Contents Operating Manual p/n LIT-807000
STEADICAM® ZEPHYR™ Operating Manual The Tiffen Company 90 Oser Avenue 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.
Table of Contents Overview 4 Basic Operating 22 The Zephyr™ Sled Getting Started Attaching the Camera Balancing 6 8 10 12 Advanced Techniques Dynamic Balancing Low Mode 24 26 The Vest 14 The Arm Setting Your Threads Picking Up the Sled Adjusting the Lift 16 17 18 20 Accessory for lightweight cameras Zephyr™ sled connectors and pin-outs Accessories Cases and Packing 28 29 30 31 Operating a Steadicam® stabilizer will take time and effort.
Overview The Tiffen Company takes great pride in producing the world’s best stabilizers. The Zephyr™ stabilizer continues our tradition of excellence and innovation, filling the need for a high performance, lightweight, and low-cost rig. Like all our models, the Zephyr™ stabilizer is designed to be user-friendly, field-serviceable, tool-free, straightforward, and versatile so the operator can quickly and easily configure the sled, arm, and vest to the best advantage for each shot.
Options for the Zephyr™ stabilizer include a 7” high definition 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, creates many choices for viewing, balance, and inertial control.
The Zephyr™ sled The Zephyr™ Sled Camera mounting platform Side to side adjustment knob Dovetail lock Stage connectors Fore-aft adjustment knob Gimbal clamp Post Add-on weights Post clamp Add-on weights Clamp for sliding monitor and battery rods 6
Gimbal Gimbal handle Battery mount 1/4-20 threads for mounting accessory weights additional LEMO power connector Registration pin for monitor rod HD BNC connector Registration pin for battery rod 7
Prepare the stand and docking bracket Getting Started Set up the stand and docking bracket: • Set up your stand at about chest height. • Use one or more sandbags to stabilize the stand. • Put the docking bracket on the stand and tighten the docking bracket locking knob. • Push the button at the end of the aircraft pin and pull the aircraft pin out of the yoke. Prepare the sled for the camera Adjust the monitor position: • Position the monitor and battery sliding rods as shown.
Adjust the battery position and attach the batteries: Remove the dovetail from the stage and set aside: • Attach the battery onto the battery mount. Be sure the safety catch is engaged. • Loosen the dovetail locking knob until the dovetail can be tilted out sideways. • Safety stops on the dovetail keep the dovetail from sliding off the stage when the dovetail locking knob is loose. • The stops also prevent the dovetail from being inserted into the front or rear of the stage.
Attaching the camera to the sled Attaching the Camera We attach the camera to the sled via a dovetail plate. With the Zephyr™ stabilizer, this plate has safety stops on the ends, and several holes for mounting screws. We want to attach the dovetail to the camera so that we have the widest possible range of adjustment, both fore-aft and side to side. We start this process by finding the camera’s center of gravity (c.g.) or balance point, then properly position the dovetail plate relative to the camera’s c.
Mounting the camera on the sled: • Place the camera above the camera mounting platform. Be sure the locking knob is loose. Angle the right edge of the dovetail into the holder. Be sure to keep everything parallel. Lower the left side into the holder. • If the camera won’t drop fully into place, be sure the right side of the dovetail is fully inserted, all is parallel, and the locking mechanism is out of the way. It’s a close fit. • Camera power connector. 3 pin LEMO: EGG.0B.303.
Balancing the sled Balancing The Steadicam® Zephyr™ stabilizing system works, in part, by the careful balancing of components (camera, monitor, accessories, and battery). We always balance the sled to help us get the shot, so that the operator does the least amount of work to aim the camera. There are several components of balance.
First we position the gimbal, which acts as a pivot point, just a bit above the center of gravity on the center post, and here’s how we do that: • Rotate the center post to horizontal. Hold it securely. balance point of the gimbal Look at the sled from the side. If the sled is tipped up or down: • Hold the center post vertical. • Move the camera forward or backward by turning the fore-aft knob until the camera is level. You can use a bubble level to help you find vertical.
The vest Shoulder connector The Vest Use an allen key to unlock and adjust the angle of the shoulder connector. Shoulder pad Adjustable shoulder connector (see insert) Adjustable spar Chest pad Chest connectors Chest plate release pin Hip pad Socket block height adjustment Socket block Note: Shorten or extend the shoulder straps so that the clip is high on your shoulders when the chest straps are horizontal.
Putting on the vest Please read the vest instructions completely before you try to put the vest on. It is very helpful to have a friend help you the first time you put on the vest. Otherwise use a full-length mirror. • Pull out the chest plate release pin and adjust the center spar up or down so the hip pad sits centered on your hips. Replace the chest plate release pin in the nearest hole. Open the vest • Loosen both chest straps. • Release the hip straps on the left side.
The arm The Arm Arm post Forearm section Lift adjustment knob Double action hinge Upper arm section Steel springs Lift adjustment Socket quick knob release pin Socket Mounting the arm to the vest Rod ends The arm mates with the vest via an adjustable socket in the arm and a female socket block on the vest. The two adjustment screws in the socket block on the vest and two “rod ends” in the mating section of the arm determine the lift angle of the arm.
Determining your threads is part of basic operating technique Adjusting your threads For almost all operators, regardless of body type, the typical adjustment for the “side to side” screws (the rod ends in the arm) is 1.5 to 2 turns out on the top screw and ALWAYS all the way in on the bottom screw. • If you have big pectorals and a flat stomach, the top screw is almost all the way in. If you’ve been eating well and exercising less, the top screw will be further out.
Picking up the sled Picking Up the Sled 1 2 3 Undocking, setting your threads, and docking the sled With the vest on and the arm attached to the vest, undock the rig: • Face the sled and bow at the waist. Do not bend your knees. It is helpful to have a friend spotting you the first time you do it. • Align the gimbal mounting hole to the arm post and slip the arm post completely into the hole. It’s easiest to align the parts if the gimbal handle is positioned behind the rig (i.e.
4 5 6 7 Holding the rig might feel awkward at first. Don’t worry – you will gain control and endurance rapidly as you practice. The first time is typically the most annoying, 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 adjust the lift capacity of the arm (see pages 20-21) before fine-tuning your threads. Eventually you must adjust them both.
Setting the lift capacity of the arm Now it’s time to adjust the arm for the weight of your camera. Adjusting the Lift Important: The lift adjustment knobs can only be turned when the arm segments are slightly above horizontal. They cannot be turned when the arm is unloaded, i.e., when not lifting the sled, nor if the arm sections are boomed too far up or down. Do not force the lift knobs. At the right angle, they turn very easily.
Now let’s fly the rig again • Move the sled off your left hip as before. Keep the camera close. This is what we call the “Missionary.” • Move your torso ever so slightly to test how your body angle controls the sled. • Repeat with the sled further away from you, but keep your torso vertical. • The sled should stay in place with only a little help from your right hand. CAUTION: IF YOU REST YOUR RIGHT HAND ON THE CONNECTING ARM, KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF THE SPACE BETWEEN THE ELBOW AND THE ARTICULATING ARM.
Hand grips Basic Operating The two-handed technique was invented by Garrett Brown while working on The Shining, and it has been the preferred method of operating ever since. Basically, the right hand does the work of positioning the sled in space (moving horizontally and vertically relative to the body), and the left hand aims the sled (and therefore the camera) by panning and tilting. If the sled is properly balanced, very little force will be needed to aim the camera.
Basic movement More Practice and Training Try moving around and get used to the way it feels. Pay attention to how your movements and posture affect the sled. For operators who have not yet taken a workshop, we (once again!) strongly urge you to do so, as it is the quickest way to learn how to operate properly. Relax your muscles and control the Zephyr™ stabilizer rig with your body position and a light, fingertip touch.
Dynamic Balancing the Steadicam® Sled Advanced Techniques Dynamic Balance A sled is in dynamic balance when the center post remains vertical as the sled is panned (and this is critical) at any and all panning speeds. Dynamic balance is extremely important for precise operating and for whip pans. For each arrangement of camera, monitor position, post length, accessories, etc., there are many possibilities for statically balancing the system.
We put the rig in dynamic balance by first choosing the monitor position and then placing the camera close to its final position. Then we discover the one-andonly ideal position for the battery by the trial and error method. First, set up your sled at the proper length for the shot and place the monitor where you want it for proper viewing and inertial control.
Configuring the sled for low mode Advanced Techniques Low Mode In order to configure the sled for low mode operating, you must: • Flip the monitor and the camera upside-down. • Attach the F-bracket to the gimbal. Use the provided safety pin. • Rebalance the sled, both statically and dynamically. • You also might change to a longer post in the arm and/or raise the socket block on the vest to restore some of the arm’s lost boom range.
Tip: Many video cameras – or video cameras with film lens adaptors – do not have a proper way to mount a dovetail above the camera. We suggest you use the “bottom” dovetail for low mode, shooting upside down. You will need to flip the image in post production, so be sure that’s okay before you shoot. You can either leave the monitor upside down, or physically flip it over for better viewing. The latter will require electronic flipping of the image.
Accessory for lightweight cameras When using very lightweight cameras, it’s often better to add weight to the camera or stage, so that the gimbal position remains close to the stage. It’s very easy to use 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.
Zephyr™ sled connectors and pin-outs STAGE REAR STAGE FRONT HD VIDEO BNC TALLY IN/OUT 8-PIN HIROSE HR212-10R-8SD PIN-1 = GND PIN-2 = RESERVED PIN-3 = RESERVED PIN-4 = RESERVED PIN-5 = RESERVED PIN-6 = RESERVED PIN-7 = TALLY IN PIN-8 = TALLY OUT 12/24V POWER 3-PIN LEMO EGG-0B-303 PIN-1 = GND PIN-2 = +12V PIN-3 = +24V MONITOR OUT 6-PIN HIROSE HR10-7R-6S PIN-1 = GND PIN-2 = VIDEO GND PIN-3 = COMPOSITE VIDEO PIN-4 = +12V PIN-5 = TALLY OUT PIN-6 = GND 12/24V POWER 3-PIN LEMO EGG-0B-303 PIN-1 = GND PIN-2 =
Equipment and accessories Accessories Zephyr™ sled Zephyr™ arm Zephyr™ vest Hard case Cable, 3 ft video Cable, 12V power 7” 16:9 Monitor Docking bracket Adaptor, phono-BNC Adaptor, BNC-RCA Instruction manual DVD, EFP Training 078-4122-01 078-7351-01 807-7500 803-7900 JCK-130000 JCK-130001 LIT-809000 DVD-200504 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 c
Also recommended Wireless follow focus system and brackets Video transmitting and receiving system Wired zoom control system Camera specific low mode brackets Inertial augmentation (Antlers™ or Gyros) Video recording system Cases & packing When repacking the sled into the case, make sure the gear gets wiped down and not put away wet. Remove the batteries. Don’t leave any loose components in the case as they may work their way over to the monitor and scratch the display.
The Tiffen Company, 90 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788 • 631-273-2500 • 1-800-645-2522 • www.tiffen.com Tiffen Steadicam® Operations, Glendale, CA • 818-843-4600 • 1-800-593-3331 • www.steadicam.
