2010Operating forum
Achieving dynamic balance on Steadicam rigs with Canon 5D and similar camera setups
16 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Position the camera's center of gravity slightly behind the centerpost as a starting point for achieving dynamic balance.
- Flatten the monitor arm down to its built stop point rather than tilting it upward to reduce inertial contribution and improve balance.
- The battery paddle adjustment requires only small movements of a degree or two, as overshooting the adjustment is easy.
- Increasing camera payload mass to the 10-12 pound range helps settle the rig, with 12 pounds being acceptable for Flyer and Flyer LE models.
- Adjusting the battery paddle by moving it strictly fore and aft, rather than tilting it up and down, simplifies dynamic balance tuning since tilting moves the center of gravity both forward and upward simultaneously.
- Laying the monitor nearly flat contributes to achieving dynamic balance more effectively than other orientations.
- Adding a weight plate to the camera payload can help reach the optimal mass range for balance.
Depends on
- Advice specifically addresses Steadicam Flyer and Flyer LE models; applicability to other rig types unclear.
- Discussion includes an unresolved situation where a user with a Canon 5D and battery grip plus RedRock rig at 11.08 pounds struggled to achieve dynamic balance despite following recommended steps.
- Some participants reference a video that is no longer available, limiting ability to verify techniques shown.
- Experience levels vary among contributors, making it uncertain which suggestions are most reliable for all scenarios.