Premium Members Raphael Werner Posted December 12, 2019 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 12, 2019 Hi there! As I had the opportunity to borrow a friend's rig, I recently started to operate heavier cameras after learning to operate with lightweight setups (FS5 etc.). Now I have some kind of a noob struggle: I have no problem putting the rig in static balance. However, I find it very hard to balance it dynamically. As the guidebooks and tutorials advise, a good start for dynamic balance would be to put the camera’s CG a tiny bit behind the central post. But by doing so, I cannot put the rig in static balance any longer, as the batteries at the back of the bottom stage are way heavier than my monitor. Also, I cannot move my monitor uphill in order to get a better look at it or to balance the rig dynamically, because I need the weight at the bottom to get it statically balanced. Have any of you had this problem too? I cannot reduce my batteries’ weight, I need them for my static balance. And I already attached the heaviest V-Mount battery to my monitor to bring it back to balance. Still, the monitor is way too light… I don’t want to extend my post too much (that way I could get rid of one battery on the battery hanger)… Any advice from a pro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Corey Hess Posted December 12, 2019 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 12, 2019 Hey Raphael, What rig are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Raphael Werner Posted December 12, 2019 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted December 12, 2019 Hi Corey Thanks for your answer! I'm currently testing out the Glidecam X45 with the g50x arm... It has a dual-battery hanger behind the post and a monitor arm in the front... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Raphael Werner Posted December 12, 2019 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted December 12, 2019 I mean, for most cases I find it very much possible to operate like that. But fast whip-pans prove to be a lot trickier than with lighter cameras... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Sene Posted December 14, 2019 Report Share Posted December 14, 2019 Hi Raphael, In order to achieve both static and dynamic balance with the setup you describe, you'll need to find a way to add some weight to your monitor. You could put a battery bracket on your monitor, and then add a battery to the back. You could also look into smaller weights like these, because they can be moved around to wherever you need them. I'm not sure what mounting options you have on the bottom of that sled, but you could always tape the weights where you need them. Not pretty, but works! I did that for awhile with my Archer 1 sled, which had a fixed monitor bracket (and thus position). Eventually I got a bracket that made sliding the weights along the two bottom rods much easier, and saved me a lot of tape! If you haven't, read the Dynamic Balance Primer on Jerry's website, and check out the section on dynamic balance in the handbook. Happy flying! Lisa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Raphael Werner Posted December 14, 2019 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted December 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Lisa Sene said: Hi Raphael, In order to achieve both static and dynamic balance with the setup you describe, you'll need to find a way to add some weight to your monitor. You could put a battery bracket on your monitor, and then add a battery to the back. You could also look into smaller weights like these, because they can be moved around to wherever you need them. I'm not sure what mounting options you have on the bottom of that sled, but you could always tape the weights where you need them. Not pretty, but works! I did that for awhile with my Archer 1 sled, which had a fixed monitor bracket (and thus position). Eventually I got a bracket that made sliding the weights along the two bottom rods much easier, and saved me a lot of tape! If you haven't, read the Dynamic Balance Primer on Jerry's website, and check out the section on dynamic balance in the handbook. Happy flying! Lisa Thank you so much Lisa! I already read the handbook's advice, but I will certainly check out Jerry's website, and the tipp with the weights is definitely something I'm going to try out! Have a great day, and thanks for your time and advise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devindra Sooknanan Posted April 8, 2020 Report Share Posted April 8, 2020 (edited) Hey Raphael, I had the same problem but i found a bit a a solution, i added a v mount battery plate to the bottom of the rig. I got a the V-mount battery plate off ebay, 4x 1inch long 3/4 hex standoffs with 10-32 thread https://www.google.com/search?q=3/4+hex+standoff+10-32&hl=en&sxsrf=ALeKk02kKi5hQncBdED9YdAw5PO8CVuGHw:1586332693498&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLysPlrdjoAhVRFTQIHZYzBSkQ_AUoAnoECAwQBA&biw=2133&bih=1076 4x 5/16 diameter 1/2in long spacers https://www.google.com/search?q=5%2F16+diameter+1%2F2inch+long+spacers &tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwisqNuortjoAhXyJn0KHVB0CboQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=5%2F16+diameter+1%2F2inch+long+spacers &gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1Dz9wJYqJoDYPSfA2gAcAB4AIABVYgB_AGSAQEzmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=ooSNXqzPF_LN9APQ6KXQCw&bih=1076&biw=2133&hl=en some 1inch long 10-32 cap screws and washers. flip the rig over, take the thumb screws holding the sliding base on and replace them with the hex standoffs, then put the screws through the battery plate, put the washers and spacers on them screw the plate to the hex stand off. here's a good drive link to see how mine turned out https://drive.google.com/open?id=1D8bmIu9Au_9dPFGV0VJl1jBr6KSE23_0 let me know if you have any questions. I got all the hardware stuff from a small hardware store, home depot didn't have it but a neighborhood ACE or smaller hardware store might. good luck yo Devindra S. Edited April 8, 2020 by Devindra Sooknanan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Raphael Werner Posted April 8, 2020 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted April 8, 2020 8 hours ago, Devindra Sooknanan said: Hey Raphael, I had the same problem but i found a bit a a solution, i added a v mount battery plate to the bottom of the rig. I got a the V-mount battery plate off ebay, 4x 1inch long 3/4 hex standoffs with 10-32 thread https://www.google.com/search?q=3/4+hex+standoff+10-32&hl=en&sxsrf=ALeKk02kKi5hQncBdED9YdAw5PO8CVuGHw:1586332693498&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLysPlrdjoAhVRFTQIHZYzBSkQ_AUoAnoECAwQBA&biw=2133&bih=1076 4x 5/16 diameter 1/2in long spacers https://www.google.com/search?q=5%2F16+diameter+1%2F2inch+long+spacers &tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwisqNuortjoAhXyJn0KHVB0CboQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=5%2F16+diameter+1%2F2inch+long+spacers &gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQA1Dz9wJYqJoDYPSfA2gAcAB4AIABVYgB_AGSAQEzmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWc&sclient=img&ei=ooSNXqzPF_LN9APQ6KXQCw&bih=1076&biw=2133&hl=en some 1inch long 10-32 cap screws and washers. flip the rig over, take the thumb screws holding the sliding base on and replace them with the hex standoffs, then put the screws through the battery plate, put the washers and spacers on them screw the plate to the hex stand off. here's a good drive link to see how mine turned out https://drive.google.com/open?id=1D8bmIu9Au_9dPFGV0VJl1jBr6KSE23_0 let me know if you have any questions. I got all the hardware stuff from a small hardware store, home depot didn't have it but a neighborhood ACE or smaller hardware store might. good luck yo Devindra S. Cool, thanks for the advise! I will check this out and try it as soon as our stores re-open here... Have a great day, and stay healthy! Raphi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devindra Sooknanan Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 i also got some cam lever 1/4-20 quick release handles i added pictures to the google drive makes the monitor arm lock better to the post and allows me to adjust stuff faster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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