GLIDECAMDevin Graham Signature Series Camera (0.9 Up To 12 lbs)

Disclamer: I got tired of eternal "5 stars reviews" from people who got products for free or at a discounted price, so I decided to add my own experiences, unbiased and honest, from real world user who actually PAYS for products I do need and use, when they are useable :)First quick note, I will come back on my choice between steadycam vs motorized gimbal at the end of this review....After trying 2 chinese knock off that I returned promptly without never having being able to balance them, I decided to try my luck with the high end and costly DGS new evol from Gladecam.15 years ago, I did own my first Glidecam, a 4000 pro, which was a pain to balance (but at least workable).This DGS model is not the new version of the 4000 pro as Glidecam upgraded this old one by two time (notably with the bestseller 4000HD I never used). So the difference with my old experience is huge!The Devin Graham Signature is very solid, superbly designed and machined. But I got the same feeling from the 2 chinese stabilizers I bought recently (and reviewed here on Amazon before returning them). Indeed, the DGS is kind of 4000HD with bonuses, and those bonuses make the difference.To make it short, after the bad experience of the Wild cat, I was fearing to spend the rest of my life trying to balance this one. To be clear, it took me less than 15mn to make the assembly out of the box then to achieve a perfect balance with my gear mounted over the stabilizer. Glidecam did a great job to make it easy to setup and balance the system.Does it worth the money? This is a very personal decision. The Glidecam DGS is very expensive. But it was also the only one I was able to balance. I don't know if I was unlucky with the two previous stabilizers I got, but as a matter of fact, I seriously wonder from who came all those positive reviews about those cheap knock off. Maybe some unexperienced users, too happy to get a good looking device, feels ok with approximate results? If to take in count footages they post on youtube, it appears obvious to me their expectations are quite low...But anyway, the great benefit of this Glidecam (and Glidecam stuff in general) is the ability for the owner to fine tune the calibration of the gimbal. And just this deserve the extra money.To speak frankly, I had to return the previous stabilizers because of huge miscalibration. And unfortunately, there is no way to fix it yourself (without disassembling the gimbal and taking huge risks to ruin the device). The DGS I received wasn't miscalibrated, which is a plus and a good sign of the quality control from this reputed brand. But even if I had to fine tune the gimbal, the design from Glidecam makes it so easy: no need for disassemble the device. A simple allen key is enough to set the small screw around the gimbal. Really nice and convenient.The only complain I have to formulate, and actually it is huge: the knob chosen by Glidecam to set the leg's length of this device is just a knife! I did hurt my forefinger very badly while screwing/unscrewing this knob. A 3 cm deep injurie, blood everywhere and, to be complete, weeks after my finger is not yet completely healed. This is a pure shame! At this price tag, we could expect from the brand to chose an appropriate and safe system, as we can find on cheap knock off by the way, or at least to seriously check all parts before the assembly of the gear (maybe this knob was not well machined, I don't know). So, be careful when you need to change the pole length.Also, I found questionable to not find a dock plate to use with a light stand in the package. Again, this is one of the most expensive tool in that range. And don't expect to fix it by buying the expensive Glidecam docking plate for the HD serie, it wont fit perfectly. In one word, there is no specificaly designed docking bracket available so far (at least from Glidecam).Last note: this device is quite heavy, and designed mostly for heavy HDSLR system. The temptation will grow fast to use it with an arm and vest. Glidecam offers some solution, but be ready to sell a kidney to join the club. With my 2.6kg camera system, and the 2.5kg stabilizer, I was able to operate for at best 4 to 5mn. Recovery needs time and it wont be safe to push on your muscles. So you'll probably go for a cheapest way, trying to find a knock off vest. There is decent products in that field. Just make sure to get one device made and compatible with the Glidecam handle diameter!All that in mind, do I recommand this steady? Definitely YES... if you can swallow the bill :)Isn't it possible to achieve similar footages with cheaper solutions: I'm absolutely sure it is... if you get a decetly calibrated one.A final word about the Steady vs Motorized gimbal war:I myself did lot of search about both system and was on the point the use this budget for a gimbal. But the deeper I was searching, the more I got convinced that electronic gimbals brings more possible technical issues in your workflow. Motors fail, motors need accu, motors need tricky software calibration, motors don't like bad weather and motors are limited in the weight they can handle (in this price range), etc.Footages from a gimbal are very good looking. But also too perfect looking (which can be the searched result obviously).If you want more organic 'flying' footages, in the spirit of what the steadycam was created for, then a handhelded stabilizer is the way to go.Both system has its own benefits and limits. I may be wrong, but I ended to think a purely mechanical devise, ruled by just physical was the better way to go for me.

La qualité à un prix, c'est un fait. Après avoir tester bon nombre de gimbals manuels de marques peu ou pas reconnue - et avoir été insatisfaits de ces essais, je me suis penché vers cette version ultime de Glidecam.1/ Parce que je ne voulais pas me laisser guider par les sirènes des gimbals tout électronique comme les Beholder ou autre Dji Ronin2/ Parce que je crois toujours qu'un produit manipulable et ajustable à la main sera toujours un allié sur le long terme (bien qu'il nécessite des réajustements)Et hormis le prix (très élevé - mais une nouvelle fois, quand la qualité est là - ce n'est plus un souci) je n'ai rien à redire sur ce modèle. La prise en main est très simple, l'équilibrage également, et la tige "Manfrotto" directement incluse est une excellente idée pour basculer facilement d'un mode Glidecam à un mode trépied.Les finitions sont sobres, la prise en main excellente.Je le recommande pour les utilisateurs souhaitant un glidecam fiable et très facilement modulable.Je retire une étoile à cause du coût, autrement c'est parfait.

Bisher hatte ich die Glidecam HD-4000 in Benutzung und war eigentlich auch sehr zufrieden mit dem Teil. Für meine Sony Alpha 5100 konnte ich die HD-4000 leider nicht benutzen, da ein Mindestgewicht der Kamera von 1,5kg notwendig sind, um die Glidecam ausbalancieren zu können. Mit der Devin Graham Signature (DGS) kann man auch leichte Systemkameras (meine Sony Alpha 5100 wiegt mit Objektiv knapp 500g) einsetzen als auch schwere Spiegelreflex- oder Videokameras bis 5kg. Beim Einsatz leichter Kameras hat man den Vorteil, dass man weniger Gewicht stemmen muss und dadurch länger filmen kann, bevor der Arm oder das Handgelenk schmerzt.Auch das Justieren geht viel einfacher und schneller Vonstatten als mit der HD-4000. Man muss keine Schrauben zum Einstellen lösen, die man hinterher wieder feststellen muss. Mit der Schnellwechselplatte geht auch das auf- und abmontieren der Kamera deutlich einfacher und schneller. Durch Strichmarkierungen an der Wechselplatte lässt sich die bereits justierte Position leicht wiederfinden.Der größte Unterschied zur HD-4000 ist der höhenverstellbare kardanische Aufhängung (amerikanisch: Gimbal). Damit lässt sich jetzt die Pendelbewegung sehr leicht einstellen. Wenn man mit der Kamera kopfüber in Bodennähe filmen möchte, braucht man nur die kardanische Aufhängung um ca. 3 Zentimeter zu verschieben, um die Balance so auszurichten, dass es wieder passt.Für mich hat sich die zusätzliche Investition nach Abzug des Erlöses für meine alte HD-4000 auf jeden Fall gelohnt.

If you have any doubts, trust me when I say that this thing is a serious step up from the HD4000. Just a shame they still haven't improved the design on the weighted bottom plate... With the full width extension and maximum amount of weight plates, there is significant horizontal play/bend in the metal. Why can't they make it stiffer??!The quick release plate they have adopted is virtually identical to the standard Manfrotto tripod plates used almost everywhere. Which is very handy!I also love the fact that the extendible downtube now has a stopper built in so it doesn't fall out the bottom when you extend it too much...Overall a worthwhile upgrade.

I am not the pro user in the family, but this gets so much use for dynamic filming. The adjustment plates are in a different league to its equivalent competition. If you are actually going to use it, and use it a lot, the ease of set up means that you are saving a lot of time.