Glidetrack HD & Shooter
I’ve been a fan of the Glidetrack ever since I got the original version back in 2008. Since then though Alastair, the creator of the Glidetrack has been beavering away up in Scotland turning that original version into a whole family of products. Visit the glidetrack website now and you get to choose options from a range of four models, The SD, HD, XD, or the Shooter.
I recently upgraded my original (SD) track for the uprated HD version, this offers a much stiffer bar and a mounting plate that’s much better suited to my EX1 than the original one was. The only down side to the beefy HD is the weight of it, it’s no longer an easy thing to carry around all day, but that doesn’t matter because there’s also a new lightweight Glidetrack… the “Shooter”.
Like all Glidetracks, the shooter comes in various lengths, mine is a half meter model. The Glidetrack shooter features smaller lighter feet than it’s bigger brothers and the track is the same size as the SD range so the whole thing is very lightweight and easy to carry around. What makes the Shooter special though is that Alastair has added a few bits of bling to it to make it also function as a shoulder mount. The front foot has a pair of legs that rotate and lock into position to form handles. The slide mechanism can also be locked too by tightening a small thumbscrew on the side of the mounting plate. There’s also a small foam pad on the bottom of the track that provides some comfort if using the shooter as a shoulder rig.
The Glidetrack shooter is by no means a competitor to dedicated shoulder mount systems, but as a portable dolly, being able to function as a shoulder support too makes it a very useful piece of kit to have, especially if you shoot with a DSLR. I was never really comfortable mounting the 1m SD on a tripod, but the half meter shooter is great for use on legs, I’ve even been using it mounted to the top of a carbon stills tripod by Manfrotto.
Whilst I had the Glidetracks on my Kitchen table I couldn’t resist having a little play with them, here’s the results.
You might have realised by now that I love my glidetracks, they give you amazingly professional results for a relatively low cost. The Shooter is an excellent addition to the line is highly recommended for anyone who shoots with a DSLR.
For more information about glidetrack products visit www.glidetrack.com
I got the glidetrack as well. love it.
hello, I have some doubts. glidetrack comes with swivel head? can adapt to any tripod? SD or HD for dslr? Glidetrack or Glidetrack SD Range Shooter?
thank you!
A glidetrack does not come with a head at all, you need to add a head of your choice. Most tripod plates can be attached to the bottom of the glidetrack as it has a threaded hole in the centre, you need to make sure the tripod is stable enough of course. For DSLR I prefer using the shooter.
Paul, thanks so much for your helpful website. I just stumbled upon it today.
I’m trying to decide whether to go with the Glidetrack SD or the Shooter. I would much rather the shooter, but can’t decide if it is worth the extra money. So both mount on a tripod the same?
I’d like to do exactly what you describe in your Manfrotto 394 QR setup. I travel a lot in developing countries so need to be very low profile.
Hi Paul.
Personally I’d say the Shooter is worth the extra £25 just for the fact that it allows you to lock the position of the slider on the rail. The fact that it comes with the other bits & bobs is a bonus really, I often remove the handles if I need to pack my shooter but it’s nice to have them as an option.
Just came back from SXSW where I used the Shooter everywhere. Handheld with EOS 7D (with manfrotto 501 head), tracking shots with EOS 7D and handheld shoulder mount for EX1.
Fantastically useful piece of kit, extremely versatile. I keep a manfrotto plate permanently on the bottom (parallel with metal track) so I can quickly go from shoulder mount to tripod dolly to floor mount very quickly.
Hi there, couple of questions…
a) would the shooter be okay with a long lens like the 70-200 – that is to say, would the whole rig tip over due to the extruding lens weight?
b) Would a camcorder like the Z5 be suitable for the shooter?
Thanks!
I’ve used the Shooter with my 70-200 and it’s fine. I’ve also used my EX1 with it and it works well as long as the rig is balanced, for example if the camera is tilted down and theres more weight on the front the track can become a bit grippy.
Hey ! nice shot. What’s the name of the music you used?
What music did you use ?! Good job!
Hey Paul! Love the site. A quick question for you:
- I know you’ve mentioned using a ball-head mount for your glidetrack. Do you have any specific suggestions? I’m shooting with a 7D.
The one I’m using on my Shooter is a standard Manfrotto ball head from a stills tripod. I modified it by fitting the RC4 plate, getting the old plate off wasn’t easy though!
Manfrotto do sell the 498RC4 with an RC4 plate fitted which I’d probably go for if buying another one.
thanks for the reply, Paul! I’ll take a look!
Paul – great website and blog.
I’m thinking of getting a glidetrack but have a slightly heavier dslr setup (1DM4.) Would you still recommend the Shooter over the regular glidetrack as a first slider? Lenses used at the biggest would be the 70-200 II. I don’t have a shoulder rig yet so this would get a bit of double duty as that in the short run.
Also, do you have any sense of HD vs SD for the Shooter and if going beyond the standard length (up to .75 meter or 1 meter) would make the Shooter too unwieldy for shoulder use?