Steadicam balancing

[Lewiscpullan]

My camera seems to be stabilised and centred but when I try to do the circular motion it goes everywhere is this a lack of weights, too much weights etc

 

Thanks, Lewis 

[ALwin]

What do you mean circular motion?

[Lewiscpullan]

Just now, ALwin said:

What do you mean circular motion?

When you see people test them on youtube you see them move the stabiliser about and the camera stays still.

 

[ALwin]

Just now, Lewiscpullan said:

When you see people test them on youtube you see them move the stabiliser about and the camera stays still

OK I get it now.  Can you post a video of what is happening with yours?

[Lewiscpullan]

I'm going to play around with it for a bit then if I can't get it working I will send a video

 

[ALwin]

5 minutes ago, Lewiscpullan said:

I'm going to play around with it for a bit then if I can't get it working I will send a video

 

Are you positive you have balanced it correctly on all three axis?  And that the gimbal pivots are operating smoothly?

[Lewiscpullan]

On 06/08/2016 at 4:53 PM, ALwin said:

Are you positive you have balanced it correctly on all three axis?  And that the gimbal pivots are operating smoothly?

So this is the best I can get 

 

[ALwin]

2 hours ago, Lewiscpullan said:

So this is the best I can get 

 

Did you balance the steadicam with every accessory you want on the camera mounted?  I can see that there a slight imbalance issue.

[Lewiscpullan]

2 hours ago, ALwin said:

Did you balance the steadicam with every accessory you want on the camera mounted?  I can see that there a slight imbalance issue.

Yeah I did. So your saying I just need to fine tune then?
 

[ALwin]

1 minute ago, Lewiscpullan said:

Yeah I did. So your saying I just need to fine tune then?
 

Probably, and of course a bit of practice.

[Lewiscpullan]

Just now, ALwin said:

Probably, and of course a bit of practice.

Ok thanks a lot. Also I was wondering if you had a youtube channel as you see your very knowledgeable about cameras and I think you could have a great channel and if you already have one please link it to me

[ALwin]

Just now, Lewiscpullan said:

Ok thanks a lot. Also I was wondering if you had a youtube channel as you see your very knowledgeable about cameras and I think you could have a great channel and if you already have one please link it to me

I don't have a channel of my own.  I do use it to upload some previews for clients, but I have no time or even the desire to produce my own content.

[Lewiscpullan]

15 hours ago, ALwin said:

I don't have a channel of my own.  I do use it to upload some previews for clients, but I have no time or even the desire to produce my own content.

Shame I think you would do really well and it would be a great channel, you seem to spend a lot of time on this forum I think it would be great if you started a channel doing photography/videography tips!

[ALwin]

On August 8, 2016 at 10:50 PM, Lewiscpullan said:

Yeah I did. So your saying I just need to fine tune then?
 

I showed your video to a friend who has more experience with mechanical steadicams than I do.  He pointed out that even if you could fine tune the balance further you may still have the same problem.  Because both your camera setup and the counter balance weights are light.  If you had a heavier setup, it wouldn't wiggle around as much because the heavier weight will make it more stable.

[ALwin]

21 hours ago, Lewiscpullan said:

Shame I think you would do really well and it would be a great channel, you seem to spend a lot of time on this forum I think it would be great if you started a channel doing photography/videography tips!

I really don't have the time, even if I wanted.  If I took the time to create videos for a personal YT channel I wouldn't have time to work.

[zdog16]

What's your drop time? With a lighter setup its usually better to have a shorter drop time in order to keep the camera level, you just have to be careful to correct for pendular motion when you are starting and stopping. I would also extend the center post and drop the gimbal if your sled supports it. Most Stedicam operators including myself prefer the post as short as possible but that works best when your sled setups weighs 30lbs, so when you have a lighter rig you have to extend the post. Like ALwin said the heavier the sled the more stable it will be. Stedicams work off Newton's first law so when you make the object heaver its more likely to stay steady. 

[Lewiscpullan]

16 hours ago, zdog16 said:

What's your drop time? With a lighter setup its usually better to have a shorter drop time in order to keep the camera level, you just have to be careful to correct for pendular motion when you are starting and stopping. I would also extend the center post and drop the gimbal if your sled supports it. Most Stedicam operators including myself prefer the post as short as possible but that works best when your sled setups weighs 30lbs, so when you have a lighter rig you have to extend the post. Like ALwin said the heavier the sled the more stable it will be. Stedicams work off Newton's first law so when you make the object heaver its more likely to stay steady. 

Alright I will try that, my drop time is 2 seconds