Gimbal vs. Glidecam – Which Provides the Best Footage

We have been extensively looking at gimbals for some time now but for those who do not know, the market also gives you the chance to choose from glidecams a lot of the time, people are confused as to what glidecams are and how they are different from gimbals, to begin with.

Therefore, we have decided to put this to rest as we are going to take a look at some of the things that separate them both, and at the end of the day, you can make the decision for yourself.

Gimbals and Glidecams for Image Stabilization

I do understand that this might not be an easy thing for most people who are just starting out but the purpose of this guide is to make it more convenient for everyone so you do not run into any issues that might come in the way, otherwise. For now, let’s focus on these things so you know what to look for and what not to look for.

So, which one provides superior image stabilization? That is what we are going to figure out. The purpose here is simple, to be honest. Both are made for providing image stabilization but getting something that is not going to be good in general is not going to cut it. You want something that can help you on your video shoot and can easily balance cameras, too.

Gimbal Vs Glidecam

What is a Gimbal?

We are going to start with talking about the gimbal because this is something that has been the talk of the town for the longest time it has been and honestly, the answers are a lot simpler than you might understand, to begin with.

Gimbals have been giving us some amazing and superior image stabilization as far as it goes and have been around for a long, long time. if you want something that supports your camera rig, this is the right way to go. Does not matter if you have a heavier camera or a lighter camera, for exceptionally stable footage, a gimbal is always what most people go for.

Smooth Footage Made Easy

For those wondering, a gimbal is a tool that is loaded with motors and some really intelligent sensors that work in tandem to stabilize the camera. This allows the user to film some silky smooth footage even when they are on the move, and while it might not sound like much, for anyone who is aware of how difficult handheld videos can be, the gimbal basically eliminates all the difficulties that might come in the way.

Glidecam Smooth Shooter

There is no shortage of amazing gimbals available in the market, to be honest. You can easily get your hands on the right one and that too, without any issues. If you are having some issues finding the right gimbal, you can always check our roundups as we have explored some excellent gimbals over the past couple of months and you would be surprised to know about the variety that is available.

I do understand that with a gimbal, you have to worry about the battery life as well. Despite the image stabilization being excellent, the battery is always something that worries people. Thankfully, the glide cam smooth shooter does not have such issues.

Enhance Filming with Gimbals: A Must-Have Tool

Needless to say, if you are someone who is looking for a good, smooth filming experience, a gimbal is something that will get the job done and will be very convenient for you, as well. However, you must remember that with gimbals, you have to know about battery life, as well as other options. Not to forget, a good camera stabilizer or gimbal has to have the ability to carry a heavier camera rig or a lighter camera rig or else you would be buying something that is useless.

What is a Glidecam?

Next up, we are looking at another industry standard in the name of Glidecam. For those who are wondering, Glidecam is a company with several products under its umbrella like Steadicam and more. So, what exactly is a difference and how do things work, to begin with?

Simplicity of Glidecam Stabilizers

Well, honestly, the overall working of Glidecam is a lot simpler to understand, you just have to have some basic understanding of physics and you will be able to tell the difference with ease. So, if you are looking for some of the best camera stabilizers and want something that can easily handle the likes of video cameras or cinema cameras, then a glide cam stabilizer is always a great choice.

Balancing a Glidecam with Counterweights

For those wondering, a Glidecam uses counterweights and then balances the camera on a short pole around a center axis. In case the camera and the lens setup are heavier than the Glidecam can handle, you will have to add more weights at the bottom to keep things steady and stable during movement.

Additionally, the length of the center pole in relation to handling is often adjusted to keep the camera stable and still during movement, allowing you to have some excellent experience.

Mastering Manual Operation for Smooth Shots

As you may have guessed already, a Glidecam does not come with any electronic parts, which means that it is going to rely entirely on the gravity and the movement of the user for a smooth shot. Therefore, using a glide cam is going to take more time than you might think, and mastering it is a lot more difficult for newcomers.

Glidecams can be used in various ways, and some can even be mounted on the user’s body with the use of special harnesses, and that does allow for a much, much easier overall experience.

Is Glidecam a Gimbal?

When you are in the market trying to get your hands on the right offering, it is important to understand that you are fully aware of the differences between all the devices that are available in the market so you can have an easier time deciding.

So, for those who are still wondering if Glidecam is a gimbal, then the answer is rather simple, a Glidecam is not a gimbal and there are significant differences between both.

For starters, a gimbal, in almost all cases, is motorized with sensors all around the device as well as cables that plug into the camera so you can have perfect control over every aspect of the camera and the device. A gimbal also connects to your smartphone in case you need to fine-tune your camera and gimbal and make the right type of footage. If you’re specifically interested in gimbals tailored for certain camera models, considering the optimal gimbals for Sony Rx100 users might be beneficial

On the other hand, a Glidecam is more or less entirely mechanical is based largely on physics, and works without any electrical wizardry. I do understand that the purists might prefer going for a Glidecam because of the amount of control it grants you but you also need to understand that Glidecam comes with a pretty steep learning curve, so it is only suited for those who are actually looking for a better experience overall.

As far as the user experience and ease of access are concerned, gimbals offer better control as they allow you to be at peace knowing that all the heavy work is being handled by the gimbal as well as the motors and sensors that are installed in the gimbal.

Is Glidecam Better Than Gimbal?

This a common question that comes to us all the time, and well, this is something that most people who are in the market are often going through this confusion. To be honest, the answers are a lot simpler than one might know and we are going to focus on how one can find the right one and that too, without any confusion that might come in the way.

For those wondering whether Glidecam is better than the gimbal, let me break it down for you which will inherently make the decision-making process easier for you.

Glidecam: Heavier Cameras, Longer Shooting

For starters, Glidecams serve as an excellent choice for anyone who has a heavier camera, especially astrophotography cameras are on the heavier side. If you are also looking for longer shooting time, a Glidecam is inherently better suited because they do not come with any batteries that need to be charged, so in all cases, you are good to go.

Gimbal: Flexible and Easy-to-Use

With that out of the way, the gimbals are going to be a lot more flexible, and not just that, they have an inherently better system, they are able to deliver better overall performance as well, and they will provide a smoother performance considering how you are not going to have to worry about the learning curve.

In the simplest form, the reason why gimbals are better is that in most cases, they follow the simple principles of plug and play, which is something that a lot of people are always looking into because they want convenience and ease of access. Needless to say, gimbals do get the better of Glidecams and are being used a lot more, even in high-end filmmaking because a lot of the time, people do not have to go through the issues.at all.

How Are Gimbals Better Than Glidecams

Now, this should not really come as a surprise to anyone but a lot of people might be wondering just how exactly are gimbals going to be better than glide cams, Well, there are a lot of ways through which this happens and we are even going to go ahead and explore some of the advantages that have been there for the longest time.

Still, I am going to mention some of the most common aspects that make gimbals an excellent choice for anyone who is looking to go ahead and invest in one of these tools. After all, a proper experience is what matters the most and this happens all the time. Let’s have a look at the advantages that you get from investing in a gimbal.

• Easier to Use:
  If you have experienced something like a gimbal, the best thing is that the moment you take it out of the box, it can be set up in a matter of minutes. Especially the gimbals from renowned companies such as DJI that have been around for the longest time. Setting up a gimbal and then using it is a lot easier thanks to all the motors and sensors that make life easy and worry-free.
• A Lot More Portable:
  Another great thing about gimbals that inherently makes them better than the rest is the fact that they are a lot more portable; you can carry them with a lot of ease and convenience. Furthermore, with gimbals, you can even fold them up because DJI does make some affordable and portable gimbals. The point here is that if you have been searching for something that offers more portability, gimbals are the way to go.
• Lots of Features:
  Despite being really good for overall usage, the one thing that keeps Glidecams held down is the fact that you are not getting a lot of features with it. Gimbals, on the other hand, are loaded with both advanced and basic features that will allow you to truly carry out your filmmaking with as much convenience as possible.
• Very Versatile:
  Another great thing about gimbals is that they are very, very versatile. The best thing here is that you do not have to worry much about the overall usability either. You can buy gimbals for full-frame cameras, crop-sensor cameras, mobile phones, and even action cameras, which allows you to have all the more flexibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

I do understand that a lot of the time, people do run into confusion when it comes to deciding on the right equipment but a choice is always something that one needs to make as you cannot really go ahead and buy something random.

The purpose of this whole guide is rather simple, we are here to help you make the decision and tell you, which one is a better option from both.