Letus Gimbal

[Terry VerHaar]

I think Terry is referring to quick releasing the camera body and not the actual module.

Correct. :smiley:

 

[hienle]

Of course, that's understood if mounted on the trunk. It's not readily apparent to me where the best place to mount an on-board battery is; which isn't necessarily the easiest place to mount. The easiest place to temporarily velcro on a battery for a "quickie" hand-off shot just might be a section that affects balance. My point is that if an on-board battery solution is designed (and I should have said PARTICULARLY if the only place to mount a battery will affect balance), then an exactly repeatable position is necessary. Wiring that doesn't interfere with gimbal action is necessary no matter where the battery is mounted..

Elizabeth and Paul,
It's not entirely true that "Any battery mounted on the main trunk of the helix is not part of the camera payload that is balanced and therefore any differences in mounting will not affect balance." it's true on the first optical axis, but it does affect the second and third axis, so it needs to be rebalanced. I am thinking about ordering a custom 4S Lipo that sit right below the slipring and above all the buttons and connectors. We have a space of 80mm wide and 75mm high. Making a tray or something to snap the battery into, then the Lemo connector will connect it to the input. The tray would be removable if you use the external battery option.

 

[Nick Morrison]

Elizabeth and Paul,
It's not entirely true that "Any battery mounted on the main trunk of the helix is not part of the camera payload that is balanced and therefore any differences in mounting will not affect balance." it's true on the first optical axis, but it does affect the second and third axis, so it needs to be rebalanced. I am thinking about ordering a custom 4S Lipo that sit right below the slipring and above all the buttons and connectors. We have a space of 80mm wide and 75mm high. Making a tray or something to snap the battery into, then the Lemo connector will connect it to the input. The tray would be removable if you use the external battery option.

Hien your attention to detail and responsiveness is so invaluable, I can't even tell you. I have faith in the Helix because I have faith in you and Aaron. Your determination to answer all and every question and incorporate feedback is tremendous. Keep it up!

thx again

 

[hienle]

Hien your attention to detail and responsiveness is so invaluable, I can't even tell you. I have faith in the Helix because I have faith in you and Aaron. Your determination to answer all and every question and incorporate feedback is tremendous. Keep it up!

thx again

Thanks Nick. I am trying, but I don't want to break our out-of-the-box thinking mentality and go toward the crowd where they all do it the same old way. Like Zeb said, don't make it like what Microsoft did to MS Word, from 3 floppies to 500MB of junk. Please help us make it uniquely better.

 

[hienle]

Eureka!!!

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thanks Nick. I am trying, but I don't want to break our out-of-the-box thinking mentality and go toward the crowd where they all do it the same old way. Like Zeb said, don't make it like what Microsoft did to MS Word, from 3 floppies to 500MB of junk. Please help us make it uniquely better.

Actually its pretty clear you guys are being EDITORIAL and using feedback that works. I think that's what I find most exciting. Your CONFIDENCE in your product, and at the same time your OPENESS to new ideas that come up. The best minds are often quite flexible, so again...hats off for your communication.

Cheers.

 

[Terry VerHaar]

Eureka!!!

Meaning... ? :huh:

 

[hienle]

I just found a way to make the long lens not not so much of a factor in the Helix as well as other gimbal or even tripod mounting. Right now, the torque of the long lens does throw systems out of balance as it creates the cyclone like circle when it rotates. Helix sees the least of the effects as it is optically centered, but still. I want to donate this idea to the community rather having it protected, with one condition, that they will call it Letus "something" (you guys help me name it) when they implement it in there system. The scheme will move the moment of the torque inward instead of leaving it at the tip of the lens.

 

[Dan Kanes]

I would like to propose:

"the Letus Effect"

 

[Nick Morrison]

The Letus Leveler.

The Letus Long Lens Leveler

The Letus Tele Stabilizer

The Letus Stabilizer

The Letus Balance Act

The Letus Effect (nice Dan)

The Letus Clamp

 

[Elizabeth Lowrey]

Elizabeth and Paul,
It's not entirely true that "Any battery mounted on the main trunk of the helix is not part of the camera payload that is balanced and therefore any differences in mounting will not affect balance." it's true on the first optical axis, but it does affect the second and third axis, so it needs to be rebalanced. I am thinking about ordering a custom 4S Lipo that sit right below the slipring and above all the buttons and connectors. We have a space of 80mm wide and 75mm high. Making a tray or something to snap the battery into, then the Lemo connector will connect it to the input. The tray would be removable if you use the external battery option.

Yeah, now that you pointed that out it seems obvious. I'm so taken with that first axis and the counterbalance weights and the fact that it can uniquely roll fully on optical center that it's easy to overlook the fact that two other axes have to be balanced also! I blame you and your brilliant design, Hien, for my forgetfulness.

 

[Adam Johnson]

I think this is one of the major achievements by Ronin. The easy snap/ lock into custom lipo batteries for the Ronin is just fantastic. Don't get me wrong I have a ton of Vmount batteries, but when I am flying a gimbal I would like to try and avoid them. I really think this is one thing a lot of the other guys are not doing right, and I think it would be great to pursue this path with the Helix. Glad to hear you are thinking about pursuing this. I honestly think this would meet everyones needs. And, you can always do battery belt instead if you prefer, but having this ability from the get go is BIG in my book


"If a battery is on-board, it should snap/lock into the exact same position every time (a la Ronin), otherwise it's re-balance time (which takes even more time)."

 

[Adam Johnson]

how about Letuce because thats how I've always pronounced your companies name until I saw someone post Let-Us. The lightbulb went off and life will never be the same. haha

How about:

"Letus Gravity"

"Letus Momentum"

"Letus Boson"

"Letus Isotope"

"Letus Energy"

 

[hienle]

Here is the picture to show you how it works.

The lever could be anything like the electrical wire, that run across from the camera plate. You could even put a washer on the front camera hole right underneath the camera to act as the fulcrum of the lever (when using the washer, remember to tighten the back screw first then the front screw). It's basically anything that "lift" the camera up and create a lever system. I exaggerated the lever so you can see it. It actually only needs to be very very small like 1mm thick or so, depending on the weight and length of the lens.

 

[Ned Wilson]

Simply slapping a LiPo onto the frame somewhere with velcro (which takes time) is not an acceptable solution to me. If a battery is on-board, it should snap/lock into the exact same position every time (a la Ronin), otherwise it's re-balance time (which takes even more time). Even if battery is on-board, any cables for motors and/or camera need to be invisible to the actions of the gimbal. They need to be buried and not flopping around getting in the way. If I'm wearing a battery belt, in addition to not being able to simply set it down and walk away for even a moment, I would definitely find that leash getting in my way while shooting (been there done that). And doing a hand-off for a trick shot while being leashed would certainly be clumsy in the least. I would rather lift a battery than be leashed to one. I think the gimbal really needs to be self-contained as standard configuration, with external battery belt as an option for people who really want to do that. Switching over to a battery belt on the fly if your arms are tired is easy to do. Switching over to an on-board system on the fly because the #@%?#* leash is getting in your way is not easy...not unless the system was designed to be that way as a standard configuration in the first place. Having many years experience as a Steadicam operator, I know that putting a Steadicam on a leash doesn't work. That's why Steadicams are self-contained. Just my 2 cents...

Exactly my sentiments. I understand an integrated system on the rig adds weight (2.5lbs?). I just think that extra weight is viable for most reasonably in shape ops and should be the primary power design consideration and belt as a secondary option. Belts are a PIA.

 

[Ned Wilson]

Of course, that's understood if mounted on the trunk. It's not readily apparent to me where the best place to mount an on-board battery is; which isn't necessarily the easiest place to mount. The easiest place to temporarily velcro on a battery for a "quickie" hand-off shot just might be a section that affects balance. My point is that if an on-board battery solution is designed (and I should have said PARTICULARLY if the only place to mount a battery will affect balance), then an exactly repeatable position is necessary. Wiring that doesn't interfere with gimbal action is necessary no matter where the battery is mounted..

How about the bottom in a lightweight batt cage/cartridge. Custom spec batts that slide in and out.

 

[Ned Wilson]

Ned, I'm all for options and versatility, so definitely with you on the desire for a way to mount conventional batteries to the Helix through something as simple as tapped holes on the back surface(s) to mount your own solution, which can be as minimal or as elaborate as you like. But I think your last paragraph is definitely limiting and certainly not reflective of my own attitudes. Having a belt solution is a HUGE plus for me, and I think there are many, many situations where a solo shooter would consider it ideal.

We always know we can do a belt with any camera in any rig. Simply plug in and go. Situations sometimes call for it. But most camera folks find them to be hassle and sometimes in the heat of production, pose some dangers to the rig. Most of us have seen or experienced the "yanked" camera. The primary design for power should be a integrated snap on / off standard solution. If it can power camera, FIZ, wireless trans and monitor from one batt, now we're talking. I'd gladly pay what it takes to make this happen.

 

[Adam Johnson]

Exactly! Belt pack is already ready to go with the system so that shouldn't be a priority at all, thats already available off the shelf. We need an integrated system built onto the rig as a standard solution (you don't have to use it, no battery on it means no extra weight) but the masses want this, so very much!

We always know we can do a belt with any camera in any rig. Simply plug in and go. Situations sometimes call for it. But most camera folks find them to be hassle and sometimes in the heat of production, pose some dangers to the rig. Most of us have seen or experienced the "yanked" camera. The primary design for power should be a integrated snap on / off standard solution. If it can power camera, FIZ, wireless trans and monitor from one batt, now we're talking. I'd gladly pay what it takes to make this happen.

 

[hienle]

I think the discussion about the battery would be over the moment you use the 4th axis for the first time, because you wouldn't want to go back to the 3 axis handheld as it just kills your arms. For the 4th axis, you just mount it on the cross bar. But it's only my opinion, only you know what you need, that's why we are listening.

 

[Paul Kalbach]

Elizabeth and Paul,
It's not entirely true that "Any battery mounted on the main trunk of the helix is not part of the camera payload that is balanced and therefore any differences in mounting will not affect balance." it's true on the first optical axis, but it does affect the second and third axis, so it needs to be rebalanced. I am thinking about ordering a custom 4S Lipo that sit right below the slipring and above all the buttons and connectors. We have a space of 80mm wide and 75mm high. Making a tray or something to snap the battery into, then the Lemo connector will connect it to the input. The tray would be removable if you use the external battery option.

Actually, the handle area is what I thought Elizabeth was referring to when she said "the trunk", as that would not effect balance. Your proposal for a snap-in battery tray where you describe is exactly what is needed and totally satisfies my reservations as long as there is only one exact position for it time after time. High five for Hienie!