Tiffen Steadicam Steadimate User manual

P/N: LIT-816790

Rev. A!

Steadimate Operator's Manual

Rev. A

P/N: LIT-816790

Steadicam®and SteadimateTM are trademarks of The Tiffen Company.

Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All specifications stated within this manual are subject to change without notice.

Table of Contents

A word from Garrett Brown 2

The Steadimate System 4

Steadimate components 5

Setting Up

Preparing the Steadimate 6

Installing the Steadimate 9

Balancing

Upright or Inverted Mode? 10

Balancing Upright Mode 12

Balancing Inverted Mode 18

The Vest

Vest components 26

Fitting the Vest 27

The Arm

Arm components 28

Connecting the Arm and Vest 29

Steadimate Operating

Lifting the system 30

Adjusting the Arm 31

Check your threads 32

Operating modes, tips and tricks 34

Accessories 38

Maintenance and Cleaning 39

Contact Tiffen 41

A word from Garrett Brown

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Philadelphia!USA!

The Steadimate System

Motorized Gimbal

DJI Ronin and Ronin-M

Freefly Movi M5, M10 and M15

The Vest

Adjustable to fit most operators

Provides connection to the Arm

The Arm

Supports the Steadimate System

Isolates camera from operator

The Steadimate

Links The Arm to motorized gimbal

Allows fingertip control

The Steadicam Steadimate is the link between motorized gimbals and the traditional

Steadicam Arm and Vest. Together, the Steadimate System provides additional stabilization

and neutrally balanced tilting which result in smoother shots and less work for the operator.

Steadimate Components

Hand Grip

Tilt Balance Knob

Balance Weights

Fine tune counterbalance

Standard ¼”-20 threads

Post Clamp

Tools-free lock

Set position of tilt axis

Handlebar Clamp Locks

Secures Steadimate to handlebar

Post Scale

Laser-etched

Post Block

Connection point for the Steadicam Arm

Various Arm Post sizes available

Integrated tilt hinge

Handlebar Clamp

Attaches Steadimate to handlebar of

your motorized gimbal

Tilt Balance Lock Screw

4mm Allen key included for tightening

Clamp Inserts

25mm and 30mm inserts included

Balance Pin

Install on top of tuning stand

Verify system balance

Tilt Balance Mechanism

Adjusts tilt alignment precisely

The Post

Balance Nut

Setting Up

Prepare the Steadimate:

Loosen the Handlebar Clamp Locks

and Tilt Balance Lock Screw.

Center the Balance Nut within the Tilt Balance

Mechanism by turning the Tilt Balance Knob.

This gives us the maximum range of

adjustability in either direction.

You may need to turn the Knob in either

direction, depending on how the Steadimate

was stored.

Take a moment to confirm that the Clamp

Inserts are correctly sized for your motorized

Gimbal. They’re sized to fit either 25mm or

30mm handlebars.

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Prepare the Steadimate

Loosen the Post Clamp and slide it all the way

up until it reaches the 0 position and then

retighten the Post Clamp.

Caution:Only adjust the Post Block position

while the system is on the tuning stand. Never

loosen the Post Clamp while balancing or while

the Steadimate is mounted on the Arm.

Install two Balance Weights at the bottom of

the Steadimate Post.

The weights can be used for fine tuning the

top-to-bottom or tilt CG of the Steadimate

later. Great when adding or removing small

accessories or swapping lenses.

Table of contents

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