Stabilizer News Test – Day Off – Glidecam Centurion Test

by Matija Petrovic

The Glidecam Centurion is designed for 1 to 5 pounds (.45 to 2.26 kg.) cameras.

Stabilize your camera with the versatile Centurion from Glidecam, a three-axis, brushless motorized gimbal stabilizer. Able to support mirrorless or DSLR cameras weighing up to five pounds, the Centurion uses three motors to counteract vibrations from the operator, resulting in smooth camera movement for tracking shots. The internal 32-bit processor can compensate for angular vibrations as fine as ±0.02°.

The Centurion can be operated in single or dual-grip configurations, depending on your preferred setup. In either configuration, the integrated joystick controls the camera platform’s pan and tilt so you can simultaneously stabilize and control the camera precisely. Thanks to the slip rings, the Centurion can be set up to operate in inverted and briefcase orientations without reprogramming or loading profiles. To ensure that the Centurion can be consistently balanced, a balancing stand is available separately. When not in use, the stand can be folded down for convenient storage. Four batteries, two chargers, and all necessary camera mounting hardware components are included.

To ensure that the Centurion can be consistently balanced, a balancing stand is available separately. When not in use, the stand can be folded down for convenient storage. Four batteries, two chargers, and all necessary camera mounting hardware components are included.

This box includes:
– Glidecam Centurion
– Balance Stand
– 4 x Batteries
– 2 x Battery Chargers
– Camera Mounting Hardware
– USB Stick with Software

Operating Modes
The internal processor offers five programmable control modes to suit your shooting style. By default, the Centurion is set as follows:
1: Follow Mode
2: Lock Pitch/Follow Yaw
3: Lock Mode
4: Customizable
5: Calibrate ACC

Additional profiles can be programmed in using the free software available from Glidecam. A USB stick with the software is included, and the software is also available for download from the Glidecam website.

Payload: 1-5 lb / 0.5-2.3 kg
Supported Camera Dimensions: 7″ / 17 cm max. depth at center of mass on camera base plate
6″ / 15 cm max. height measured from camera base plate
7″ / 17 cm max. width (room available for articulating LCD screens)
Angular Vibration Range: ±0.02°
Rotation Range Pan: 360°
Tilt: 360°
Roll: 360°
Motor Type: 3 x brushless with AS5600 (I2C) Encoders
Processing: 32-bit
Power Requirement: 4 x Glidecam 26350 batteries (2000 mAh, 3.7v)
Software Requirements: Microsoft Windows: 32 or 64-bit XP (SP3)/7/8
Apple Mac OSX: 10.9 or later
Operating Temperature: 15 to 105°F / -9 to 41°C
Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 12″ / 45 x 30 x 30 cm
Weight Single Grip Configuration: 3.4 lb / 1.5 kg
Dual Grip Configuration: 4.5 lb / 2 kg

Our test:
We tested Glidecam Centurion with filming two downhill bikers. We were shooting with Sony a6500 with Samyang 12mm and Sony 50mm lenses. Stabilization on the camera was turned on all the time. We didn’t even try to shoot without in camera stabilization. We can say that we are very happy with the results and the look of the video. Glidecam Centurion is a great option for smaller mirrorless cameras such as Sony a7s and Sony a6000/6300/6500. Centurion is a very light gimbal and Sony a6500 is also a very light camera so it’s great to work with that combination and you have a feeling that you can shoot all day long. Congratulation Glidecam on another very good product.

Our test “Day Off”

Behind the scene