Should I invest in a glidecam or dolly/jib set up?

[Ryan Elder]

Okay thanks, I didn’t know that the Osmo came with manual exposure control options like that! So what would be a better tool between the Osmo and the Zhiyun crane do you think?

[Ryan Elder]

What about the problem with the gimbals moving robotically though? This guy talks about it in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4mtJTBdtVs&t=12s

5 minutes into the video, he shows how the crane was late in following the basketball, and for my project I will be following a lot of fast moving actors and objects. He also shows how the running actor was harder to follow with the gimbal compared to the glidecam later in the video.

So I worry about the gimbal being robotic and not reacting fast enough. He also says that if try to go for a curved shot that the gimbal will correct it and make it straight, but what if you want a curved shot?

These limitations concern me, but is there ways around them or anything?

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[Todd Terry]

I’ve never felt my stabilized shots looked robotic, nor ever heard of anyone complaining about that.

No patience to watch that dude’s video, but not sure that he fully knows what he is talking about. I don’t know the capabilities of that particular stabilizer, but most of them (as well as the Osmo) have adjustable sensitivity, and different modes, ranging from less stabilization that is very responsive to your moves, to much smoother and more “mushy” for a more fluid look.

Maybe the Zhiyun’s capabilities are limited (after all it is an inexpensive and low-end clone) but every gimbal I’ve ever seen/used/heard about can do curved shots, of course… including the Osmo. The Osmo will only correct and make a curved shot locked-down-straight if I purposely tell it to (in the case of the Osmo that means depressing and holding the main trigger). And as for not being able to follow things, he either has a cheap unit with limited capabilities, or just doesn’t know how to operate it and anticipate action properly.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Ryan Elder]

Okay thanks, I will try to do more research on the crane, but might go for the Ozmo once I research that one more. So you say that gimbals are better than glidecams right… but why is that or what is the advantage?

[Todd Terry]

I never said that gimbals were better than Steadicam-type stabilizers. In fact, a real Steadicam rig, in the hands of a real master operator, absolutely can’t be beat.

What I said was that learning to use that type of stabilizer is not nearly as easy as some people think, and it can take quite a bit of training and even more practice to get really really proficient at it. It’s not a take-it-out-of-the-box-and-use-it piece of gear. It’s just like becoming a proficient DP, or director, or editor, or chef… it takes a lot of work, time, and dedication.

What I said was that gimbals tend to be much easier to learn and a bit more forgiving for novice operators. While it might take months or years to become a great Steadicam op, you can get quite nice shots from a motorized gimbal stabilizer (Movi, Ronin, Osmo, etc.) with only a fair little bit of practice.

I think I’ve about exhausted the advice I have on this… so wish you well and hope you have a great shoot no matter what gear/methods you choose.

T2

__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com

[Ryan Elder]

Okay thanks. Sorry if I asked too many questions, I just want to make a decision on which route is best and not make a mistake on buying the lesser item, if I get a rig.