Tiffen STEDICAM Shadow Sled User manual
p/n LIT—257010-A
Shadow™ Sled
2
A Guide to the Manual
Thank you for purchasing the Steadicam®Shadow™
stabilizer, a heavy-duty, versatile rig that will serve you
well for years to come.
This manual is written for experienced operators. If you
are unfamiliar with Steadicam®stabilizers, or if you have
never taken a Steadicam®workshop, we strongly urge
you to take one of our professional workshops.
For more information on workshops worldwide, contact
The Tien Company.
Included with this Shadow™Overview Manual are other
“modular” manuals specic to the equipment your
purchase. Additional or replacement manuals may be
downloaded from www.steadicam.com.
Tien, Steadicam®, UltraBrite™, Ultra2®, Shadow™,
Clipper™, Zephyr™, Tango™, Archer™, Flyer™, Pilot™,
G-70™, G-50™, and Merlin™ are trademarks of the Tien
Company, LLC.
Note: For an in-depth tutorial on the equipment and
Steadicam®operating, please refer to “The Steadicam®
Operator’s Handbook” included with your sled. The book
can also be purchased separately.
The Tiffen Company, 90 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788 • 631-273-2500 • 1-800-645-2522 • www.tiffen.com
Tiffen Steadicam Operations, 6933 San Fernando Road, Glendale, CA 91201 • 818-843-4600 • 1-800-593-3331
© The Tiffen Company, LLC, manual version 7/1/2010
3
The Tiffen Company takes great pride in producing
the best inertial stabilizers in the world.
The
stabilizer continues our tradition of excellence and
innovation, lling the need for a heavy duty, high
performance, and low-cost rig. The Shadow™is a
system that can evolve with you, with upgrades and
accessories to expand its reach.
Like all our models, the Shadow™stabilizer is
designed to be user-friendly, eld-serviceable, tool-
free, straightforward, and versatile so the operator
can quickly and easily congure the sled, arm, and
vest to the best advantage for each shot. Change the
sled length, balance, inertia, and go to low mode in
a heartbeat, all without tools, extra parts, or fuss and
bother. Solid, versatile, and fast – with the Shadow™,
stabilizer system it all happens on the set like magic.
4
Overview
The base Shadow™stabilizer system starts with a sturdy, 2 section,
telescoping carbon ber post coupled to the Ultra2stage – with our
patented +/– 20º tilt head – and terminates in a new solid base. It comes
standard with the Ultra2Gimbal, SD LCD Color 700 nit monitor, dual
monitor mounts, frameline generator, on-screen articial horizon, and a
dual battery mount for 12 and 24 volts (either V-Lock orAnton Bauer).
Included in the base package is the G-70 Iso-Elastic Stabilizer Arm,
Ultra2Vest, Docking and Balancing bracket.
Options for the Shadow™stabilizer include our patented “go-to”
motorized stage (plug and play) and a variety of monitor choices, plus
batteries, chargers, cases, cables, vehicle mounts, and other professional
accessories. Visit www.steadicam.com for more details.
The two section, carbon ber Telescoping Post extends the sled from
29 to 49in (74-125mm), for short to long mode shooting. Inside the
post is the patented curly-cable system – with discrete, 14 and 28 volt
lines for sustained high-amp capacity (14 gauge wires!), plus separate,
dedicated and un-interrupted HDSDI and HD component coax cables,
plus composite video in and out.
On the stage, the Wide Dovetail Lock has a broad grip on the dovetail
plate, and the handle has a safety stop to prevent accidental release.
The Integral Tilt Head preserves dynamic balance with the lens
angled +/– 20º – perfect for long mode or whip pans. The tilt head also
maintains high or low lens heights, and helps with clearance, reach, or
viewing problems.
The heart of the system is the Ultra2Gimbal - the smoothest, most
precise gimbal ever made, with heavy duty, high precision bearings
and an ergonomic yoke. Operators can use “The Blue Whale” tool to
precisely center the gimbal in the eld, even after years of hard knocks.
The post, monitor, and gimbal’s Low-Prole Clamps are either open
and free for easy adjustment, or positively locked, with a snap-over-
centers clamping action. The clamp lever is ergonomically recessed into
the clamp bodies, so nothing sticks out to snag on a cable or interfere
with your grip.
The Shadow™stabilizer’s smaller electronics box continues our
exclusive narrow sled base design and adds a user-freindly front
connector panel, a one button articial horizon, and electronic frame
line generator.
5
The Structural Dovetail Base solidly mounts gyros, Antlers™, or other accessories. There are two positive
clamps for the battery rods and a pull out mounting plate for accessories.
The monitor and the battery pack are adjustable in, out, and vertically over a wide range, giving the operators
great choices for viewing, balance, and inertial control. The Tilting Battery Mount can be angled over 180
degrees for maximum exibility. Pan inertia can be adjusted from a super-whippy 130 pounds per inch2to an
amazingly stiff 2,564 pounds per inch2 (0.9Mpa - 17.7Mpa) – or even more if the weights are added to the
monitor or battery rods.
The great tting Ultra2® Vest is a perfect complement to the Shadow™stabilizer sled. The super-stiff
adjustable spar, “Double Vee” shoulder clips, improved padding, and over-center ratcheting buckles make the
vest superbly ergonomic, lightweight, and unobtrusive. And the Ultra2® Vest still has the world’s best quick-
release system for safety.
The tool-free, super smooth G–70x™Arm lifts from 12 to 70 lbs (5.4-32 kg), yet is lightweight - only 11 lbs
(5kg). The patented “Geo” feature alters spring geometry as it booms up and down to make the G-70™the
smoothest, most well behaved arm ever, throughout its astounding vertical range of 29in (74cm)! The “Ride”
knob alters iso-elasticity, so for the rst time, users can precisely
set how the arm behaves, regardless of the weight carried. The new
tool-free arm post holder is quick and positive, and its independent
drag control delivers the precise rotation resistance desired – from
completely free to totally locked, even when changing posts. At the
other end of the arm, the new “kick-back” link reduces clearances and
keeps the arm from banging against the operator on the run.
All of the above features are integral to the Shadow™stabilizer design,
ready to be used when needed. The Shadow™stabilizer continues
the Ultra™ tradition – as the most versatile and user-friendly
Steadicam®model ever made. It lets one operate with minimum
effort and maximum precision for every part of every shot. The sled
is congured as desired: short, long, whippy or slow. The Shadow™
stabilizer is a cost-effective, heavy-duty “big rig” – the key to high-
performance operating.
6
The Shadow™Sled
Post #1 - connected to the electronics
Post #2 - connected to tilt head & carries the gimbal
The Shadow™Sled
Fore-aft
adjustment knob
Stage
electornics
Docking
ring
Lower monitor
mount
Monitor
Upper monitor
clamp &
mount
Post
extension
clamp
Monitor
rods
Gimbal
handle
Frameline
Generator
Rate & Range
adjustments
7
Camera mounting
platform
Docking ring
Tilt head and
clamps
Side to side
adjustment knob
Gimbal
clamp
Monitor
bracket
Battery rods
Integral
dovetail base
PowerCube™
Batteries
Electronics
module
Stage
electronics
Gimbal
8
Supplied Accessories*
part number
Camera mounting dovetail 252-7410
Blue Whale gimbal tool 800-7114
Hard Case for sled 011-0355
Ultra2® vest 800-7800-02
Soft vest bag 078-5237
G-70™arm 800-7200-05
Soft arm bag 078-5236
G-70™anti-backlash tool 802-7265
T-handle
1/4” Allen wrench MSC-093260
Docking bracket 250-7910
Stabilizing system:
3 ft video cable 078-4122-01
12v accessory cable 250-0045
24v Power cable,
open end 250-0046
Pot adjust tool MSC-104216
Camera mounting screws
1/4-20 and 3/8 - 16 078-1121/078-1122
EFP instructional video DVD-200504
Warranty form LIT-077200
Steadicam® Operator’s Handbook LIT-900000
*Supplied Accessories are subject to change
without notice.
Accessories
The Shadow™ standard package includes the sled, with a non-motorized Ultra2® stage,
V-lock battery mount, 7in monitor, and an accessory package, lightweight Ultra2® vest
and the G-70x™arm.
Recommended Accessories & Upgrades
Motorized stage
Gimbal transmitter 800-7150
Gimbal battery recharging cable 800-0101
1 lb. weights (6) 800-7970
Spare 3 ft video cable 078-4122-01
2 spare 12 ft video cables
Spare 12v accessory cable 250-0045
2 each of all camera
power cables you will use various
2 HD component cables: camera to sled
2 HD component cables: sled to monitor
9
Hard case (vest and arm) 011-0330
PowerCubeTM Batteries FFR-000053
IDX VL-4S battery charger FFR-000008
Battery hard case 011-0368
Bag, tool kit FFR-000013
Allen wrench pocket tool MSC-150890
Screwdriver MSC-191115
Saddle bag/sand bag FFR-000014
Steadicam®logo cap FFR-000021
Spare ratchets with hardware
Slanted F-bracket & safety pin 252-7906
Low mode handle clamp 078-7393-02
12in long arm post 800-7204-01
6inlong arm post 800-7204
Camera mounting dovetail 252-7410
Ultra2® rod weight (requires 2) 800-7617
Follow focus rod mounting
hardware and rods 250-7915
Tape measure
Many spare 1/4-20 and 3/-16
camera screws 078-1121/078-1122
Mitchell mount adaptor 800-7902
More stuff you might need
Wireless follow focus system and brackets
Video transmitting and receiving system
Wired zoom control system
Camera specic low mode brackets
Inertial augmentation (AntlersTM or Gyros)
Video recording system
See www.steadicam.com for a complete list of all available accessories.
10
Cases & Packing
Cases & packing
When repacking the sled into the case,
Insert the monitor rst, with the rods
angled up. Be sure that the sled length
and gimbal position are properly set so
that the sled drops freely into place, then
rotate the monitor rods down into their
nal position.
Many operators cut the foam to
accommodate accessories kept on the
sled - such as a focus motor receiver or
a small VCR.A long, thin razor blade
works fairly well to cut the foam, as does
a serrated knife.
The hard sled and vest cases have wheels
and a retractable handle.
Soft bags are provided for the arm and
for the vest, but you should also use
the hard case when shipping your gear.
Many other accessories are shipped in the
battery case. Most operators have several
other cases for their accessories, tools,
low mode brackets, video recorders,
video transmitters, diversity receivers,
remote focus equipment, etc.
The Tiffen Company, 90 OserAvenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788
631-273-2500 • 1-800-645-2522 • www.tiffen.com
Tiffen Steadicam Operations, 2815 Winona Avenue, Burbank, CA 91504
Phone: 818-843-4600 • 818-843-8321
© The Tiffen Company, LLC, manual version 7/1/2010
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