Glidecam 2000 pro User manual

table of contents

SECTION # PAGE #

1. Introduction 3

2. Glidecam 2000 Pro Parts and Components 4

3. Assembling your Glidecam 2000 Pro 8

4. Attaching your camera to your Glidecam 17

5. Balancing your Glidecam 2000 Pro 20

6. Handling your Glidecam 2000 Pro 25

7. Operating your Glidecam 2000 Pro 26

8. Shooting Tips 28

9. Improper Techniques 29

10. Other Camera attachment methods 30

11. Professional usage 30

12. Maintenance 31

13. Warnings 31

14. Warranty 32

PLEASE NOTE

Since the Glidecam 2000 Pro and the Glidecam 4000 Pro are basically the same, this manual only

shows photographs of the Glidecam 2000 Pro being setup and used. The Glidecam 4000 Pro is just a

bigger and stronger version of the 2000 Pro. When there is an important difference between the two

products you will see it noted with a ***. Also, the words 2000 Pro will be used for the most part to

mean both the 2000 Pro and the 4000 Pro.

#1 INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of a Glidecam 2000 Pro, and/or Glidecam 4000 Pro.

The Glidecam 2000 Pro is a lightweight, aluminum, hand-held camcorder stabilizing system

designed to allow you to walk, run, go up and down stairs and travel over rugged terrain

without any camera instability or shake. When used correctly the Glidecam 2000 Pro can

move with such fluidity and grace as to be virtually indistinguishable from shots made by

expensive dollies, cranes and stabilizers. The Glidecam 2000 Pro is the most versatile and

dynamic of all the consumer camcorder stabilizers on the market. It can shoot straight up and

down, or even sideways and still produce stable images.

Fluid tilts and pans, crane-like booms, dolly-type maneuvers, and the ability to shoot smooth

shots from moving vehicles are all easily accomplished with the Glidecam 2000 Pro. The

offset gimbaled handle-grip and enclosed bearing assembly allow your hand to move freely in

several directions, while the horizontal yoke allows your hand and arm to move up and down,

alleviating the bouncing, pogo-type action often associated with our competitors’systems. The

upper camera platform moves back and forth, and side to side to quickly allow the balancing of

your camera in relationship to the counterweights. By varying the amount of counterweight

disks on the base platform, the Glidecam 2000 Pro can support any compact, camcorder weighing

up to six pounds, and the *** Glidecam 4000 Pro can support any camcorder weighing from

four to ten pounds.

The Glidecam 2000 Pro requires practice and understanding to achieve professional looking

results. We highly recommend that the user read this manual thoroughly before setting up and

operating the Glidecam 2000 Pro. Doing so will save you time, and will minimize the risk of

damage to your camera, camcorder or the Glidecam 2000 Pro. It is important to perform and

follow the Set-up and Operation’s procedures in the proper sequence, so as to avoid both

frustration and a possible accident.

If you have need of any technical assistance, you can call our Technical Support Line at

1-508-830-1414, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Eastern

Time, USA.

We are sure that once you have your Glidecam 2000 Pro set-up and running, you will find

years of enjoyment with it.

#2 - GLIDECAM 2000 PRO

PARTS AND COMPONENTS

Congratulations on your purchase of a

Glidecam 2000 Pro. When you unpack your

Glidecam 2000 Pro you will see that it is

not completely assembled. Contents of the

Glidecam 2000 Pro shipping box include;

the MANUAL, CENTRAL POST with

gimbal assembly, HEAD PLATE, MID

PLATE, BOTTOM PLATE, BASE

PLATFORM, TELESCOPING POST,

HARDWARE bag, and COUNTER

WEIGHT DISKS.

TOOLS NEEDED: You will need both

Standard and Phillips Head Screwdrivers

(not included).

This is the Glidecam 2000 Pro

CENTRAL POST with attached gimbal

assembly. *** The Glidecam 4000 Pro

has a longer CENTRAL POST.

Warning – Do not adjust or tighten the

factory settings on the gimbal, handle,

and yoke. These parts should remain

loose and move freely, just as they are

shipped to you.

These are the pieces that makeup the

HEAD ASSEMBLY of the Glidecam

2000 Pro.

1) HEAD PLATE (shown left)

2) MID PLATE (shown center)

3) BOTTOM PLATE (shown right)

TELESCOPING CLAMP

GIMBAL ASSEMBLY

This is the HEAD PLATE for the

Glidecam 2000 Pro. This is the plate that

you’ll be mounting your Camera on.

*** The HEAD PLATE for the

Glidecam 4000 Pro is different than

the one shown to the left. The 4000

Pro HEAD PLATE has 3/8” and

1/4” mounting holes.

This is the MID PLATE.

This is the BOTTOM PLATE.

This is the BASE PLATFORM.

*** The Glidecam 4000 Pro has a larger

BASE PLATFORM.

This is the TELESCOPING POST.

These are the 14 COUNTER WEIGHT

DISKS. (shown in bag)

*** The Glidecam 4000 Pro has 20

COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS.

This is the HARDWARE set for the

Glideacm 2000 Pro.

(shown in bag in Photo #10)

(shown in full in Photo #11)

*** The Glidecam 4000 Pro has slightly

different HARDWARE. More weight

disks are provided, as well as 3/8”

MOUNTING SCREWS and some 3/8”

WASHERS.

#3 ñ Assembling

your Glidecam

2000 Pro

First, Get the BASE PLATFORM and the

TELESCOPING POST.

See photo #7 & #12 for the BASE

PLATFORM & photo #8 & #13 for the

TELESCOPING POST.

Note the threaded insert located in the

bottom of the TELESCOPING POST.

ConnecttheTELESCOPINGPOST

totheBASE PLATFORM bytightly

screwing the TELESCOPING

POST onto the threaded stud

sticking up from the center of the

BASE PLATFORM.

At this point your Glidecam 2000 Pro

should look like photo #15 which is with

the TELESCOPING POST attached to

the BASE PLATFORM securely.

Now find a pair of bolts (example: ¼” x

20 x 1") and attach RUBBER WASHERS

as shown in the photo to the left.

NOTE:Differentlengthboltsare provided

so you can use the longer bolts for a taller

stack of COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS.

Now, insert the selected bolts with

RUBBER WASHERS attached through

the slots in the BASE PLATFORM as

shown in this picture and repeat this

procedure for the slot on the other side of

the BASE PLATFORM.

At this point your Glidecam 2000 Pro

should look like this photo.

NOTE: This is the Monitor Mounting Hole

Stack COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS and

center them over the bolts on the BASE

PLATFORM as shown in this photo.

NOTE:Different lengthboltsare provided

so you can use the longer bolts for a taller

stack of COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS.

NOTE: Heavy Cameras require more

COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS than do

light Cameras.

Place the two FENDER WASHERS over

the COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS stacks

as shown.

Secure the COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS

with the BRASS THUMB NUTS as

shown in this photo and repeat this

procedure for the COUNTER WEIGHT

DISKS on the other side of the BASE

PLATFORM.

Both COUNTER WEIGHT DISK stacks

should now be secured in place with the

FENDER WASHERS and BRASS

THUMB NUTS as shown in this photo.

Now, insert the TELESCOPING POST

with the attached BASE PLATFORM

Assembly up and into the CENTRAL

POST (the Central Post can be seen in

photo # 2).

The TELESCOPING CLAMP’S

“Adjustment Knob” should be facing

the back end of the BASE PLATFORM,

oppositethe Monitor Mounting Hole. The

Monitor Mounting Hole should be in the

front of the BASE PLATFORM.

The TELESCOPING CLAMP’S

“Adjustment Knob” should be aligned so

that it look like it does in photo # 24. To

align the TELESCOPING CLAMP’S

“Adjustment Knob” simply rotate the entire

CENTRAL POST into the correct position,

and then tighten the “Adjustment Knob”.

Also leave about 1 inch of TELESCOPING

POST showing below the TELESCOPING

CLAMP. Also, having the TELESCOPING

CLAMP’S “Adjustment Knob” aligned

correctly, while not technically needed to

make your Glidecam 2000 Pro function

correctly, does make it easier to reach the

Knob later when you use it.

Monitor Mounting Hole

should be in front.

Telescoping Clamp’s

Adjustment Knob

should be in back.

Telescoping Clamp’s

“Adjustment Knob”

shown aligned correctly.

Telescoping Clamp’s

“Adjustment Knob”

shown aligned

incorrectly.

Securely tighten the “Adjustment Knob”

on the TELESCOPING CLAMP by

rotating the Knob clockwise as shown in

this photo.

The “Adjustment Knob” should only be

hand tightened.

WARNING: DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN

THIS KNOB.

At this point this is what your 2000 Pro

should look like, which is with the

CENTRAL POST and TELESCOPING

CLAMP aligned correctly on the

TELESCOPING POST and BASE

PLATFORM assembly.

The amount of COUNTER WEIGHT

DISKS will vary depending on your

Camera weight. Don’t worry about this

toomuch,forlater you will set the number

of COUNTER WEIGHT DISKS to the

correct amount required for your specific

Camera.

This is a photo of the THREADED

INSERT in the top of the CENTRAL

POST.

Rotate and screw the BOTTOM PLATE

into the THREADED INSERT in the top

of the CENTRAL POST.

Tighten the BOTTOM PLATE to the top

of CENTRAL POST to ensure a tight fit.

In the next procedure you are going to

align the BOTTOM PLATE so that its

front edge is parallel to the front edge

of the BASE PLATFORM. The result

of this correct alignment will make your

Glidecam 2000 Pro look like Photo 29B

and Photo 29C. Photo 29C is taken from

the point of view of looking straight

down at the front of the Glidecam 2000

Pro.

There are two ways to create this correct

alignment. The first and easiest is to

just loosen the “Adjustment Knob” on

the TELESCOPING CLAMP and then

rotate the parts until they are correctly

aligned as in Photos 29B and 29C. Then

simply retighten the “AdjustmentKnob”.

Remember to leave about 1 inch of

TELESCOPING POST showing below

the TELESCOPING CLAMP as before.

The second way to correctly align the

parts (see Photo 29A) is to use a Phillips

Screwdriver to loosen the “Screw” on the

top part of the TELESCOPING CLAMP

until you can rotate the parts so they are

correctly aligned as in Photos 29B and

29C. Then simply retighten the “Screw”.

NOTE:The second method of alignment

is better because it keeps the

TELESCOPINGCLAMP’S“Adjustment

Knob” aligned correctly as previously

shown in Photo 24, and having the

TELESCOPINGCLAMP’S“Adjustment

Knob” aligned correctly, while not

technicallyneeded to makeyour Glidecam

2000 Pro function correctly, does make it

easier to reach the Knob later when you

use it.

29A

29B

29C

Now place the MID PLATE on top of

the BOTTOM PLATE.

Insert the BRASS THUMB SCREWS

through the slots in the BOTTOM

PLATE and into the threaded inserts in

the bottom of the MID PLATE.

At this point you should have four

BRASS THUMB SCREWS securing

the MID PLATE to the BOTTOM

PLATE.

In the next section you’ll be attaching

your Camera to the HEAD PLATE and

then attaching the HEAD PLATE and

Camera to the MID PLATE.

#4 - Attaching your

Camera to the

Glidecam 2000 PRO

Now it’s time to attach your Camera to

the Glidecam 2000 Pro’s HEAD PLATE.

First, find the “Threaded Insert” on the

bottom of your Camera.

Now preferably sit down in a chair and

place your Camera base side up in your

lap as in Photo # 35. Place and center the

HEAD PLATE on the base side of your

Camera as in Photo # 36.

Threaded Insert

Make sure the HEAD PLATE is in

alignment and square with the bottom

of the your Camera, and make sure the

“Threaded Insert” on the base of your

Camera is aligned with one of the

“Mounting Holes” in the HEAD

PLATE.

NOTE: If you have a Video Camcorder or

Film Camera that is larger than the one used

in this Manual, then you might wish to first

find the true front to back center of gravity

of your Camera by rolling the base of your

Camera on a pen until it is balanced upon

the pen, then mark this point on your

Camera’s side with a small piece of tape or

a grease pencil, and then use this marking

to center the HEAD PLATE over your

Camera’s center of gravity.

Now use a CAMERA MOUNTING

SCREW and ¼” WASHER to attach the

HEAD PLATE to your Camera.

NOTE: If the shorter CAMERA

MOUNTING SCREW does not work

then try the slightly longer CAMERA

MOUNTING SCREW. Also try using

more than one ¼” WASHER or no ¼”

WASHERS at all if you have trouble with

this mounting procedure.

*** You can use a 3/8” MOUNTING SCREW

and 3/8” WASHER with the 4000 Pro.

With your Camera base side up in your

lap and with the HEAD PLATE in place,

use a flat head screwdriver to secure the

HEAD PLATE to your Camera using the

CAMERAMOUNTING SCREW and ¼”

WASHER combo you have just selected.

WARNING: Do Not Overtighten this

Screw. Overtightening could break

the “Threaded Insert” on your

Camera base.

If all is correct, your Camera and HEAD

PLATE should now be attached to each

other securely as shown in Photo # 39.

NOTE: If you can easily rotate the HEAD

PLATE on the base of your Camera, even

though you have adequately tightened the

CAMERA MOUNTING SCREW, and you

do not feel comfortable tightening the

CAMERA MOUNTING SCREW any

more, then you should think about using

some sort of a flexible “Gasket” between

your Camera base and the HEAD PLATE.

You could use rubber tape, or a square flat

piece of rubber that you create by cutting

up an old rubber dishwashing glove for

example.

NOTE: Also, you could install a “Quick

Release Plate” (not provided) between your

Camera base and the HEAD PLATE at this

time if you wish. We recommend the Bogen

3270, or 3273 “Quick Release Plates”. The

Bogen 3273 is good for longer Cameras.

Now securely place and center your

Camera and the attached HEAD PLATE

on top of the MID PLATE as shown in

Photo # 40 and Photo # 41.

Insert and secure the four remaining

BRASS THUMB SCREWS through the

slots in the HEAD PLATE and into the

“Threaded Inserts” in the sides of the

MID PLATE.

At this point you should have four

BRASS THUMB SCREWS securing

the HEAD PLATE to the MID PLATE

as in Photo # 42.

#5 ñ Balancing

your Glidecam

2000 Pro

Before you begin the balancing process

check for the following:

1) Camera is securely attached to

HEAD PLATE.

2) Lens cap has been removed and

secured.

3) Camera Battery and Video Tape are

installed.

4) Flip out LCD is in it’s operating

position (if applicable as in Photo 42).

5) Telescoping clamp has been

tightened, weight disks added etc.

6) All 8 BRASS THUMBSCREWS in

place and secure.

BALANCING THE HORIZONTAL

AXIS

Nowthatyour Glidecam 2000 Pro is setup

and assembled properly, you can test and

setupthehorizontalbalanceof the system.

The objective in obtaining correct

horizontal balance for the 2000 Pro is to

allow the Camera to remain level during

operation, given you are not applying

either a pan, tilt, or roll type of hand

pressure to the 2000 Pro. In other words,

if the 2000 Pro is horizontally balanced

correctly, then the Camera will remain

level, and the CENTRAL POST will

remain vertical unless you intentionally

position the 2000 Pro otherwise. Also, if

the 2000 Pro is horizontally balanced

correctly it will always return to a level

and vertical position after you release any

pan,tilt, or roll pressure ontheCENTRAL

POST as shown in Photo # 43.

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Table of contents

Glidecam 2000 Pro User manual

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