CAM GEAR Elite Series User manual

Elite-Series Fluid Heads
User Guide
EN www.camgear.tv
User Guide
Elite Series Fluid Head
www.camgear-pro.com
EN

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Disclaimer
The information contained in this publication is believed to be correct at the time of printing.
Camgear Inc reserves the right to make changes to the information or specifications
without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes.
Changes will be incorporated in new versions of the publication.
Camgear reserves the right to make changes to product design and functionality
without notification.
Published by
Camgear Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2018
All rights reserved throughout the world.
No part of this document may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, copied or reproduced
in any way including, but not limited to, photocopy, photograph, magnetic or
other record without the prior agreement and permission in writing of Camgear Inc.
C
is registered trademark of Camgear Inc.

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Content
Safety
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Left View of Elite 8/10
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Right View of Elite 8/10
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Left View of Elite 12/15/18/20
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Right View of Elite 12/15/18/20
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Left View of Elite 25
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Right View of Elite 25
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Installation
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Transportation
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Maintenance
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Illuminated Level Bubble
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Mounting and Levelling the Head
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Mounting and Dismounting the Camera
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Taking out and Placing back the Screw Key
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Mounting and Adjusting the Pan Bar
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Adjusting Angle of Clamp Lever & Tilt Knob
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Configuring the Normal Pan Bar
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Configuring the Telescopic Pan Bar
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Balancing the Payload
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Adjusting the Counterbalance
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Adjusting the Drags
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Adjusting the Centre of Gravity (C of G)
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1

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Warning Symbols Used in these Instructions
Health and Safety
Mounting and Installation
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Important information on the safe installation and operation of these products. Read this
information before operating the products.
For your personal safety, read these instructions. Do not operate the product if you do not
understand how to use it safely.
Save these instructions for future reference.
WARNING! Risk of personal injury or injury to others. All personnel must be fully
trained and adhere to correct manual handling techniques and Health & Safety
regulations. It is the responsibility of the local organisation to enforce safe working
practices at all times.
Where there is a risk of personal injury, injury to others, or damage to tripod system
or associated equipment, comments appear, highlighted by the word ‘WARNING!’.
And supported by the warning triangle symbol.
Where there is a risk of damage to the product, associated equipment, process or
surroundings, comments appear supported by the word ‘CAUTION!’. And
supported by the warning triangle symbol.
WARNING! Do not install a head to a tripod that cannot support the combined
mass weight of the head and its full payload.
WARNING! Risk of finger entrapment. Do not place fingers between the platform
and the body of the fluid head.
CAUTION! Always lock the pan and tilt brakes when the camera is mounted but
not in use or when levelling the fluid head on the tripod.
CAUTION! Hold the camera securely when mounting or dismounting the camera
from the fluid head and when making adjustments to the tripod height or footprint.
CAUTION! Always hold the pan bar when making adjustments to the counterbal-
ance or camera position. Do not use the pan bar to lift or move the tripod and fluid
head.
CAUTION! Do not attach heavy items to the pan bar and always remove the
camera before transporting.
Safety

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Tilt brake
Quick release lock lever
Weight
Counterbalance control
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3Quick release safety button
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Illuminated level bubble
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Tilt drag control
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Battery compartment for level bubble
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Rosettefor left pan bar
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Left View of Elite 8/10

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Wedge plate
Sliding plate
Weight
Pan drag control
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3Pan brake
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Bowl clamp
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Screw key
Rosettefor right pan bar
Sliding plate lock lever
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Right View of Elite 8/10

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Tilt brake
Quick release lock lever
Weight
Small-step counterbalance control
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3Quick release safety button
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Large-step counterbalance control
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Illuminated level bubble
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Battery compartment for level bubble
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Tilt drag control
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Rosettefor left pan bar
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Left View of Elite 12/15/18/20

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Wedge plate
Sliding plate
Weight
Pan drag control
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3Pan brake
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Bowl clamp
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Screw key
Rosettefor right pan bar
Sliding plate lock lever
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Right View of Elite 12/15/18/20

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Tilt brake
Spindle of sliding plate
Weight
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Quick release lock lever
Small-step counterbalance control
Quick release safety button
Large-step counterbalance control
Illuminated level bubble
Battery compartment for level bubble
Tilt drag control
Rosettefor left pan bar
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Left View of Elite 25

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Wedge plate
Sliding plate
Weight
Pan brake
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3Screw key
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Pan drag control
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Bowl clamp
Tilt safety lock
Sliding plate lock lever
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10 Rosettefor right pan bar
Release button for quick adjustment of sliding plate
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Right View of Elite 25

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Mounting and Levelling the Head
1. Apply the pan and tilt brakes and hold the head firmly with one hand.
2. Remove the bowl clamp and place the fluid head on the tripod refitting the bowl clamp
loosely. Tighten the bowl clamp and check the level bubble remains central when the head is
rotated through a full 360º.
Illuminated Level Bubble
All Elite fluid heads are fitted with an illuminating touch level bubble which allows easy levelling
in poor lighting conditions. The illumination is activated by firmly tapping the bubble and will
automatically switch off after approximately 60 seconds.
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Installation (1/11)

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Mounting and Dismounting the Camera
1. Apply the pan and tilt brakes.
2. Hold the camera plate or camera with one hand. Grasp the quick release lever with your
thumb and index finger and press down the safety button.
When using Elite 25 head, lock the head with the tilt safety lock when mounting or
dismounting the camera. The blocking and clicking into position of the tilt safety lock
is achieved by pulling out the red knob and turning it 90°. Make sure that the tilt safety
lock has engaged (the head can’t be tilted any more).
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3. With the safety button held down, move the lever as far as possible tothe left.
4. The camera wedge plate or camera will be released from the sliding plate.
Pressing
Holding
NOTE:
Installation (2/11)

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Taking out and placing back the screw key
To place back the screw key, just insert and press the key back to its socket and it will be
automatically locked into position.
A small key-shaped tool for mounting the screws is inserted in the front of sliding plate. Just
press down the screw key and it will automatically pop out.
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5. Attach the camera wedge plate to the camera around its centre of gravity. Additional screws
are stored in the sliding plate.
6. Mount the camera wedge plate and camera onto the sliding plate. It will lock automatically
and the lever will click audibly back into its initial position.
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Pressing
Pressing
Installation (3/11)

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Mounting and Adjusting the Pan Bar
To adjust the position of the pan bar, loosen the clamp lever sufficiently to allow the rosettes to
rotate without attaching the teeth of rosette.
Fit and adjust the pan bar to the desired position, tighten the clamp lever ensuring the teeth
mesh fully.
Adjusting Angle of Clamp Lever & Tilt Knob
The angle of Elite pan bar clamp lever or tilt brake knob can be adjusted, simply pull out the
clamp lever or tilt brake knob and turn it tothe angle where you feel comfortable.
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Pulling Pulling
Installation (4/11)

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Configuring the Telescopic Pan Bar
As standard, the telescopic pan bar is configured to mount on the right hand side of the fluid
head. The pan bar can be configured for left hand mounting as follows:
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Configuring the Normal Pan Bar
As standard, the pan bar is configured to mount on the right hand side of the fluid head. The
pan bar can be configured for left hand mounting as follows:
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4 5
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Installation (5/11)

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WARNING! When balancing the payload, it is important to be aware of the potential
danger that an unbalanced payload will fall away suddenly. Maintain a firm hold on the
payload until the balance is set correctly.
Before operating the fluid head, the payload (camera, lens and any other fitted accessories)
must be correctly balanced to ensure safe and reliable operation.
Balancing the Payload
WARNING! Risk of finger entrapment. Do not place fingers between the platform and
the body of the fluid head.
CAUTION! Always hold the pan bar when making adjustments to the counterbalance
or camera position.
CAUTION! The camera, pan bars and all fitted accessories must be mounted in their
operational position before balancing the head. Any equipment fitted or adjusted later
can break the balance status of the fluid head.
Before adjusting the counterbalance, the centre of gravity (C of G) of the payload must be
centred precisely over the axis of the fluid head.
1. Apply the tiltl brake and adjust the tilt drag to “1”. Set all counterbalance control to lowest
step, and keep holding the camera. Note: moving the counterbalance from one setting to
another requires the head to pass the horizontal position totake effect.
Adjusting the Centre of Gravity (C of G)
CAUTION! Ensure that the fluid head is level before adjusting the centre of gravity.
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Elite 8/10
Elite 12/15/18/20/25
Installation (6/11)

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2. Hold the pan bar firmly, disengage the tilt brake. Observe how the payload moves and where
it stops. If the platform stops in a horizontal position (camera pointing directly forward) or falls
away evenly in either direction, the balance is correct. (Figure 1)
3. If the payload falls away in either direction (front or back heavy):
(A)Unlock the sliding balance plate by pushing back the red lever underneath the balance
plate as far as possible. (Figure 2)
Figure 1 Figure 2
(B)If the payload tilts backwards, slide it towards the front of the fluid head. Re-lock the sliding
balance plate.
When balancing camera on Elite 25 head, apply the pan brake and release the tilt
brake and the tilt safety lock by pulling out the red knob and turning it 90°.
NOTE:
Installation (7/11)

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(D)Re-check the movement of the payload. If further adjustment is required, repeat steps (A)
to (C).
(C)If the payload tilts forwards, slide it towards the rear of the fluid head. Re-lock the sliding
balance plate.
When using Elite 25, there are two ways to move the sliding plate, one is by pressing
and holding the release button and rapidly move the sliding plate forward or backward
(Figure 2). Another is by turning the spindle to move the sliding plate forward or
backward slowly, the purpose is to finely adjust balance of the camera (Figure 1).
Secure sliding balance plate with clamping lever (spindle drive is self-locking, clamp-
ing serves to eliminate play).
NOTE:
Figure 1
Figure 2
Installation (8/11)

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2. Tilt the payload approximately 30° in both directions and release it. If the payload stays in
the same position when released, the payload is correctly balanced.
3. If the payload continues to move backwards when released, the balance is set too low.
Raise the balance adjuster setting by one increment and retest.
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The fluid head is equipped with payload range shifter (boost button) and multiple step counter-
balance adjuster to accurately balance the payload.
Note:Moving the counterbalance from one setting to another requires the head to pass the
horizontal position totake effect.
1. Set the counterbalance adjustment knob tothe mid-range setting.
Adjusting the Counterbalance
Installation (9/11)

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Note:If the payload angle falls away, repeat the balancing procedure (step 3 or 4) until
balance is achieved.
5. Tilt the payload through positive and negative angles of travel, checking that the payload
remains at any angle of tilt unsupported.
4. If the payload continues to move upwards when released, the balance is set too high. Lower
the balance adjuster setting by one increment and retest.
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Installation (10/11)