Scout Manual
Contents
1. We start this process by finding the camera s center of gravity c g or balance point then properly position the dovetail plate relative to the camera s c g mei Finding the camera s c g h i S SA mk Gee e If you like remove the battery from Finding the camera s fore aft your camera if it has an auxiliary center of gravity power input either 12 or 24 volts With a very heavy camera 15 pounds 6 8kg or so this is a good idea but it s not necessary or advisable with a very light camera Attach all accessories matte boxes obie lights etc and load the tape or film If the camera has a quick release plate tripod adaptor leave it on the camera Balance the camera fore aft on a rod or pencil as shown and mark Finding the camera s side to the balance point with a piece of side center of gravity tape e Repeat for side to side Attaching the dovetail plate Examine the dovetail Turn it over to locate the three rows of large and small slots and the stops Remove the screws that are stored at the front of the dovetail Place the dovetail against the bottom of the camera or quick release plate and move the dovetail fore aft until the second slot from the rear is over the camera s C g This position is not intuitive so pay close attention to this detail Now move the dovetail as little as possible until one or more screw holes are accessible Choose holes as far apart2. STEADICAM SLOOT Operating Manual p n LIT 809000 STEADICAM Scout Operating Manual The Tiffen Company 90 Oser Avenue Hauppauge New York 11788 631 273 2500 800 645 2522 631 273 2557 fax www steadicam com steadicam tiffen com www tiffen com Technical Support 1 818 843 4600 Manufactured in the United States of America 2011 The Tiffen Company LLC Written by J Holway amp L Hayball Table of Contents Overview 4 Basic Operating 22 The Scout Sled 6 Advanced Techniques Getting Started 8 Dynamic Balancing 24 Attaching the Camera 10 Low Mode 26 Balancing 12 Accessory for lightweight cameras 28 The Vest 14 Scout sled connectors and pin outs 29 Accessories 30 The Arm 16 Cases and Packing 31 Setting Your Threads 17 Picking Up the Sled 18 Adjusting the Lift 20 Operating a Steadicam stabilizer will take time and effort One key to great operating is setting up and balancing your sled properly Another is adjusting the vest to your body and setting the arm to properly lift the load The next steps are learning how to balance yourself with the rig how to stand and walk start and stop and what each hand is used for This manual is to be used to help you set up and use your Steadicam Scout stabilizer system If you have not already done so we strongly urge you to take a 2 3 or 6 day Steadicam workshop for the best possible training and start to your career as a Steadicam o
3. When repacking the sled into the case make sure the gear gets wiped down and not put away wet Remove the batteries Don t leave any loose components in the case as they may work their way over to the monitor and scratch the display The arm should be packed inside the vest to keep things compact The soft case works well but you should use a hard case when shipping your gear Most operators have several other cases for their accessories tools low mode brackets video recorders video transmitters diversity receivers remote focus equipment etc Disclaimer There is no implied or expressed warranty regarding this material Specifications accessories etc are subject to change without notice 31 O e The Tiffen Company 90 Oser Avenue Hauppauge NY 11788 TIFENN e 631 273 2500 1 800 645 2522 www tiffen com Helping Create the Tiffen Steadicam Operations Glendale CA 818 843 4600 World s Greatest Images e 1 800 593 3331 www steadicam com
4. LIT 809000 DVD 200504 Optional accessories The Steadicam Operator s Handbook LIT 900000 Merlin stage weight bracket Dovetail plate assembly Low mode kit Video low mode cage F bracket for low mode Merlin Start Weights Merlin Middle Weights Vehicle kit SteadiStand Mounting block Thumb screws for block Long straps for vest Long arm post Cable 12V power spare Cable 3 ft video 1 4 20 camera screws 3 8 16 Camera screws Tool pouch Saddle bag sand bag portfolio Steadicam cap Trolley for system soft case Batteries PowerCube battery IDX VL 4S battery charger IDX VL 2SPlus battery charger PowerCube battery hard case 801 7940 802 7417 078 7393 01 078 2038 01 300 7901 801 7920 04 801 7920 05 078 7410 03 601 7910 803 7801 078 0627 01 803 7817 602 7237 01 078 7351 01 078 4122 01 078 1121 078 1122 FFR 000013 FFR 000014 FFR 000021 DAA 22B Anton Bauer Dionic HC Li lon battery Anton Bauer dual charger Anton Bauer quad charger w LCD display Visit www tiffen com for a complete list of Steadicam accessories FFR 000035 FFR 000008 FFR O00005 011 0368 FFR 000151 FFR 900152 FGS 900059 J a Also recommended Wireless follow focus system and brackets Video transmitting and receiving system Wired zoom control system Camera specific low mode brackets Inertial augmentation Antlers or Gyros Video recording system Cases amp packing
5. Then we discover the one and only ideal position for the battery by the trial and error method First set up your sled at the proper length for the shot and place the monitor where you want it for proper viewing and inertial control Typically with the Scout stabilizer system the monitor rod will be extended slightly past the first stop and two weights are attached to the rod see page 8 Two weights are also attached to the battery rod Next position the camera so that its c g is about 5in 12mm behind the center post The center post is just over an inch in diameter so you can use the back of the post as a guide Next static balance by sliding the battery in or out so that the sled hangs perfectly vertical fore and aft Make sure the top to bottom balance is set with a drop time of 2 to 3 seconds Trim side to side with the camera using the knobs on the stage Fine tune the fore aft balance with the camera You want the sled s post perfectly vertical A spirit level will help you get the post vertical Give the sled several careful test spins Very important do not spin the rig very fast certainly not much faster than a normal panning speed 3 6 rpm Note the results Is it good or bad 1 e does it pan flat or wobble Is it your technique or is the sled out of dynamic balance If your sled is not in dynamic balance do not move the monitor Instead move the battery a little bit first then rebala
6. as possible for maximum stability e Insert the screws and tighten with a screwdriver Mounting the camera on the sled Connect the power and video cables and test Place the camera above the camera mounting platform Be sure the locking knob is loose Angle the right edge of the dovetail into the holder Be sure to e Connect the BNC to BNC keep everything parallel Lower the left side into the holder video cable use the BNC to If the camera won t drop fully into place be sure the right side of the dovetail RCA adapter if necessary is fully inserted all is parallel and the locking mechanism is out of the way from the camera to the video It s a close fit input on the back of the stage If necessary choose the camera s video output that allows you to watch playback as well as live video If necessary connect the power cable by plugging the three pin Lemo into the Power output on the back of the stage and the other end into the appropriate DC power input on your camera Several power cables are available for various cameras and voltages See the accessories page for the power After the dovetail drops into place slide the camera until the fore aft c g cable details mark is about 5in 12mm behind the centerline of the telescoping posts e Secure the cables with cable The post is just over 1in 28mm in diameter so you can use the back of the ties Velcro or gaffer tape post as a guide for placin
7. pin to separate the socket from the arm Turn it over and re attach e Set the top screw about two turns out and the bottom screw all the way in Adjusting your threads If you have big pectorals and a flat stomach the top screw is almost all the way in If you ve been eating well and exercising less the top screw will be further out Always dial in the top screw first to your setting then turn in the bottom screw until it just snugs up against the fitting There is no need to tighten the bottom screw very hard Always keep a hand on the free end of the arm otherwise it might swing around and hit something someone or you in the face With both pairs of screws properly adjusted the sled will float in all positions with the operator standing in good posture with a vertical torso If the threads are not adjusted well the sled will tend to fly or fall away from you 17 Picking up the sled Picking Up the Sled Undocking setting your threads and docking the sled With the vest on and the arm attached to the vest undock the rig Face the sled and bow at the waist Do not bend your knees It is helpful to have a friend spotting you the first time you do it e Align the gimbal mounting hole to the arm post and slip the arm post completely into the hole It s easiest to align the parts if the gimbal handle is positioned behind the rig i e not to the side aimed at you e Use your right hand to hold th
8. stabilizer is designed to be user friendly field serviceable straightforward and versatile so the operator can quickly and easily amp configure the sled arm and vest to the best advantage for each shot Change the sled length balance inertia and go to low mode in a heartbeat Solid versatile and fast that s the Scout The base Scout system starts with a sturdy two section indexed telescoping carbon fiber post coupled to a sturdy two axis vernier stage for quick and precise balancing A new solid base is equipped with a single sliding rod that supports the monitor and battery The Scout stabilizer system comes standard with a precision gimbal with a large knurled grip 16 9 SD LCD Color monitor and a single battery mount for 12 volts either V Lock or Anton Bauer AB Included in the base package the Iso Elastic Stabilizer Arm Lightweight Vest Scout Docking and Balancing bracket 8 add on Merlin weights soft case 12 volt power cable video cable 2 video adaptors the EFP instructional DVD and the owner s manual Options for the Scout stabilizer system include a compact vest batteries chargers cases stands power and video cables low mode kits vehicle mounts and other professional accessories Visit www tiffen com for more details The monitor and the battery are adjustable in and out which along with the add on Merlin weights creates many choices for viewing balance and inerti
9. top to bottom side to side and fore aft so that the sled hangs upright and is not too bottom heavy To adjust the balance we need to put the sled on the docking bracket balancing stud where it can hang freely Pull the aircraft pin and remove the sled and camera from the docking bracket e Loosen the locking knob of the docking bracket and turn the bracket 180 degrees to get the yoke out of the way Tighten the locking knob e Place the gimbal s mounting hole on the balancing stud Top to bottom balance Let s start with top to bottom balance as it is one of the least understood aspects of balance It s best if the sled is slightly bottom heavy Clearly if it is top heavy it will tip over If it is too bottom heavy it will hang upright a good thing but be hard to tilt and very hard to control as you move around not good at all If the sled is neutrally balanced neither top nor bottom heavy it s impossible to balance the sled fore aft or side to side and the operator must do all the aiming of the sled not good either So immediately you should understand that top to bottom balance is a compromise between competing desires If it is just slightly bottom heavy it can be balanced to hang at a particular angle and easier to control How do we get the right top to bottom balance First we position the gimbal which acts as a pivot point just a bit above the center of gravity on the ce
10. Slip the vest on The vest should be unbuckled on the left e Close the shoulder buckle side only from bottom to top e Undo the hip strap first e Undo the chest buckle e Undo the shoulder buckle and slip out of the vest When you put it back on you will not need to readjust the chest plate or the chest straps e Close the chest buckle e Center the chest plate on your chest e Tighten the chest straps evenly and secure the loose Velcro ends e Push down on the chest plate to seat the shoulder pads on your shoulders 15 The Arm The arm Arm post knob f Arm post release screw springs Forearm section Lift adjustment Upper arm section i Lift adjustment knob Socket quick release pin Rod ends Socket Mounting the arm to the vest The arm mates with the vest via an adjustable socket in the arm and a female socket block on the vest The two adjustment screws in the socket block on the vest and two rod ends in the mating section of the arm determine the lift angle of the arm These two adjustments are your threads and they are specific to your body size and shape Setting your threads correctly is critical for good operating Some combination of adjustment of these screws and your physique and posture will make the arm lift straight up when carrying the sled The angles of adjustment are not directly in out and side to side but rot
11. ach And it s just plain weird to have the monitor so far above the lens of Accessory for lightweight cameras When using very lightweight cameras it s often better to add weight to the camera or stage so that the gimbal position remains close to the stage It s very easy to use the Merlin Stage Weight Bracket and any number of Merlin weights as shown See the accessory section for part numbers You also can make a custom weight cage for your lightweight camera we use a variety of cages in the workshops If you make a custom cage be sure you can access the battery media and all other functions Many operators add a quick release plate to their weight cage to facilitate easy changes Scout sled connectors and pin outs STAGE REAR COMPOSITE 12V POWER VIDEO IN 3 PIN LEMO BNC EGG 0B 303 PIN 1 GND PIN 2 12V PIN 3 n c 12V POWER 3 PIN LEMO EGG OB 303 PIN 1 GND PIN 2 12V PIN 3 n c MONITOR CONNECTOR COMPOSITE VIDEO BNC BNC TO RCA ADAPTER 12V 2 1mm DC POWER PLUG CENTER POSITIVE 29 Accessories Supplied equipment and accessories Scout sled Scout arm Scout vest Soft case Cable 3 ft video Cable 12V power 7 16 9 Monitor Docking bracket T handle allen wrench 5 32 Adaptor phono BNC Adaptor BNC RCA Instruction manual DVD EFP Training 078 4122 01 078 7351 01 807 7500 803 7900 MSC 093270 JCK 130000 JCK 130001
12. al control All of the above features are integral to the Scout stabilizer design ready to be used when needed The Scout Sled The Scout sled Camera mounting Dovetail platform NX P n REE a Dovetail lock Side to L d adjustment A knob Post N Post clamp Pa Add on weights Add on weights A Aoa r a connector Side to side adjustment knob Fore aft adjustment knob A Gimbal Gimbal ee handle y Monitor N Cf Ca Nowy Battery mount 4 af __ ae e A a i Sliding rod for the battery amp monitor 1 4 20 threads for mounting accessory weights Prepare the stand and docking bracket Gettin g Started Set up the stand and docking bracket e Set up your stand at about chest height e Use one or more sandbags to stabilize the stand e Put the docking bracket on the stand and tighten the docking bracket locking knob e Push the button at the end of the aircraft pin and pull the aircraft pin out of the yoke Prepare the sled for the camera Adjust the monitor position e Position the sliding rod for the monitor and battery as shown e Add the accessory weights to the rods as shown For starters use 1 middle and 1 starter weight on each tube Tilt the monitor to about 45 degrees Adjust the gimbal position e Slide the gimbal close to the top of the center post but alwa
13. ated about 30 clockwise relative to the operator We will suggest approximate threads to start but the only real way to test your threads is to pick up the sled and see what happens You can t set your threads fully without picking up the rig The arm socket Is inserted into the socket block on the vest Setting your threads Determining your threads is part of basic operating technique For almost all operators regardless of body type the typical adjustment for the side to side screws the rod ends in the arm is 1 5 to 2 turns out on the top screw and ALWAYS all the way in on the bottom screw Use the rollers when the arm is not under load If you are flying the sled side to side 2 in and out count lift it up with your left hand to take the turns out on top threads here weight off the screws before adjusting them The two side to side screws work independently of one another Do not tighten the lower screw but be sure it is all the way in and then back it out 1 8th of a turn The in out screws work in tandem and the adjustment varies greatly by the operator s body type Goofy foot If you want to operate goofy foot with the sled on the right side you will need to reverse the socket block before starting e On the vest loosen the four screws holding the socket block in place Flip the block 180 and re attach above e On the arm pull the aircraft
14. e arm and gimbal together frame 4 e Place your left hand on the center post just below the gimbal to control the sled Do not touch the camera frame 4 Step forward and stand up straight You are now flying the sled but still locked in the dock Pull the aircraft pin out of the docking yoke frame 6 Step back from the stand to remove the sled from the docking bracket Take a deep breath Relax e Move the sled to a position about 45 off your left hip as shown e Aim the sled slightly across your body frame 9 Holding the Scout stabilizer rig might feel awkward at first Don t worry you will gain control and endurance rapidly as you practice The first time is typically the most annoying because there are so many adjustments to make before it all falls into place and magically works with you It may be that you will want to adjust the lift capacity of the arm See pages 20 21 before fine tuning your threads Eventually you must adjust them both Test your threads e Stand as upright as possible in good posture with the rig off your left hip Don t be stiff or tense Do not ever let go of the Scout completely but let it move a little If it tends to stay in place try moving it further out in front of you Lean back a little as you feel the vest pushing against your stomach and pulling your torso forward The trick is to lean a little bit away from the rig more
15. fect Finding your grip Grab the center post with your left hand just below the gimbal All five fingers should be LIGHTLY in contact with the post but this isn t a tea party Don t just use your fingertips wrap you fingers a bit around the post The right hand fine tunes the position of the sled moving it side to side or closer to or farther from your body and booms the arm up and down It also has the job of eliminating the bounce of the springs i e preventing unwanted up and down movements as you move along Grab the gimbal handle with your right hand Make sure that this hand does not cross the bearing and touch any part of the Y shaped yoke as this will influence the aiming of the sled Also used the full hand grip all fingers surround the post with a light touch Basic movement Try moving around and get used to the way it feels Pay attention to how your movements and posture affect the sled Relax your muscles and control the Scout stabilizer rig with your body position and a light fingertip touch Leave the monitor turned off for now Don t worry about making shots you want to experiment test play Get used to walking with the sled next to you Balancing with your body As the sled gets farther away from your body you must lean back a tiny bit more and use your arm reach to keep that light balanced touch If you lean forward the sled will try to move away
16. from the front or rear Adjust the side to side knob on the stage until the center post is vertical Again you can use a bubble level to help you find vertical Now we are ready to fine tune the top to bottom balance by using the drop time test e Make sure the dovetail locking knob is tight It s good to have an assistant hold the stand e Rotate the sled to horizontal e Let go of the center post e Count how many seconds it takes the center post to fall to vertical If the rig has a drop time of less than two seconds it is too bottom heavy You need to move the sled s c g upwards closer to the gimbal If the drop time is more than three seconds move the sled s c g lower further from the gimbal e With the rig horizontal loosen the gimbal locking screw and slide the centerpost through the gimbal about 1 8 8mm in the proper direction e Re tighten the gimbal locking screw Re do the drop test Keep making small adjustments until the sled has a 2 to 3 second drop time e Recheck the fore aft and side to side balance by looking at the sled Trim with the fore aft and side to side knobs as necessary Note A drop time of 1 to 4 seconds might be best for a particular shot You will eventually determine what works best for you for average shooting and what works best for you for each shot But let s start with a 2 to 3 second drop time We will fine tune top to bottom balance after we get close to f
17. from you fast requiring a firmer grip tiring your back muscles more quickly and most importantly not flying properly with that great Steadicam stabilizer feel Placing the camera in space Swing the arm around to find its range of motion Practice gentle boom moves with your right hand Find the lowest and highest positions the camera can reach Avoid hitting the stops as you boom it won t hurt the arm just your shot More practice and training For operators who have not yet taken a workshop we once again strongly urge you to do so as it is the quickest way to learn how to operate properly However there are several good training videos including the 1990 Classic EFP Video Training Tape which has been remastered to DVD Although some of the information on the EFP video is specific to the EFP most of the concepts information and exercises are still taught in the workshops today We suggest you spend some time with your Steadicam stabilizer learning how to start and stop moves cleanly pan and tilt boom up and down walk the line do switches track sideways do pass bys use long lenses and a host of other techniques You already know what you want to do with your Scout stabilizer rig The exercises and concepts presented on the video will help you quickly develop the necessary skills to make your shots As often said in the workshops running around chasing your dog is fun for awhile but it
18. g the camera c g Leave enough slack for adjustment of the stage Power up the monitor and camera to make sure you have a picture If you do not try adjusting the brightness and contrast controls check the cables battery voltage etc Turn off the camera and monitor Tighten the locking knob to fully lock the camera into place You are now ready to static balance the sled e Camera power connector 3 pin LEMO EGG 0B 303 e Standard definition PAL NTSC composite video in BNC 11 Balancing Note Before letting go of the sled be certain that it will hang more or less upright If the sled wants to hang upside down the camera weight is beyond the weight specifications of the Steadicam Scout When balancing a heavier camera you may have to extend the post While holding the bottom of the sled release the post clamp and lengthen the post Close the clamp Note changing the length also changes the range of lens heights This can be a useful tool with any weight camera Balancing the sled The Steadicam Scout stabilizer system works in part by the careful balancing of components camera monitor accessories and battery We always balance the sled to help us get the shot so that the operator does the least amount of work to aim the camera There are several components of balance The first one to work on is static balance where we balance the sled in all three axes
19. gle up from horizontal j TULL e Repeat the process with the upper arm section but this time try to get the upper arm to follow the forearm as you boom up and down should come to rest slightly above horizontal about 5 to 10 sled first the forearm section angle pull the sled down with your left hand until the forearm section is about 5 above horizontal Turn the weight adjustment knob counterclockwise until the forearm wants to float at this angle pull the sled up with your left hand until the forearm section is about 5 above horizontal e Remember the weight adjustment knob turns freely when the arm section is slightly above horizontal Never force it or use a tool to adjust the arm lift CAUTION IF YOU REST YOUR RIGHT HAND ON THE Now let s fly the rig again CONNECTING ARM KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF THE eve tacka oHucu eR tie SPACE BETWEEN THE ELBOW AND THE ARTICULATING ne before een eena ARM A SUDDEN RISE OF THE CAMERA COULD INJURE nee THieiawhaiwecalic YOUR FINGERS IF THEY ARE IN THIS SPACE Missionary e Move your torso ever so slightly to test how your body angle controls the rig e Repeat with the sled further away from you but keep your torso vertical e The sled should stay in place with only a little help from your right hand Note These are photos of another Steadicam model the Zephyr but the process is identical when using the Scout stabilizer B
20. he camera When this is the case switches are impossible and operating is severely limited Balancing on the stand with the F bracket attached N STEAD ne Hand positions for operating with the F bracket Balance the sled The sled can be balanced the same as in high mode Hang the rig by its gimbal on the balancing stud The camera will still be on top but it is upside down Balance statically and dynamically Once balanced adjust your drop time so the camera now falls to the bottom of the rig simply slide the gimbal towards the electronics to achieve a proper drop time Cautionary Tip In low mode the dovetail lock works better if the camera weight is supported as you lock the dovetail A useful trick The range of low mode lens heights can be lowered by extending the center post and or making the rig more bottom heavy Low mode operating Traditionally it s considered harder to operate in low mode than in high mode Why Several factors may work together to make low mode operating harder The operator usually holds the sled further from his body than in high mode The operator s hands are not at the same height Many times the post is tilted from vertical The boom range is sometimes reduced The rig may not be in dynamic balance The operator often cranes his neck to see the image In addition every director wants the lens height lower or higher than one can properly re
21. if it s further from you less as it s closer to you so that the sled wants to stay in place or float next to you If the sled wants to move off in one direction rather dramatically and you can t lean forward or back easily to correct it you need to adjust your threads Typically it s a matter of the in out screws rather than the side to side screws If the sled wants to move away from you loosen the bottom in out screw and dial in the upper screw a few turns Snug up the lower screw and re test e If the sled wants to move towards you loosen the upper in out screw a few turns snug up the lower screw and re test e Do not get too fussy with your threads at this point as much of the trick is learning to properly stand and move rather than adjusting your threads Take a few steps and experiment with the feel of it all Try panning and tilting Before you get tired dock the sled Practice replacing the sled in the docking bracket e Step up next to the docking stand with the camera aimed to the left e Insert the center post in the bracket and rest the stage on the docking yoke Insert the aircraft pin back in the docking yoke to secure the sled Bow from the waist and step back e Move your left hand to the gimbal handle and your right hand to the arm e Hold up the gimbal handle and let the arm post slide out of the gimbal mounting hole Don t force it or bend your
22. knees just find the correct angle so that the arm post slips out of the gimbal Always keep a hand on the free end of the arm otherwise it might swing around and hit something e Rest Stretch e When you don t have time to dock and undock you can relieve some muscle tension by holding the rig close to your body on either side or clasping the camera close to your chest 19 Adjusting the Lift Important The lift adjustment knobs can only be turned when the arm segments are slightly above horizontal They cannot be turned when the arm is unloaded i e when not lifting the sled nor if the arm sections are boomed too far up or down Do not force the lift knobs At the right angle they turn very easily Ideally each section of the arm e Adjust the arm section nearest the If the arm floats at too high an If the arm floats at too low an angle Setting the lift capacity of the arm Now it s time to adjust the arm for the weight of your camera Adjusting the arm e With the vest on attach the arm and undock the rig as before e Stand with the sled off your left hip with the lens slightly crossing your body e Move the arm to the middle of its boom range and let it rise or fall Do not completely let go of the sled Turn the weight adjustment knob clockwise until the forearm wants to float at this angle e Keep making small adjustments until the forearm settles at a 5 an
23. nce statically with the camera There are only two directions to move the battery out or in You have a 50 chance of choosing the right direction so stop worrying about it and give one direction a test Just be sure to make a note of which direction you move the battery Each time you lock the battery in a new position you must rebalance the sled statically with the camera Do not move the monitor Once you are in static balance spin the sled again Is it better or worse Again you have two choices for moving the battery Re rack rebalance and spin again and again until the sled pans flat This should not take a lot of time When the battery is within about 25in 6mm of ideal the sled will behave nicely pan flat and feel sweet We suggest you do not attempt to do this for the first time on set Adding any accessory or extra Merlin weights to the sled will affect both static and dynamic balance Changing the length of the sled and or moving the monitor in or out will change both static and dynamic balance How much will dynamic balance change It depends on how much things have changed In practice it s a lot easier than it sounds on the page and luckily there s one great gift in all this it doesn t matter for dynamic balance what weight camera you are using or if you change lenses filters etc Really So if you make any changes with the camera or use a different camera the
24. nter post and here s how we do that The first step is to rotate the center post to horizontal Hold it securely balance point of the gimbal With one hand firmly holding the camera or the center post use the T handle Allen wrench to loosen the gimbal locking screw Remember to always keep the post horizontal when the screw is loosened Take the wrench out of the screw but keep it within reach e Grasp the center post and carefully slide the post in the gimbal Use your thumb to push against the gimbal Find the place where the sled is balanced on the gimbal like a seesaw on a fulcrum Then slide the post through the gimbal about 1 2 12mm towards the battery This will place the sled s c g 1 2 12mm below the gimbal yoke bearings and be slightly bottom heavy e Tighten the gimbal locking screw Be careful not to over tighten as the Allen wrench can generate tremendous force WARNING IF YOU LOOSEN THE GIMBAL LOCKING SCREW WHEN THE CENTER POST IS VERTICAL THE WHOLE SLED WILL DROP RAPIDLY AND DAMAGE THE SLED Look at the sled from the side If the sled is tipped up or down e Hold the center post vertical e Move the camera forward or backward by turning the fore aft knob until the camera is level You can use a bubble level to help you find vertical fore aft adjustment knob side to side adjustment knob Fine tune the side to side balance Look at the sled
25. oom the sled all the way up and down while watching the arm sections Be sure you are in good form at all times The upper arm should follow the forearm smoothly and not lag behind in either direction Do not bend over or lean back as you boom the sled up and down Boom the sled with your right hand your left hand is just for aiming the sled and camera 21 Basic Operating Hand grips The two handed technique was invented by Garrett Brown while working on The Shining and it has been the preferred method of operating ever since Basically the right hand does the work of positioning the sled in space moving horizontally and vertically relative to the body and the left hand aims the sled and therefore the camera by panning and tilting If the sled is properly balanced very little force will be needed to aim the camera Clenching the center post or gimbal hard will counteract the sled s float Light control is the key to a steady camera and smooth moves i The left hand also has the interesting job of keeping the sled level as we move about As we accelerate or decelerate go around corners etc the left hand must prevent the sled from going off level before it happens One of the big operating skills is anticipating how the sled will behave as we move along There are several classic grips we use to aim and control the sled The preferred grip using the pinkie finger to prevent a pendulum ef
26. or rods or a dovetail with motor rods and this system should not interfere with camera functions or working with the camera in high mode A low mode handle clamp P N 802 7417 works for some cameras but be sure the camera s handle is strong enough Many plastic handles on video cameras are inadequate and a custom cage or bracket is required Most operators work with the low mode bracketry and second dovetail in place ready to go at all times Attach the second dovetail directly above the first dovetail Check that it does not interfere with changing tapes film mags or any other camera functions Tip Many video cameras or video cameras with film lens adaptors do not have a proper way to mount a dovetail above the camera We suggest you use the bottom dovetail for low mode shooting upside down You will need to flip the image in post production so be sure that s okay before you shoot You can either leave the monitor upside down or physically flip it over for better viewing The latter will require electronic flipping of the image Flip the monitor by unscrewing the monitor mount turn the monitor over and replace the screw Attach the F bracket to the gimbal handle by inserting the post into the gimbal handle and securing it with the pin The F bracket brings the arm back into a proper relationship with the inverted sled Without an F bracket the end of the arm can be next to t
27. ore aft and side to side balance We may need to fine tune the balance in one axis after we balance in another axis The object is to get as close as possible to the best balance for the shot 13 The vest Us J Shoulder connector Shoulder lt pads Adjustable ki ST ADICAM Chest pads Chest Chest plate release pin E T VA f connectors 5 Adjustable Velcro strap Hip pads Socket block Socket block height adjustment Putting on the vest Please read the vest instructions e Pull out the chest plate release pin completely before you try to put the vest and adjust the center spar up or on It is very helpful to have a friend help down so the hip pad sits centered you the first time you put on the vest on your hips Replace the chest Otherwise use a full length mirror plate release pin in the nearest hole Open the vest e Loosen both chest straps e Release the hip straps on the left side e Open the chest buckle on the left side e Open the shoulder buckle on the left side e Be sure the Velcro straps are horizontal on the hip pads and tighten the hip straps completely Pay close attention to the good and evenly fit of the vest in the photo The vest should be very snug above It s very important how A ANA PE A A i the shoulder pads contact the shoulders and the shoulder Removing the vest connectors are not too high a common mistake e
28. ote that the battery c g is closer to the post and the camera c g has moved to the rear Why See the third figure In the third figure the monitor has been raised all the way up in front of the camera It s absurd of course but it makes a point Now the common monitor and camera c g is over the post and the battery s c g is directly under the post So you can see that as the monitor is raised the camera c g must move to the rear and the battery c g must move towards the post With most sleds the monitor c g is raised above the battery c g therefore the camera c g is always to the rear of It typically works out that the camera c g is pretty close to 5in 12mm to the rear a bit more if the camera is light or the monitor is higher and somewhat less if the camera is very heavy or the monitor is lower statically and dynamically There is some leeway as to the required precision of dynamic balance What is acceptable depends upon the operator and the situation Dynamic balance can very easily and quickly be achieved by the trial and error method In all cases when a sled is in dynamic balance both the camera s c g and the battery s c g will be to the rear of the centerline of the center post This rule gives you some point to begin balancing the system We put the rig in dynamic balance by first choosing the monitor position and then placing the camera close to its final position
29. perator You can find more information about our workshops at www steadicam com The Scout stabilizer system is not a magic stick that instantly creates great images It s a precision instrument that responds to your touch Although it s not that difficult to operate it is a skill that takes a bit of time and effort to learn The more effort and practice you put into operating the better you will be so it s important to develop good habits from the beginning Several two hour sessions will get you started but an operator can always be more skilled with a Steadicam stabilizer and also be more effective and artistic in choosing how to start move and stop the camera In the beginning it s helpful and more fun to have a friend work with you Take turns practicing and spotting for each other Use a second video camera to record your exercises how you stand and move is critical for great operating STEADICAM UltraBrite Ultra and Scout are trademarks of the Tiffen Company LLC y V 5 5 Y WWW Tiffen Steadicam Operations Glendale CA 818 843 4600 1 800 593 3331 www steadicam com Helping Create the 3 World s Greatest Images Overview The Tiffen Company takes great pride in producing the world s best stabilizers The Scout stabilizer continues our tradition of excellence and innovation filling the need for a high quality lightweight and low cost rig Like all our models the Scout
30. re are no worries about getting back in dynamic balance You only need to rebalance statically and you will be in dynamic balance again Honest Put the other way around you can set up your rig in various ways with a practice camera at home making it long or short monitor in or out with an extra weight etc Just note or mark the positions of the monitor and batteries and you will be able to get into dynamic balance quickly on set regardless of the camera you carry Really Honest No fooling For the complete story see the Dynamic Balance Primer and play with the Dynamic Balance Spreadsheet available online at www steadicam com Dynamic balance spin test with an Ultra Spinning a bit wobbly Looking good 25 Configuring the sled for low mode In order to configure the sled for Advanced lechniques low mode operating you must Low Mode Flip the monitor and the camera upside down e Attach the F bracket to the gimbal Use the provided safety pin e Rebalance the sled both statically and dynamically e You also might change to a longer post in the arm and or raise the socket block on the vest to restore some of the arm s lost boom range The camera will need some means of Many film cameras come with dedicated attaching a second dovetail to the top of low mode brackets and 100 video the camera viewfinders Some camera specific low mode bracketry might also provide a means of mounting mot
31. s hard to judge how well you did or if you are improving Many experienced operators are still perfecting their moving camera skills after 25 years of operating and most of them thought they were pretty good at the end of their first workshop How good you get is part of the artistry and fun of being an operator You have a great tool in your hands Practice practice practice 23 Advanced lechniques Dynamic Balance the centerpost Dynamic balancing the Steadicam sled A sled is in dynamic balance when the center post remains vertical as the sled is panned and this is critical at any and all panning speeds Dynamic balance is extremely important for precise operating and for whip pans For each arrangement of camera monitor position post length accessories etc there are many possibilities for statically balancing the sled However for each arrangement of camera monitor position post length accessories etc there is only one combination that balances the sled both Three figures to study for understanding dynamic balance The top figure looks like the Model One or the SK sled The camera c g is centered over the post the monitor and battery are on the same horizontal plane and their common c g 1s in the post This unit is in dynamic balance and pans flat The second figure has the monitor raised a bit This looks like most sled configurations in either high or low mode N
32. ys leave enough space between the gimbal and the stage to accommodate the docking yoke about 1in 25mm e Use the 5 32 T handle wrench to loosen and tighten the gimbal clamp Do not over tighten Adjust the battery position and attach the batteries e Attach the battery onto the battery mount Be sure the safety catch is engaged AB battery Dock the sled in the docking bracket e Hold the sled upright with the monitor front to the left Place the center post into the bracket so the bottom of the stage rests on the yoke e Push the aircraft pin back through the yoke securing the post in the bracket Remove the dovetail from the stage and set aside e Loosen the dovetail locking knob until the dovetail can be tilted out sideways as shown e Safety stops on the dovetail keep the dovetail from sliding off the stage when the dovetail locking knob is loose The stops also prevent the dovetail from being inserted into the front or rear of the stage dovetail side to side lock adjustment knob fore aft adjustment knob Attaching the camera to the sled Att C h i n th e We attach the camera to the sled via a dovetail plate With the Scout stabilizer a Q this plate has safety stops on the ends and several holes for mounting screws We C amera want to attach the dovetail to the camera so that we have the widest possible range of adjustment both fore aft and side to side
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