Michael Barnes

Everytime I setup my cookbook settings and lay it on table I find the horizontal axis needs very SLIGHT trimming... is this negligible in real world use? I don't really have time to get it precise everytime.

I managed to balance mine properly, but am still wondering what these are regarding to the cookbook. Vertical c.g. dist: No idea. STAGE MARK: No idea. Z: Is this the dovetail plate position? Why does it go to -1 to -11 if the plate is +4 to -4?

I managed to fix it up by following this tutorial: Tips for future newbies balancing it: You will know when your weights are wrong when you try to put the plate on and it tilts in a direction faster than a meteor. No amount of trimming will fix it. Watching the yellow liquid as you level the X axis is key when you get to the end. The Y axis trimming is irrelevant when BALANCING... because you use it to tilt the camera like on the DVD. KEEP it at the center when you are balancing, use the plate to determine the your 'flat' level. You know you balanced it right when you can move it right, left, around without it wobbling.

Hi Steadicam operators! Just spent quite a few hours setting this up... did I balance it right? Here is an image: http://imgur.com/a/WW7zq Settings: Camera: Canon 5D3 Weight: 2.4 lbs Front Weights: 1 Mid 1 Finish Lower Weights: 3 Mid 1 Finish Arc Size: About 12" Mounting Hole: O Stage Number: Top portion at 4. No G splat. After I did this it looked kinda balanced but it was bottom heavy so I fixed with rotating the gymbal counter and then I did some horizontal and vertical trimming using the blue rollers on the bottom. I'm kinda worried about operating because it keeps wobbling. I see operators on YouTube move it left to right like it's cake but if I do it I get some lots of inertia like you're on a boat. Is it because I am using a pancake lens, making the balance odd? Is there something wrong with my Steadycam, or is it just me? I would appreciate any helpful advice.

1) Done 3) Done 2) I don't mind if its the wrong lens, will it work though? Thanks.

Please tell me its possible... it's the only equipment I got. Don't want to invest in a vest yet.