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2025From a Facebook group: The Steadicam Group

Integrating a Betz Wave monitor into a Steadicam® PRO sled via fixed bayonet connectors: balance geometry and operational gains.

What the thread found

  • The Wave was integrated into the sled using fixed bayonet connectors and hardwired connections, with solid construction quality reported.
  • The Donkey Box was deliberately kept external and not mounted into the sled base to avoid damage and preserve original components as backup.
  • Lateral balance is achieved via a custom battery plate with side-threaded drive (built by an operator) for fine left-right trim, combined with a sliding rear section of the GEN-3 battery holder; gross lateral balance is pre-set using the side-adjustable XCS camera plate.
  • Fore-and-aft balance without an additional threaded drive is slower and more tedious; a second threaded drive on the battery rod was suggested to improve this.
  • The main benefit is a reduction of approximately 2.5 inches in distance from the camera plate to the center rod top, because the tall stack of electronics, Donkey Box, and Wave is eliminated; the lower rod need not be extended as far with heavy cameras.
  • When no battery is mounted on the camera, the payload slides far backward in the Wave to centre the centre of gravity, making the camera appear overhanging.
  • A gimbal-mounted horizon line in the monitor removes the need for operators to consciously reference the horizon during operation.

Depends on

  • The geometry advantage depends on camera weight and the absence of a camera-mounted battery.
  • Fore-and-aft balance tuning is slower without a threaded drive on the battery rod.
  • Lower gimbal position and monitor placement must be re-optimized to prevent the gimbal from riding lower than desired.

Gear in this thread

Wavecatalog

Parts

Donkey Box

Same gear or parts

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  3. 2025Comparison of MK-V Level prototype and Betz Wave: flight characteristics, weight savings, and low-mode operation.DisputedFacebookThe Steadicam Group
  4. 2025Steadicam® Volt 3 firmware update (end 2025): motor power increase, vibration notch filter, and operator feedback on daily studio use.FacebookThe Steadicam Group
Original thread on Facebook (group members only)Ask about this threadThe answer cites the archive