Glidecam Industries Glidecam HD-1000, Glidecam HD-2000, Glidecam HD-4000 User Manual
GLIDECAM
T h e H D S e r i e s
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MANUAL
Set-up and Operations Guide
Glidecam Industries, Inc. 23 Joseph St, Kingston, MA 02364
Customer Service Line 1-781-585-7900
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
COPYRIGHT 2008-2009 GLIDECAM INDUSTRIES,INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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table of contents
1. Introduction
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2. Glidecam HD-2000 Parts and Components
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3. Assembling your Glidecam HD-2000
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4. Attaching your camera to your Glidecam
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5. Balancing your Glidecam HD-2000
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6. Handling your Glidecam HD-2000
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7. Operating your Glidecam HD-2000
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8. Shooting Tips
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9. Improper Techniques
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10. Other Camera Attachment Methods
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11. Professional Usage
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12. Maintenance
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13. Warnings
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14. Warranty
15. Online Information
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SECTION # PAGE #
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PLEASE NOTE
Since the Glidecam HD-2000 is essentially the same as the HD-1000 and the HD-4000,
this manual only shows photographs of the Glidecam HD-2000 being setup and used. The
Glidecam HD-1000 and the HD-4000 are just smaller and larger versions of the HD-
2000. When there is an important difference between the HD-2000 and the HD-1000 and
HD-4000 you will see it noted with a ***. Also, the words HD-2000 will be used for the
most part to include the HD-1000 and HD-4000 as well.
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#1 Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of a Glidecam HD-1000 and/or Glidecam HD-2000/Glidecam HD-
4000.
The amazingly advanced and totally re-engineered HD-Series from Glidecam Industries represents the
top of the line in hand-held Camera Stabilization.
The lightweight and state-of-the-art Glidecam HD-1000, HD-2000, and HD-4000 hand-held Camera
Stabilizers will transform your hard to watch, shaky camera footage into hypnotically smooth,
professional footage.
The Glidecam HD-Series offers advanced features and a degree of sophistication never before seen in a
line of hand-held Camera Stabilizers.
With the Glidecam HD-Series hand-held Stabilizers your camcorder seems to float, always balanced,
isolated from the undesirable motions of your hands. Now you are free to move with your camera –
panning, tilting, booming or running without any camera instability or shake.
The Glidecam HD-Series works so well that it allows you to shoot incredibly smooth and graceful shots
even while going to extremes like running up and down stairs or traveling over rugged terrain. When it
comes to normal shooting, like walking or moving the camera slowly around someone, the results are
equally magical.
Each HD-Series Stabilizer’s offset, foam-cushioned, Handle Grip is attached to a free floating, three axis
Gimbal. This allows your hand to move up and down and side-to-side, thereby isolating your hands’
unwanted motions from the camera. This up and down movement alleviates the bouncing, pogo-type
action often associated with our competitor’s system. This is because their handle is not designed to
have the beneficial ability to move up and down. This design feature, coupled with the overall higher
inertia of the HD-Series systems, produces superior stabilization when compared with our competition.
A unique and proprietary precision, three-axis Gimbal incorporates several adjustable axis convergence
controls. This allows all three axes to intersect for proper operational alignment.
A camera-mounting platform with a quick-release, no-tools drop on camera plate allows you to quickly
attach or remove your camera. Ergonomic control knobs allow quick, precise adjustment of the top
stage’s back and forth, and side-to-side movement. These controls allow you to adjust the camera’s
horizontal balance.
By varying the amount of Counter Weights on the Base Platform, or by changing the length of the no-
tools telescoping Central Post, you adjust the camera’s vertical balance. When balanced properly the
camera floats, ready for you to move into action.
The Glidecam HD Series Stabilizers offer unparalleled controllability and ease of use with their unique
rigid, yet dynamically adjustable, control and weight distribution surfaces. Setting up, controlling and
adjusting system balance is now quick and precise.
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A unique and proprietary dynamic Base Platform can expand or contract. This allows you to easily
adjust the system’s dynamic balance or to increase or decrease the systems rotational pan inertia.
Shot after shot, move after move, the Glidecam HD-Series Stabilizers deliver beautifully smooth and
professional results. With the Glidecam HD-Series you no longer need a tripod or a dolly. All you need
is your creativity, imagination, and innovation!
Glidecam Industries is now becoming the choice of a generation. Glidecam makes your decisions
concerning camera stability and movement simple and easy. When you wish for your camera to glide
smoothly along your chosen path, simply rely, as so many have and still do, on using a Glidecam
Camera Stabilizer. Glidecam Industries, Inc., now in its seventeenth year, offers a wide range of camera
stabilizers, each optimized for various camera weights and shooting conditions.
The Glidecam HD-Series 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 HD1000, HD-2000, or HD-4000. Doing so will save you time, and will minimize the risk of damage to
your camcorder or the Glidecam HD-1000, HD-2000, or HD-4000. 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
1-781-585-7900, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Eastern Time.
We’re sure that once you have your Glidecam HD-1000, HD-2000, or HD-4000 up and running, you
will find years of enjoyment with it.
#2 Glidecam HD-2000
Parts and Components
Congratulations on your purchase of a Glidecam
HD-2000. When you unpack your Glidecam
HD-2000 you will see that it is not completely
assembled. Contents of the Glidecam HD-2000
shipping box include: the MANUAL,
CENTRAL POST with gimbal assembly,
QUICK RELEASE PLATE, CAMERAMOUNTING PLATFORM, BASE
PLATFORM, TELESCOPING POST,
HARDWARE bag, and COUNTER WEIGHT
PLATES.
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TOOLS NEEDED: You will need Standard and Phillips Head Screwdrivers (not included).
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This is the Glidecam HD-2000 CENTRAL
POST with attached gimbal assembly. ***The
HD-1000 has a smaller CENTRAL POST and the
HD-4000 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 HD-2000.
1) QUICK RELEASE PLATE
2) CAMERA-MOUNTING
PLATFORM
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This is the QUICK RELEASE PLATE for
the Glidecam HD-2000. This is the plate
that you will be mounting your Camera
on. To remove the quick release plate
from the head assembly turn the knobs
counterclockwise and then pull on the
knobs to release.
***The QUICK RELEASE PLATES for
the HD-1000 and the HD-4000 are
different.
This is the CAMERA-MOUNTING
PLATFORM with front to back and side
to side movement adjustment knobs.
This is the expandable BASE
PLATFORM.
***The Glidecam HD-1000 has a smaller
BASE PLATFORM and the Glidecam
HD-4000 has a larger BASE
PLATFORM.
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This is the TELESCOPING POST.
***The Glidecam HD1000 and HD4000
has slightly different sizes.
These are the 10 HD2000 and HD4000
COUNTER WEIGHT PLATES (shown
in bag).
The HD1000 has 8 COUNTER WEIGHT
PLATES.
This is the HARDWARE set for the
Glidecam HD-2000.
***The Glidecam HD-1000 and HD-4000
have slightly different HARDWARE.
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Camera Mounting Screws Counter Weight Plates
10
¼”Washers Black Bolts for Counter Plates
Rubber Washers Black Thumb Nuts
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#3 Assembling your Glidecam HD-2000
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First, get the BASE PLATFORM and the
TELESCOPING POST.
See photo #11 for the BASE
PLATFORM and photo #12 for the
TELESCOPING POST.
Note the threaded insert located in the
bottom of the TELESCOPING POST.
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Connect the TELESCOPING POST to the
BASE PLATFORM by tightly screwing
the TELESCOPING POST onto the
treaded stud sticking up from the center of
the BASE PLATFORM.
At this point, your Glidecam HD-2000
should look like photo #14 which is
showing the TELESCOPING POST
attached to the BASE PLATFORM
securely.
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