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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Anyone have any experience with the Chinese knock off Steadicams? Like this one?

Tom Wills said:
I don't believe the CAME gimbal has that same kind of adjustment system
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Exactly,
So Answer to my Fellow user, Please take a look the word written as "TIP" (lol - Jus' jokin')

Its a overseas sell full of ebay stress, Please let him try before he spend more money to send it back.
 
Hey Tom, thank you for chiming in here. Yes, I do understand how the spin shows dynamic balance issues, makes perfect sense. But as you noted, this issue is about static balance. I was sure to check at 0/180 degrees of rotation. If the gimbal were not out there should be no shift, there is however. It is worse on one axis, the front/rear/up/down, vs the horizon, but both do shift, more so at the 90 degree point, but certainly apparent at 180 deg rotation too. I have sent the supplier a short video showing the one axis, but as it is Chinese New Year, I will not hear back from them.

I had watched the video you pointed to above prior to getting this unit, helped me determine what is going on. I know I am new to this, but being mechanically minded there is no other logical explanation for what I am seeing. I am convinced this is a gimbal offset issue, with one axis more off than another. Since no one else has come across this issue it's likely just my bad luck. I am sure the supplier will be accommodating and send me a replacement gimbal once they are back. They have been very helpful so far.

Kwan, I know you're trying to be helpful here, and I appreciate it, but since one axis, left right, only has one adjustment, the camera plate which moves side to side to correct this, how is moving the battery/monitor forward back going to affect this perpendicular axis...? There is no "counter adjustment" for this side-to-side axis, what else can it be if not the a gimbal offset issue....


Tom Wills said:
For reference, here is a Glidecam's gimbal being adjusted. As he shows, if you pan it, and stop it, it should stay vertical. A rig in static balance should be able to do that, even if it is horrifically out of dynamic balance. As I said in my previous post, Dynamic Balance is only in play during panning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3XJ8eToaYo

I don't believe the CAME gimbal has that same kind of adjustment system, however, so the adjustment instructions themselves shouldn't be of much use, but the technique of checking it is.
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ShaunMavronicolas said:
Hey Tom, thank you for chiming in here. Yes, I do understand how the spin shows dynamic balance issues, makes perfect sense. But as you noted, as did I too, this issue is about static balance. I was sure to check at 0/180 degrees of rotation. If the gimbal were not out there should be no shift, there is however. It is worse on one axis, the front/rear/up/down, vs the horizon, but both do shift, more so at the 90 degree point, but certainly apparent at 180 deg rotation too. I have sent the supplier a short video showing the one axis, but as it is Chinese New Year, I will not hear back from them.
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Hey Shaun,

Can you send me that video you sent them? My email is willsvideo@gmail.com. Maybe I can just double-check your diagnosis, and give you a few things to try, once I see how the gimbal is set up.
 
Hi Steve, I felt it best to give the supplier a chance to remedy what ever is going on before posting the video here. I'll update my issue once the Chinese New Year is over and the supplier has had a chance to investigate this. No one else has experienced this issue in their units, so no point in making a big deal of it at this point in time. Hope that seems reasonable.

Steve Das said:
Why not post the video here...so we can all learn from this issue...ok..thank you...
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ShaunMavronicolas said:
Hi Steve, I felt it best to give the supplier a chance to remedy what ever is going on before posting the video here. I'll update my issue once the Chinese New Year is over and the supplier has had a chance to investigate this. No one else has experienced this issue in their units, so no point in making a big deal of it at this point in time. Hope that seems reasonable.
Click to expand...

It certainly does.
 
Well, I'm on the way to spending more on sled base mods vs the original rig cost. Pictured here is $500 in battery plates, rod brackets, lemo connector and machine shop work.


photo-23-e1360903025828.jpg



photo-17.jpg

Power cable and BNC custom made, running inside the post. All of which is from spare parts I had in the garage, except the Lemo.


photo-16.jpg


Two Anton Bauer plates wired in parallel (12 - 16v). Currently powering camera and TV Logic. Eventually I will add power connectors for HDMI wireless and a focus servo.


photo-19.jpg


$3 level from hardware store. New bottom post attachment, with slots to slide base side to side. Inline fuse added to power cable.

photo-20-e1360902930982.jpg


Battery mounting brackets are way too thick and heavy, I'm going to mill them down to approx 1/4" thickness.


photo-25-e1360902882111.jpg
 
Nice mods Dave!
Got a question on the TVLogic monitor. Do you find it is bright enough for you? Does the screen cover help with glare at all? I have a 9" TVLogic which I love for indoor studio shoots, but the glare is so bad it's almost worthless outside. I have not tried any anti-glare covers yet, but also wonder how much the brightness would suffer.

Again wonderful rig. I'm curious as to everyone's experience with using these Came rigs or any other rigs.

All the best,
Lael
 
LCamak said:
Nice mods Dave!
Got a question on the TVLogic monitor. Do you find it is bright enough for you? Does the screen cover help with glare at all? I have a 9" TVLogic which I love for indoor studio shoots, but the glare is so bad it's almost worthless outside. I have not tried any anti-glare covers yet, but also wonder how much the brightness would suffer.

Again wonderful rig. I'm curious as to everyone's experience with using these Came rigs or any other rigs.

All the best,
Lael
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Not bright enough. The OEM screen cover makes the glare much worse. I can use it in shade and when the sun is not hitting the screen. The red touch is bright enough, I'm using both when operating. Although I loose level horizon when I look at the touch, on camera, turned sideways, as the monitor is 90 degrees off axis.

I want to buy the 9" touch and a 6' red monitor cable. However, that is a big ticket item.
 
Yeah the 9" touch would be a great monitor. To some extent it might become a sail though depending on your speed or the wind. Have you looked at the Transvideo monitors? Don't think I could afford one, but that Horizon assist tool sure would help. I wonder what other monitors offer Horizon assist?

I do love my TVLogic for interior use and for all it's features. I just need something much brighter and less glare for the outdoors.

Thanks again for sharing your mods.
 
Olivier,

Looks pretty good, my first attempts were the same. Now that I've had the rig for approx 6weeks, and two real shoot days, my skill has improved dramatically. I'm now able to trim for headroom and my rolling horizon has reduced quite a bit. I love this rig and am allready looking at the big kid gear, starting with a Bartech.

Good work and keep practicing.
 
I've been watching this thread since day one, as I too am looking to purchase one of these stabilizer systems. Others mentioned before that they purchased the "standard version" (without the tilt-head on the sled) but received the tilt-head version. Is there anyone who purchased the standard head and actually received it as pictured? I only ask because the difference in price (and after shipping) is significant and If I could purchase a "standard version" and actually receive -what I see as an upgrade- the tilt-head version at not additional cost, well... that would be quite beneficial.
 
Maximilian Lewin said:
I've been watching this thread since day one, as I too am looking to purchase one of these stabilizer systems. Others mentioned before that they purchased the "standard version" (without the tilt-head on the sled) but received the tilt-head version. Is there anyone who purchased the standard head and actually received it as pictured? I only ask because the difference in price (and after shipping) is significant and If I could purchase a "standard version" and actually receive -what I see as an upgrade- the tilt-head version at not additional cost, well... that would be quite beneficial.
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I bought this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-15kg-Load...241?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c30148831

Which arrived with a tilt plate, contact the seller to confirm before you order, they are very responsive.

Today I put a hot knife to work cutting foam to accommodate the modified sled. 6 day shoot comming up, which is good, my neighbors are tired of me chasing their dogs and children.

photo-15.jpg
 
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