanced then the system should work fine. I use a Canon 5D on a 15mm rail system with a matt box. The counter weights (Large galvanized washers) were replaced with a large battery and a 5" monitor. I had to solder in some extensions to my power cables to reach the camera but this set up seem to balance the swing arm just right. The spring loaded articulating arms come pre-set to the lowest setting. After increasing the tension in the arms to allow the camera to float only used up about ¼ of the capacity in the support arms, according to the handy tension gauges for each spring (the kit comes with nice T-handle Alan wrenches to make adjustments on the fly). I'm a first time steady-cam operator and my first opportunity to use the system made me painfully aware that a zero-G balance system for the camera does not mean zero-G for the operators back. All that canter livered weight, moments, and forces are controlled through your lower back. For a younger more fit operator this may not be an issue. But I'm determined to make it work. After a few takes into the first scene I discovered the real skill of a steady cam operator, controlling the ocean motion. Although the footage was smooth and floating like, the start and stop momentum is a trick to manage. Practice will prevail here. Even though my screaming back is saying no more I need to increase the weight of the swing arm and slow down the undulation effect.Overall I feel this system is a little costly but well-made and engineered. It works well for my indie film making budget and I would recommend it to others.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

It is first camera stabilizer for me.
I seems complicate to adjust balance but actually it is easy.

compare to marlin arm & vest, x-10 vest is more solid and tough. That is result in more stable and easy adjustment.(especially contact point between vest and arm)

5 buckle of vest is very useful. It make it easy to ware vest.
Waring vest itself is uncomfortable. so I appliciate easy to take of vest.

This product is kind of larger than my body size( 160cm 60kg). It is loose while I adjust vest most tight setting. maybe not suit for most of asian.

Since it is simple. It is difficult to add monitor or other device.
But it is enough to record stabilized video.

In my opinion it is good item for the family user from beginner to intermediate.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I bought this to use with a Glidecam 4000 sled that I purchased to replace a home-built stabilizer. The adjustments available on the commercial sled far exceeded the minimal adjustments possible on my home brew device, but the real advancement was aquiring this vest and arm system.

The vest is constructed of nylon fabric with nylon straps, quick-release buckles and various metal bits. It is light, very adjustable and fits my rather large frame well. The arm is also very adjustable in terms of tension, utilizing a supplied T-handle Allen wrench to perform the adjustment. It supports my HPX170 with battery, 7" IKAN monitor with battery at its lowest tension setting. I expect it will also support my HPX500, but I will have to make another battery bracket for the Anton-Bauer battery and associated mounting plate and J-Box. The arm is silent, well articulated and easy to attach to the vest. The attachment itself is adjustable as well in a vertical direction.

I don't really see any negative features yet, though someone with more experience with more expensive gear might not see it that way. The only issue I can see is having to reverse the "elbow" joint for left hand use.

Overall I am very pleased with this purchase. I feel it is the best value available in its price range. I would recommend this vest and arm system to anyone interested in an entry level setup.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

Very good for steady filmimg with a video camera. Folds and unfolds quickly. Very good quality product!

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I use this product for business events for videography. I enjoy the handling of this product and it's adjustment features.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

i've had the Glidecam HD4000 for about a year and got quite good at it. but with the X-10 i had to start all over in a good way. that's why i call it "My new Dog" i go for a walk about an hour every day just to practice. because yes it takes a LOT of practice, but when you master it i'm sure it will be worth every penny. when you put on the sled and camera it feel's weitght less, so to speak.
with four springs and 2 of them being removable you can adjust it to any setup below 6 Pounds.

my only downside would be that with my Canon XH A1s the X-10 quickley max's out the top load.
the heavier the gear the more steady it goes.
but that is only a problem of my funds to by more pro equipment.

but remember the best tool only do the best job, if you know how to handle it!

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I'm a pro videographer but this is my first experience with a glidecam. It certainly isn't something you can just pick up and use. It takes a lot of fooling around to balance (not the vest system but the glidecam itself) and it takes practice to smooth out your motion. The build quality of this system is excellent though and I don't think it would be possible to use a heavy camera like my Sony NX5U without the vest and arm.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I'm pretty happy with this. The vest comes on and off very easily with three quick fasteners rather than velcro (which is used by the Merlin vest), everything balances pretty quickly and consistently. My complaint is the size of the arm. It's very big for the weight it carries when compared to the competition. But once you get some practice with it, it flies very well and makes great footage. Articulation isn't maybe what it should be.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I have been looking for quite some time for a good Vest and Arm to go with my Glidecam HD-2000 and discovered the X-10.
I enjoy the quality of this product.
Very professional. Its perfect for what I do.
It always gives me those smooth shots.
It takes some time to get used to the mechanics of it all.
However, if you are driven to learn and you actually care, its not hard at all.

Glidecam "should" include a brief introduction Dvd on the "ins and outs" of using the X-10. Its pretty easy to learn, but hey... it helps if you are given somewhat of a heading before you make any novice mistakes. No one wants to be a noob. And that is fact. So before you go doing that check out some online vids about the X-10. If no one has any up yet... I'm sure someone will soon.

Other than that, its an amazing product and you won't be disappointed!

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

Provides real nice movements up down ahead and above

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

Bought to use with a Glidecam Pro 4000 I've owned for a while. A little disappointed with the manual considering what it costs. You won't purchase this then run out and use it, it takes time to setup properly and lots of practice to use. Read the manual carefully before assembly. Find a user forum for suggestions & tips on how to use it, good ones are out there. That said, with more practice I think this will be a real asset. Some people have issues with storage, I put everything but the vest in a large case. The vest I hang on a wide shouldered hanger. It's bulky but they all are. Oh, start exercising too as it can be a real workout.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I've recently started a production company and wanted to be very portable. This system allows me to be in and out with it's ease of use, while achieving a very stable shot. I'm currently using the system with the Glidecam HD4000, Canon 7D and a 9" monitor on the sled. I've added as much weight as possible to the sled and camera plate because I find more weight helps to keep the rig more stable. After all the weight added, the rig is about 16lbs. The arm has no problem at all caring the weight. I'm a small person but the included vest still fits very snug. The quality of this product is awesome. I'd have honestly laid down another $1000 for this product. The quality is that good. My only wish is that they had made the gimbal movable, but not a huge issue.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

work well,,,,easy to use

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I was up and using this thing in one day. So the learning curve is easy to get over with a little practice. The X-10 support arm is a must. I could probably hold the Glidecam 4000 by itself for all of 30 seconds before my arm would be worn out. We use a Canon 5D with Redrock rig, a SmallHD monitor and Anton Bauer battery system (at the bottom as counter weight). It's great to use and has really opened up some creative doors.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

easy for work.Shots very smooth and stable.Need
few weeks practice for best result. I very satisfied with this product.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I use this for pre-bridal shoots at weddings along with Reception footage. And now renting myself out as a Glidecam Operator. This is a strong robust item. Built well. Straps could be a bit longer on the vest, and a training DVD would help. I use this with the 4000 PRO and everyone who has seen footage is very impressed. Take note: get in shape! Lower back exercises and walking to build stamina goes along way. You don't have to be a Jack La Lane (thats a fitness guy for you younger people) but you will need to get use to a fast pulse rate. I believe you get what you pay for and this unit is worth every dollar. Makes me money and gets me in shape!

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I use it together with HD4000.
If there is not X-10, I can photograph it by the problem of the physical strength only for around 5 minutes.
The photography of the long time was enabled when I used X-10, and more fluent photography was enabled.
Though the making of of the arm is steady very much, I am surprised.
But the reinforcement of the basics physical strength is necessary because there is a burden to the waist.

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

I have used this equipment ones and I'm really happy, but I need more practice!

Comments about Glidecam X-10 Dual Support Arm Stabilizer Vest System:

The best Glide Cam made!