Tiffen Steadicam Zephyr, Operating Manual

Page 1: ...Contents Operating Manual p n LIT 807000 ...

Page 2: ...nue 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 ext 17 Manufactured in the United States of America 2011 The Tiffen Company LLC Written by J Holway L Hayball ...

Page 3: ...on magic stick that instantly creates great images It s a precision instrument WKDW UHVSRQGV WR RXU WRXFK OWKRXJK LW V QRW WKDW GLIÀFXOW WR RSHUDWH LW LV D VNLOO WKDW WDNHV D ELW RI WLPH DQG 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 oper...

Page 4: ...pped with independently telescoping monitor and battery rods The Zephyr system comes standard with the Tango ready tool free gimbal 16 9 SD LCD Color monitor and a single battery mount for 12 volts either V Lock or Anton Bauer AB 24 volts is optional A word about 12 and 24 volts as used in the manual 12 and 24 volts typically refer to the nominal voltages required by cameras and accessories but th...

Page 5: ...nstructional DVD and the owner s manual Options for the Zephyr stabilizer LQFOXGH D µ KLJK GHÀQLWLRQ monitor 24 volts and a compact vest plus 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 batteries are adjustable in and out which along with the add on Merlin weights cr...

Page 6: ...form Dovetail lock The Zephyr sled The Zephyr Sled Fore aft adjustment knob Stage connectors Post Post clamp Side to side adjustment knob Gimbal clamp Add on weights Add on weights Clamp for sliding monitor and battery rods ...

Page 7: ...7 Gimbal handle Battery mount Gimbal Registration pin for monitor rod Registration pin for battery rod 1 4 20 threads for mounting accessory weights HD BNC connector additional LEMO power connector ...

Page 8: ... SXOO WKH DLUFUDIW SLQ RXW RI WKH RNH Adjust the monitor position 3RVLWLRQ WKH PRQLWRU DQG EDWWHU VOLGLQJ URGV DV VKRZQ I UHTXLUHG RX PD QHHG WR WHPSRUDULO UHPRYH WKH ORFDWLQJ SLQ IRU WKH PRQLWRU URG WR DFKLHYH WKLV H WHQVLRQ GG WKH DFFHVVRU ZHLJKWV WR WKH URGV DV VKRZQ RU VWDUWHUV XVH PLGGOH DQG VWDUWHU ZHLJKW RQ HDFK WXEH 7LOW WKH PRQLWRU WR DERXW GHJUHHV Adjust the gimbal position 6OLGH WKH JLP...

Page 9: ...ment knob Remove the dovetail from the stage and set aside RRVHQ WKH GRYHWDLO ORFNLQJ NQRE XQWLO WKH GRYHWDLO FDQ EH WLOWHG RXW VLGHZD V 6DIHW VWRSV RQ WKH GRYHWDLO NHHS WKH GRYHWDLO IURP VOLGLQJ RII WKH VWDJH ZKHQ WKH GRYHWDLO ORFNLQJ NQRE LV ORRVH 7KH VWRSV DOVR SUHYHQW WKH GRYHWDLO IURP EHLQJ LQVHUWHG LQWR WKH IURQW RU UHDU RI WKH VWDJH 7KHUHIRUH GR QRW DWWHPSW WR VOLGH WKH GRYHWDLO LQWR SODFH ...

Page 10: ...R HV RELH OLJKWV HWF DQG ORDG WKH WDSH RU ÀOP I WKH FDPHUD KDV D TXLFN UHOHDVH SODWH WULSRG DGDSWRU OHDYH LW RQ WKH FDPHUD DODQFH WKH FDPHUD IRUH DIW RQ D URG RU SHQFLO DV VKRZQ DQG PDUN WKH EDODQFH SRLQW ZLWK D SLHFH RI WDSH 5HSHDW IRU VLGH WR VLGH Attaching the dovetail plate DPLQH WKH GRYHWDLO 7XUQ LW RYHU WR ORFDWH WKH WKUHH URZV RI ODUJH DQG VPDOO VORWV DQG WKH VWRSV 5HPRYH WKH VFUHZV WKDW DU...

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Page 12: ... 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 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 OL LPN...

Page 13: ...KW WҋV JRRG WR KDYH DQ DVVLVWDQW KROG WKH VWDQG 5RWDWH WKH VOHG WR KRUL RQWDO HW JR RI WKH FHQWHU SRVW RXQW KRZ PDQ VHFRQGV LW WDNHV WKH FHQWHU SRVW WR IDOO WKURXJK YHUWLFDO 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 gim...

Page 14: ...djustment Chest plate release pin Note Shorten or extend the shoulder straps so that the clip is high on your shoulders when the chest straps are horizontal Also be sure that the shoulder straps are evenly extended and at the same angle to the Velcro Adjustable shoulder connector see insert Use an allen key to unlock and adjust the angle of the shoulder connector ...

Page 15: ...g shorten or extend straps etc to THRL OL LZ Ä WLYMLJ S Pay close attention to the good Ä VM OL LZ PU OL WOV V above It s very important how the shoulder pads contact the shoulders and the shoulder connectors are not too high a common mistake Putting on the vest 3XOO RXW WKH FKHVW SODWH UHOHDVH SLQ DQG DGMXVW WKH FHQWHU VSDU XS RU GRZQ VR WKH KLS SDG VLWV FHQWHUHG RQ RXU KLSV 5HSODFH WKH FKHVW SOD...

Page 16: ...ing section of the arm determine the lift angle of the arm These two adjustments are your WKUHDGV µ DQG WKH DUH VSHFLÀF WR RXU 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 sid...

Page 17: ...reads I RX KDYH ELJ SHFWRUDOV DQG D ÁDW VWRPDFK WKH WRS VFUHZ LV DOPRVW DOO WKH ZD LQ I RXҋYH EHHQ HDWLQJ ZHOO DQG H HUFLVLQJ OHVV WKH WRS VFUHZ ZLOO EH IXUWKHU RXW OZD V GLDO LQ WKH WRS VFUHZ ÀUVW WR RXU VHWWLQJ WKHQ WXUQ LQ WKH ERWWRP VFUHZ XQWLO LW MXVW VQXJV XS DJDLQVW WKH ÀWWLQJ 7KHUH LV QR QHHG WR WLJKWHQ WKH ERWWRP VFUHZ YHU KDUG OZD V NHHS D KDQG RQ WKH IUHH HQG RI WKH DUP RWKHUZLVH LW PLJ...

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Page 19: ...FW LW RX QHHG WR DGMXVW RXU WKUHDGV 7 SLFDOO LWҋV D PDWWHU RI WKH LQ RXWµ VFUHZV UDWKHU WKDQ WKH VLGH WR VLGH VFUHZV VSKPUN OL YPN TPNO MLLS H R HYK H ÄYZ VU VYY you will gain control and endurance rapidly as you WYHJ PJL OL ÄYZ PTL PZ WPJHSS OL TVZ HUUV PUN 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 adj...

Page 20: ...OG FRPH WR UHVW VOLJKWO DERYH KRUL RQWDO DERXW WR GMXVW WKH DUP VHFWLRQ QHDUHVW WKH VOHG ÀUVW WKH IRUHDUP VHFWLRQ I WKH DUP ÁRDWV DW WRR KLJK DQ DQJOH SXOO WKH VOHG GRZQ ZLWK RXU OHIW KDQG XQWLO WKH IRUHDUP VHFWLRQ LV DERXW DERYH KRUL RQWDO 7XUQ WKH ZHLJKW DGMXVWPHQW NQRE FRXQWHUFORFNZLVH XQWLO WKH IRUHDUP ZDQWV WR ÁRDW DW WKLV DQJOH I WKH DUP ÁRDWV DW WRR ORZ DQ DQJOH SXOO WKH VOHG XS ZLWK RXU OH...

Page 21: ...UVR HYHU VR VOLJKWO WR WHVW KRZ RXU ERG DQJOH FRQWUROV WKH VOHG 5HSHDW ZLWK WKH VOHG IXUWKHU DZD IURP RX EXW NHHS RXU WRUVR YHUWLFDO 7KH VOHG VKRXOG VWD LQ SODFH ZLWK RQO D OLWWOH KHOS IURP RXU ULJKW KDQG Boom 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 direc...

Page 22: ...g 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 Finding your grip UDE WKH FHQWHU SRVW ZLWK RXU OHIW KDQG MXVW EHORZ WKH JLPEDO OO ÀYH ÀQJHUV VKRXOG EH 7 LQ FRQWDFW ZLWK WKH SRVW EXW WKLV LVQҋW D WHD SDUW RQҋW MXVW XVH RXU ÀQJHUWLSV ZUDS RX ÀQJHUV D ELW DURXQG W...

Page 23: ...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 LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WKH 3 YLGHR LV VSHFLÀF WR WKH 3 PRVW RI WKH FRQFHSWV LQIRUPDWLRQ and exercises are still taught in the workshops today We ...

Page 24: ...lance B M M M B B 7KUHH ÀJXUHV WR VWXG IRU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ G QDPLF EDODQFH 7KH WRS ÀJXUH ORRNV OLNH WKH 0RGHO 2QH RU WKH 6 VOHG 7KH FDPHUD F J LV FHQWHUHG over the post the monitor and battery are on the same horizontal plane and their FRPPRQ F J LV LQ WKH SRVW 7KLV XQLW LV LQ G QDPLF EDODQFH DQG SDQV ÁDW 7KH VHFRQG ÀJXUH KDV WKH PRQLWRU UDLVHG D ELW 7KLV ORRNV OLNH PRVW VOHG FRQÀJXUDWLRQV LQ HLWKHU...

Page 25: ...on 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 ...

Page 26: ...eras 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 0DQ ÀOP FDPHUDV FRPH ZLWK GHGLFDWHG low mode brackets and 100 video YLHZÀQGHUV 6RPH FDPHUD VSHFLÀF ORZ mode bracketry might also provide a means of mounting motor rods or a dovetail with motor rods and this system should not interfere with camera funct...

Page 27: ...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...

Page 28: ...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 c...

Page 29: ... 59 3 1 5 6 59 3 1 5 6 59 3 1 5 6 59 3 1 7 1 3 1 7 287 9 2 1 6 6 5217 021 725 287 3 1 526 5 5 6 9 32 5 3 1 02 3 1 1 3 1 9 3 1 9 20326 7 9 2 1 1 67 5 5 9 32 5 3 1 02 3 1 1 3 1 9 3 1 9 6 6 5 5 67 5217 3 1 1 3 1 9 2 1 3 1 20326 7 9 2 3 1 9 3 1 7 287 3 1 1 Zephyr VOHG FRQQHFWRUV DQG SLQ RXWV ...

Page 30: ... manual LIT 809000 DVD EFP Training DVD 200504 Equipment and accessories Optional accessories The Steadicam Operator s Handbook LIT 900000 Steadicam Tango Merlin stage weight bracket 801 7940 Dovetail plate assembly 802 7417 Low mode kit 078 7393 01 Video low mode cage 078 2038 01 F bracket for low mode 300 7901 Merlin Start Weights 801 7920 04 Merlin Middle Weights 801 7920 05 Vehicle kit 078 741...

Page 31: ...ases for their accessories tools low mode brackets video recorders video transmitters diversity receivers remote focus equipment etc PZJSHPTLY OLYL PZ UV PTWSPLK VY L_WYLZZLK HYYHU YLNHYKPUN OPZ TH LYPHS WLJPÄJH PVUZ accessories etc are subject to change without notice Zephyr stabilizer system shown with the optional low mode kit Also recommended Wireless follow focus system and brackets Video tra...

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