need help balancing my rig!!!!

[James Thao]

Hi guy, i'm new to HBS however i'm looking forward to get as much advice as possible from all you guys!!!

I need help balancing my rig.......Here is my problem: When I balance my sled on a tripod I adjust everything and it look really balance however when I connect the sled with the arm and vest then the sled when off balance??? Can you guy give me an idea what when wrong here..? Let me know if more information needed....

thanks, James

[Charles King]

Welcome to HBS, Secondly...how did you intially balance the rig? What were the steps? A little more explanatory will help in figuring out what you did wrong. Also see this post: http://hbsboard.com/index.php/topic,3397.msg30082.html#msg30082

[James Thao]

HI Charles,

Thanks for the reply....here is what i did..first I hold my rig vertical and find my cg after I found it I make my button half slightly heavier then my top half...and now I put my rig horizontal and adjust side to side and forward and backward....After i get the rig to stand straight on the tripod then I try to do my drop time..I get it to be within the 2 and half second...I also try to balance my rig with four directional...with four direction what i mean is I turn my rig each time pointing to different direction north south west and east four time spreadly....Now I get the rig to be center..I connect the rig on my arm and vest then my rig went off balance.  I try to balance while I was holding my rig on my arm and vest. I did get it to balance while it on my arm and vest when I shoot I get a pretty decent stable picture when walking but when I take it off and put it back on the tripod my rig went off balance again.. I have a concern that this might have something to do with my arm....

[Job Scholtze]

Or with your topstage. Make sure its tight, even a mm play can trow your balance off. Also make sure everything on the camera cant move, like the vf.

[James Thao]

thanks Joe, I appreciate the advice..I will see what happen...thanks..

[Job Scholtze]

Joe??

[James Thao]

sorry i get that wrong ahhaah lolz..my bad..

[Olie Walker]

James this is with the flycam5000 ?
i have the 3000 but ive extended the post longer as my camera and rails are 2.2kg, how heavy is yours? i cant do the drop test very well yet as ive not got a mount to leave the flycam held to mess with it (most of my stuff has been with it sitting on a table, then lifting it up to test)

do you have the arm and stuff from the same seller?
cheers

Job -p.s your stuff looks great on your page! really inspirational for me...

Oli

[James Thao]

hi Olie,

     yes the model i have here is the 5000 model this is the indian version. I bought it from an India company on ebay. I first bought this model before i did my research on stabilizer.  I bought two of this model and I also bought another magic cam 6000. I'm trying to balance my 5000 because the 6000 model is too heavely for me since i'm a smaller guy. The magic cam 6000 model the sled is too heavy.  My 5000 model can extend longer but i still confuse about finding the cg for the 5000 model.  I could find the cg on the camera I don't know much this gonna help. I saw some member on HBS have some similar model like the v8 I wonder how they balance it and find the cg. If you have any advice please let me know. I would appreciate the help...

thanks..

[James Thao]

Hi Oli,

No I didn't buy the arm and the vest from the seller because somehow I don't like the look of the arm.  I don't know if the arm actually gonna hold the weight of my cam. My camera is the jvc gy-hd 100 i think this one should be close to 6-8 lb.. Have you try to find the cg and balance of your sled?

thanks james

[Charles King]

James, here are some tips of people using the Glidecam 4000, which pretty much the same sled has the Flycam. The first two should pretty much show you the setups:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97_wzeTqlZY

1a. http://www.glidecamforum.com/conf/index.php?showtopic=137&st=0&p=504&

1b. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=126993

2. http://www.glidecam.com/pdf/man/glidecam_2000_4000_pro_manual.pdf

3. Play the video here too: http://www.4videoequipment.com/video/store2/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=592&E=Glidecam+Industries-Glidecam+4000+PRO+Camera+Stabilizer+up+to+10lbs+(XL1,XL2,AGDVX100,PD170,XLH1)

[James Thao]

thanks Charles, I appreciate the help...

I hope i can balance this flycam 5000...as I state earlier, my magic cam 6000 is too heavy for me..I really need to balance the 5000...expect more question from me..and once again..I appreciate all your help..

thanks

[Charles King]

Glad to be of any help. Unfortunately it is a hazzle to balance the small rigs that do not have an adjustable gimbals. The cost of keeping things cheap.

[James Thao]

thanks Charles,

I finally get my 5000 pro to work..I love it light weight...although i have to use the gimbal from the magic cam 6000 so i can use the vest and arm....but still work..love it...I will post some video after I get use to it..as of the it really give me a smooth shot...I appreciate your help a bunch...

james

[Charles King]

Glad u got it to work.