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2011Camera Stage/Donkey Box forum

Fore/aft camera adjustment mechanism on Zephyr camera rig differs from older models

15 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

What the thread found

  • The Zephyr uses a locking screw clamp system for the dovetail instead of the geartrack ridges found on older rig designs like the EFP/3a and Flyer.
  • Coarse fore/aft adjustment on the Zephyr is achieved by loosening the clamp slightly and sliding the camera and dovetail assembly back and forth manually, then locking it down again.
  • Fine fore/aft and side-to-side trimming is done with adjustment screws on the topstage itself without needing to release the main lock.
  • The manual sliding system is quicker and safer than the older geartrack system because the camera is less likely to drift unexpectedly during balance adjustments between takes.
  • If the fore/aft adjustment screw is difficult to turn, it may simply be set very stiffly from the factory and requires more manual force to operate.
  • The fore/aft adjustment location is at the rear of the topstage on the Zephyr.

Depends on

  • Information is from 2011 and based on comparing to older rig models (EFP/3a, Flyer) that may no longer be in common use.
  • The responder was not completely certain whether the internal drive mechanism was a geardrive or wormdrive system.

Gear in this thread

Zephyrcatalog

Parts

Top Stage

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