USER’S GUIDE
Table of Contents About the Free Spirit Handheld Camera Stabilizer 2 Free Spirit Component Parts 3 Free Spirit Key Features 4 Using the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer 5 Attaching your camera to the Free Spirit 5 Achieving balance with your camera 6 Horizontal Balance 6 Vertical Balance 8 Handling the Free Spirit 9 Shooting with the Free Spirit 9 Cautions & Warnings 11 Specifications 11 Return Policy & Limited Warranty 13
USER’S GUIDE About the Free Spirit Handheld Camera Stabilizer The Digital Juice Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer is an affordable, lightweight, handheld camera stabilizing system designed to allow you to walk, run, climb stairs or move over rough terrain without camera shake or instability. Using this one piece of gear you can get beautiful and stable moving shots with a very high production value.
USER’S GUIDE Free Spirit Component Parts Quick release camera base plate (1) 1 3 Center telescoping support column (2) Offset gimbaled handle grip and horizontal yoke assembly (3) 2 Handle assembly up/ down adjustment and locking ring (4) Soft rubber, textured handle grip (5) Telescoping center column length adjustment and locking ring (6) Counterweight base plate (7) Six 3-ounce counterweight rings (8) Counterweight stack tie-down screw (9) 4 5 9 6 7 8 3
USER’S GUIDE Free Spirit Key Features 10 • The three-axis offset gimbaled handle-grip, enclosed bearing assembly and horizontal yoke of the Free Spirit stabilizer (10) allow your hand to move freely in every dimension, independently from the stable camera and telescoping center post. This eliminates the shake and instability inherent in handheld camera shots, while allowing the freedom of constant smooth motion on three axes which you can’t get from a typical jib or dolly setup.
USER’S GUIDE Attaching your camera to the Free Spirit 1. Remove the quick release plate from the top of the Free Spirit. To do this, position the unit with arrow on top of quick release plate (16) facing away from you, then loosen the quick release lever knob on the right side (17) and pull on the red back-to-front fine adjustment screw (18) on the left side of the quick release plate unit.
USER’S GUIDE Using the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer (continued) NOTE: When checking horizontal balance, you should make sure that you lift the Free Spirit from a flat and level surface, such as a table, and allow it to hang freely as you hold it. If it is balanced properly on its horizontal axis, it will be level and upright, with the center shaft in a perfect vertical position. If it tilts to the front, then you need to shift the center of gravity backwards.
USER’S GUIDE 5. Another way to finetune horizontal balance is to move the position of the counterweight ring stacks on the base plate at the base of the unit (23). There are slots on the base plate on which the weight stacks can move inwards and outwards from the main shaft. Moving the counterweights away from the center on the base plate will also increase panning stability. Make sure to lock the counterweights back down after you move them.
USER’S GUIDE Using the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer (continued) Achieving balance with your camera on the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer (continued) Vertical Balance Once your Free Spirit is horizontally balanced, its vertical balance can be tested and properly adjusted. As with horizontal balance, the objective in obtaining correct vertical balance is to get the camera and Free Spirit unit to remain level during operation, unless you are intentionally applying a pan, tilt or roll type of hand pressure.
USER’S GUIDE Using the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer (continued) 24 25 26 Handling the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer The Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer is designed to work properly only when using two hands to control it—one hand to hold the unit and the other to guide it. Without a guiding hand, the camera can drift away from its originally balanced position and you won’t be able to control the direction it is shooting.
USER’S GUIDE Using the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer (continued) NOTE: Make sure neither hand touches the gimbal assembly, yoke or top camera mounting plate during shooting as this can cause unstable shots. Handling the Free Spirit Camera Stabilizer (continued) and re-tighten the black rubber ring (28) at the new position. You can also hold the Free Spirit’s handle from behind the bar or in front of the bar depending on whatever is most comfortable for you.
USER’S GUIDE 4. You can rely on your own sight and judgment of what the camera is shooting. This is easier to do if you camera is set up with a wide angle lens so that you don’t miss any of the action. Also, using a wide aperture setting will give you a wider depth of field so that the precision of your focus is not as important.
USER’S GUIDE Free Spirit Return Policy & Limited Warranty Unless otherwise noted this warranty agreement is the only warranty agreement between the parties. This agreement states the limits and association of risk between the two parties. By use of the Product and accessories the customer acknowledges understanding of this warranty and agreement and binding to the terms contained within. Return Policy • 30-day money back excluding shipping. • A receipt dated within 30 days of purchase.
USER’S GUIDE The customer’s remedies with respect to defective Digital Juice Product and accessories shall be exclusively limited to the repair or replacement remedy as above provided and in no event shall Digital Juice be liable for loss of profits, revenues, savings, inconvenience, associated costs, expense for equipment or service, use of capital, facilities, services, storage charges, damage to property, or any other special, incidental or consequential damages caused by the use or misuse of, or inabili
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