2014General Discussion forum
Upgrading a first-generation camera stabilizer with modular rail systems and power distribution improvements
12 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A 15mm rail system can replace the original spar at the bottom of the sled, allowing adjustable width for different amounts of rotational inertia and accommodation of various accessory configurations.
- Mounting batteries to the camera itself and routing power through the sled via a distribution box reduces voltage drop compared to extensive wiring runs.
- A distribution box built from a standard aluminum enclosure can be mounted to the bottom rail system to supply power and accessories using 2-pin Lemo connectors.
- HD-SDI video can run through the sled using 75-ohm BNC connectors placed at top and bottom.
- The same gimbal and extending post design can work across different generations of the stabilizer, allowing backwards and forwards compatibility for upgrades.
- Bottom rail systems can be configured with very short extensions to accommodate setups requiring minimal footprint underneath the camera rig.
Depends on
- The described power distribution box prototype was only tested for 12V operation.
- These modifications were performed on a first-generation model and may not apply to other generations.
- Implementation details for a top-stage power distribution box were still being developed at the time of posting.