11. After adjusting the up/down balance, you may need to readjust the forward/back balance
from your initial balance point.
12. When the camera is able to rest in any position and has symmetrical behavior, check the
balance of the entire system. Set the camera in the neutral position and then tilt the
stabilizer sideways by 45 degrees. The stabilizer should not “fall” to one side around the
panning axis when tilted. If it does, adjust the telescoping section behind the pan motor at
the top of the stabilizer (Step 12 label above). For lighter camera/lens combinations, this
adjustment will remain all the way in (the most compact position). For heavier camera / lens
combinations, it may need to be adjusted out.
An ideally balanced stabilizer should hold any camera position with the stabilizer
motors turned off. In other words, it should not “fall” in one direction over the
other direction. If you roll and tilt the camera, it should rest in the position that
you put it. If you return the camera to center, it should rest in that position, as
well. Often, it is not possible to achieve a perfect balance because of the geometry
of the camera. In this case, strive for symmetry. For example, if you roll the
camera to the left, it should behave the same way as when you roll the camera to
the right.
TIPS FOR BALANCING THE CAMERA
*Once you balance a camera the first time, the common adjustments are the front-to-back
camera plate adjustment and the camera platform height adjustment. These adjustments
need to be made after each assembly out of the case or when changing lenses. The other
adjustments rarely need to change unless you are changing cameras.
*Double check that all thumbscrews are tight before operating. If an adjustment slips, it will
affect the balance and performance of the system.
*Adding or removing the lens cap, or changing cables will affect balance. If you make changes
to the camera setup, make the necessary adjustments to the balance.
*Take care to ensure that any installed cables do not impinge the movement of the stabilizer.
*Good balance is critical to good stabilizer and Kinetic Remote performance. Check the
balance each time you use the stabilizer. With practice, common balance adjustments should
take only a couple minutes.
*Heavier cameras require more precise balance than lighter cameras for good stabilizer
performance. If you have a large camera / lens combination, you should allow more time to
balance the system more precisely.
