Glidecam GLULT Ultra Shot Camera Platform Black

The Glidecam Ultra is a great addition to my gear collection. I own several camera rigs but none compare to the versatility and solid design of Ultrashot. I use it in conjunction with a pull focus knob and rails that I mount my Nikon on for video work. Due to the unpredictable nature of recording on location the ability to transition from one shooting mode to another is crucial.Pros:-Very rigid design-Easy to transition between shooting modes-The built-in counterweight and the ability to extend it allows users to shift the center of gravity and balance the load.-The slip plate screw with the spring loaded knob does a great job of securing your camera-The branding shows 4 uses for the Ultraglide; monopod, shoulder mount, flat, and as a steadycam. but a 5th position is leanded against a wall for super stable shots when needed-Love that the handles can repositioned to modify how it is held when shoulder mounted-Great price (when I purchased it)-The head tilts on it's own even after tightening it as tight as possible-The slip plate screw without the knob does not secure the camera well and will allow it to twist if you move too much-Would be nice if it included a soft sleve that could be repositioned over the shaft for shoulder mounting. i.e. when I shoulder mount I extend the shaft to balance both ends. When I do this, the soft coated base is behind me. A moveable sleeve would be awesome so I could keep the metal pole off my shoulder.

I've used a few stabilizers, including their Smooth Shooter rig (Arm, Vest & sled) and while this doesn't do quite as much as that, it's the best thing I've used for fast shooting. You can switch from one function to the other quickly and get smooth shots. One thing to note, it's probably not for heavy camera rigs. All the usual DSLR's, Sony A7's, etc will be fine, but if you've got a 10-12 pound rig going, it might be a bit dicey. Lotsa fun to shoot with.

The main pivot for the camera doesn't tighten enough to keep a 5D Mark IV w/24-70mm from flopping forward when using it in shoulder cam mode... Unusable so far because of that. Can't cinch it tight enough. Tried it both ways and it didn't matter.

Broke after one weekend of shooting.

One thing for sure about this product is that it's really a heavy duty equipment... Although I didn't have this for long it was ok but I didn't have much use for it especially it being so expensive but this is the filmmaking industry and it's expensive.... I would recommend this for those who are always on the go