Flycam FLCM-DN-HD-QT User manual

DSLR Nano HD Camera Stabilizer
(FLCM-DN-HD-QT)
I N S T R U C T I O N M A N U A L
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For Demonstraon Only

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 2
IN THE BOX
CENTRAL POST
For proper use, the Flycam telescoping central
post with gimbal control is factory set prior to
shipping.
DO NOT aempt to ghten these parts as it will
restrict freedom of movement.
Head, Mid & Boom Plate
Quick Release
Central Post
Base Plaorm with 10 Counter weight
Accessories
Table Clamp
INTRODUCTION
Our Flycam DSLR Nano-HD stabilizer has been specically designed to enable operators to
achieve a high level of arsc freedom in shot selecon in both video and slls formats. Remem-
ber to acquaint yourself with your Flycam DSLR Nano-HD by praccing proper use. Once mas-
tered, your Flycam Nano will become an indispensable producon tool for shooters from ama-
teur to professionals alike.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Please inspect the contents of your shipped package to ensure you have received all that is pic-
tured and listed below. The gray foam shipping/storage container has been especially designed
to protect your purchase while in transit and is a good place to keep your Flycam when not in
use.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 3
HEAD ASSEMBLY
 Head Plate
 Mid Plate
 Boom Plate
These three individual pieces are shipped as one assembled unit as shown.
Head Plate Boom Plate
Mid Plate
‘V’ SHAPED ADAPTORS INCLUDED IN HARDWARE KIT
Note: Included in the hardware package are two
dierent sized V-shaped adaptors used to aach
the camera to the head plate. Choose the one that
is suitable for your camera. A locking pin located
at the front of the adaptor prevents camera rota-
on on the head.
BASE PLATFORM
Provided threaded stud located in the center of
the base.
ATTACHING THE CENTRAL POST TO THE BASE
PLATFORM
The boom of the interior central post has a
threaded slot that matches the pin located mid
base on the plaorm. To aach the two, simply
thread them together and ghten to ensure a slip
free connecon.
Alignment should end up with the central post be-
ing perpendicular to the base plaorm as pic-
tured. This will make camera balancing and opera-
on much easier.
ASSEMBLING OF FLYCAM DSLR NANO HD HANDHELD STABILIZER.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 4
ATTACHING THE HEAD PLATE ASSEMBLY TO THE CENTRAL POST
 Loosen the 2x Allen bolts at boom of the camera plate and align the holes with the top of
the central post. Reghten the Allen bolts securing the head to the stalk.
 Remove the Head Plate by unscrewing
the four side knobs to mount the
quick release adaptor.
 Loosen the Allen bolt at the boom of the Quick Release Adapter and aach it to the head
plate.
 Reghten the bolt for securing the adapter to the plate.
 Aach the Head Plate to the FLYCAM DSLR NANO-HD with appropriate fore & a posion-
ing and ghten the side knobs as shown. Further ‘ne tuning’ will probably be required.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 5
 Open the lever and remove Quick Release Plate from quick release adapter.
 Aach it with your camera with the help of screw driver.
 Insert your camera setup with Quick
Release Plate into quick release adapter
and ghtened with provided lever.
Should you wish to bypass the quick release plate, the camera can be directly aached to the
Head Plate by using following assembly sequence:
 Remove Head plate from the 3-piece
head assembly in preparaon to aach
it to your camera. You will note a
number of mounng holes that can be
used to adapt to various cameras.
 Center the Head Plate on the camera
and secure it properly.
Do not over ghten this adjustment as
it can break the threaded insert.
 The hardware kit includes two opons
for mounng to the Head Plate with a
pin that locks the camera in posion.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 6
 Align the camera center of balance to
the Mid plate and secure the Head Plate
 There are 2x Knobs (Knob-1, Knob-2) located on mid Plate, allow you to easily adjust hori-
zontally and vercally for perfect camera balance. Once achieved, ghten side screws to
secure.
 Place the assembly in line with the center of the stabilizer stalk and ghten the side
adjusters as shown. Further ‘ne tuning’ will probably be required.
If you wish to use Table clamp then please use following sequence of pictures and text.
 Aach clamp onto the table, ghten the provided knob to secure. Then aach handle onto
the clamp, it helps achieving balance in just seconds and saves your professional me.
YOUR FLYCAM DSLR NANO-HD HANDHELD STABILIZER
ALL DRESSED UP AND READY TO GO

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 7
Exclusive of Camera
ADDING WEIGHTS AND POSITIONING FOR PROPER BALANCE
Connuing the assembly and balance requirements to make your FLYCAM DSLR Nano-HD fully
funconal you will note that the base plaorm has a provision to mount the balance weights on
weight plate via knobs on both sides of the post.
The purpose of the counter weight system is to match the low end of the stabilizer to the weight of
the camera and accessories at the high/top end with the gimbaled handle as the pivot point in
between. The heavier the camera and accessories, the more weights are required to achieve proper
balance. Generally as you add weight to one side of the central post, an equal amount has to be
added to the other side to maintain horizontal balance. However if you are using an oset
conguraon such as a ip out viewnder or o center accessories, extra weights might be needed
on the opposite side of the post to counter act and maintain proper balance.
Total weight xed to the base plaorm should be equal to the weight of your camera plus the head
and any accessories.
Horizontal adjustment on base plaorm is made by loosening retaining screws and moving
mounted plates closer to or further away from stalk and then reghtening. You will probably need
to adjust and re adjust horizontal posion to achieve opmum performance/personal preference.
NOTE When adding weight in the cups, use the supplied foam spacers as silencers to prevent metal
to metal washer noise.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 8
NOTE: When adding weight, use the knobs to ghten and secure it properly.
VERTICAL STALK ADJUSTMENT
The up and down (vercal) posion of telescopic
central post is adjusted by loosening the control located
at the base, raising or lowering the stalk to the desired
locaon and then reghtening the vercal control.Do
not over-ghten this control.
BALANCING YOUR FLYCAM DSLR NANO HD
Before beginning the balancing process check the following
 Camera is securely aached to head plate.
 Lens cap has been removed and secured.
 Telescoping clamp has been ghtened.
 Weight discs are added successfully.
 All screws are ghtened securely.
 Baery, all accessories and cables should be secured.
BALANCING THE HORIZONTAL AXIS
When your FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD is properly assembled, you can start the test and setup of the
horizontal balance. Horizontal balance allows the camera to remain level during operaon with
the Central Post in a vercal posion unless o axis framing is desired.
When tesng for horizontal balance start from a at and level surface like a table. This will allow
the FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD to hang freely as you hold it. If your FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD is cor-
rectly balanced on its horizontal axis, then it will be both level & upright, with the Central Post in
a perfect vercal posion.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 9
Warning: If you do not have enough weight on the Base Plaorm the enre Flycam could ip up-
side down. Should this movement start to happen be ready to catch the stalk before a complete
180 occurs. This type of unwanted movement requires more weight to be added to the base with
addional weight discs.
Another way to accomplish horizontal balance is to move center of gravity of camera by re-
bolng the camera to a dierent area of Head and Mid Plate, either front to back or side to side.
Should the FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD be front heavy, loosen the screws on the sides of the Head
Plate and gently slide the Head Plate back unl opmum balance is achieved.
Tilng to back means the load is tail heavy requiring the plate to be adjusted forward on head.
Always secure the screws aer any adjustments.
If you cannot achieve front to back axis balance with this method, then try remounng your cam-
era to a dierent hole on the Head Plate. Having achieved horizontal balance for the front to back
axis, ghten the screws on the Head Plate.
If the FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD leans to the right, then loosen the screws on the boom of the
Boom Plate and then gently slide the Mid Plate to the le. If it leans to the le from the opera-
tor’s point of view, then adjust the Mid Plate to the right. A bit at a me unl balance is achieved.
Secure all parts aer adjustments are made.
It may be necessary to recongure front to back adjustments once correct side-to-side ne-
tuning has been accomplished.
Another opon to consider is moving the Counter Weight plates back & forth on the Base
Plaorm by sliding them either closer to or further away from the Center Post via the built in
base slots. Make sure to ghten the plates down should you move them.
BALANCING THE VERTICAL AXIS
The sled should be ed up to the docking adapter of your stand or similar so that you can start
the fore & a balancing adjustments by centering the camcorder over the central post. To do this
 Loosen the side screws of the head plate and the boom screws of the boom plate.
 Look at the FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD from the side. If the camcorder lens is pped up or
down, move the camcorder forward or backwards unl the center of balance is situated over
the central post.
 Then, look at the Flycam Nano from the front. If the post is not vercal, adjust the boom
plate unl the center post is vercal.

FLYCAM DSLR Nano - HD 10
Slightly boom heavy, it will be both stable and easier to control.
 Make sure that everything is ght and posion yourself behind the stand.
 Grasp the center post near the base and move the center post from vercal to horizontal.
 Hold it there. Be sure that it will not hit the stand when you drop the center post and put
your free hand to catch the center post when it drops.
 Count how many seconds it will take to fall to vercal. Try using a stopwatch.
 If the drop me is less then 2 seconds, it is too boom heavy. You need to move the boom
mass closer to the post. If the drop me is more than two seconds, it is top heavy.
A DROP TIME OF 2 - 2.5 SECONDS IS PREFERRED.
Note: Recheck the balance by looking at the sled. If necessary, use the side screws and the
boom plate screws to make required adjustments.
BALANCING REVIEW
Proper system balance can only be achieved once your camera is set up with the appropriate ac-
cessories ready for shoong. This means baeries, lenses, media cards, LCD viewnder/monitor,
quick release plate, on-cam lights, and all the gear you will use for your recording session.
 Remove the top plate of the Flycam and line up your camera so that its center of gravity is as
close to the center of the plate as possible (basically hold the camera in your hand unl it
feels balanced both le and right as well as forward and back).
 You can also adjust the weight plates closer to & further away from the sled as per the re-
quirement ll the post is straight up and down.
 The stability of the FLYCAM DSLR Nano HD depends on it being slightly boom heavy. If it is
top heavy, it will lt more. If boom heavy, it will be sluggish and hard to aim.