Flycam FLCMHD-3-QT User manual

Instruction Manual
HD-3000 Handheld Video
Stabilizer (FLCM-HD-3-QT)

2
Subject Page
Foreword 3
Introducon 4
Safety Hints 5-6
Assembling 6-8
Balancing 8-13
Warranty 14
At Flycam, our goal is to ensure 100% Customer Sasfacon in all that we do.
We back our sales with a 1 year warranty from the date of purchase and work hard
to resolve any problems in the unlikely event one should arise.
With our commitment to connuous improvement and your Feedback, building on
our reputaon of providing aordable, quality products is
PRIORITY #1.
Table of Contents

3
Dear Client,
On behalf of all the people that work so hard to provide you with the most
up-to-date, exible and cost-ecient producon gear, we would like to welcome
you into the Flycam family.
By purchasing your Flycam HD-3000 Handheld Video Stabilizer, you have just joined
a host of designers, engineers, machinists, assembly, customer service and oce
sta that take great pride in all that they do. Our mantra of connuous
improvement has been the guiding principle of how we conduct our business since
day one.
Once you have the opportunity to experience your new Flycam HD-3000 Handheld
Video Stabilizer, we hope you will agree that we cra quality products at a
compeve price. Products designed to meet and exceed the standards of today’s
real producon world.
Standards set by our valued clients and standards we strive to maintain.
With Best Wishes,
Flycam Team
Welcome To Flycam!

4
Introducon
Smaller, lighter, faster is the latest industry trend in DSLR cameras and video
camcorders. Many have features that rival those of their big brothers with amazing
results. Recognizing the need to match newer technology in image capture with the
camera plaorms that support them, Flycam has developed an all new FLYCAM HD
Hand Held Camera Stabilizer.
What’s In The Box
Please inspect the contents of your shipped package to ensure you have received
everything that is listed below.
Central Post
Head, Mid & Boom
Plate
Base Plaorm with
16 weight discs
Boom Plate
Mid Plate
Head Plate
Head Assembly (These three individual pieces are shipped as one assembled unit)

5
Table Clamp
Lever to remove / aach
the quick release plate
Quick release Plate
Quick release
adapter
Unico Quick Release Adapter
V-shape Adapter (to aach Camera
to Head Plate)
Note: A locking pin located at the
front prevents camera rotaon.
Storage Bag
Accessories
Safety Hints
ATTENTION: PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE USING TO PREVENT SERIOUS DAMAGE TO
THE GEAR!
BE HIGHLY VIGILANT OF SURROUNDINGS
Check the area you will be shoong in, before shoong. Make sure your path is
clear. Look for obstacles and note anything you might run into or trip over. Extra
care is also necessary when tackling stairs and other kinds of uneven ground.

6
Assembling
ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR
If you intend to shoot while moving fast or while traversing uneven terrain, do not
hesitate to wear protecve gear as knee or elbow pads, or a helmet.
DO NOT SHOOT IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS
Avoid situaons where one commonly falls like skis, skates or running in muddy
elds.
ADULT SUPERVISION IS RECOMMENDED
Minors using this product should have adult supervision.
FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL PROVIDE BETTER SHOTS AND TROUBLE-FREE
OPERATION.
SHOULD YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS
AVAILABLE ‘ONLINE’ BY CONTACTING YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE
 A threaded stud is located in the
center of Base Plaorm for
aaching Central Post. Securely
ghten the adjustment knob on
telescoping clamp by rotang it
clockwise.
NOTE: The adjustment knob should only be ghtened by hand. Do not over-ghten it as it could
cause thread stripping.
 Loosen allen bolts at the boom of Camera Plate, align its holes with the top of Central Post
& re-ghten them securing the plate to post.

7
NOTE: The camera can be directly aached to Head Plate.
 Remove Head plate from 3-piece Head Assembly in order to aach it to your camera. You will
note a number of mounng holes that can be used to adapt various cameras. Keep the
camera in center of Head Plate and secure it properly.
 Do not over ghten this adjustment as it can break the threaded insert.
NOTE: You can also mount your camera using Quick Release Plate.
 Open the lever and remove Quick Release Plate from Adapter. Then aach it with your
camera with the help of screw driver. Insert your camera setup into the Adapter and ghten
the lever back.
Adding Weights & Posioning for Proper Balance
 Connuing the assembly and balance requirements to make your Flycam Handheld Video
Stabilizer fully funconal you will note that the base plaorm has a provision to mount the
balance weights via 2x BH bolts secured with knobs on both sides of the post.

8
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.
 Vercal Adjustment of telescopic
central post is made by loosening the
control located at the base, raising or
lowering the post to desired locaon
and then reghtening the vercal
control. Do not over-ghten this
control.
Balancing your Flycam Stabilizer
Before beginning the balancing process check the following:
 Camera is securely aached to Head Plate
 Lens cap is removed and secured
 Telescoping Clamp is ghtened
 Weight discs are added successfully
 All screws are ghtened securely
 Baery, all accessories and cables are secured

9
NOTE: If you do not have enough weight on Base Plaorm the enre Flycam could ip upside
down. If this movement starts to happen, be ready to catch the sled 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 the center of gravity of camera by
re-mounng the camera to a dierent area of the Head and Mid Plate, either front-to-back or
side-to-side.
If the stabilizer be front heavy, loosen the screws on the sides of Head Plate and gently slide Head
Plate back unl opmum balance is achieved. Tilng to the back means the load is tail heavy
requiring the plate to be adjusted forward on the head.
If the stabilizer leans towards right, then loosen the screws on the boom of Boom Plate and
gently slide the Mid Plate towards le. If it leans to le, then adjust the Mid Plate towards right.
A bit at a me unl balance is achieved.
NOTE: Always secure the screws and all parts aer any adjustments are made.
Balancing the Vercal 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 Central Post. To do this-
 Loosen the side screws of Head Plate and the boom screws of Boom Plate.
 Look at the stabilizer from side. If the camcorder lens is pped up or down, move the
camcorder forward or backward unl the center of balance is situated over Central Post.
 Then, look at the stabilizer from front. If the post is not vercal, adjust the boom plate unl
Central Post is vercal.
 You can also adjust the weight cups closer to & farther away from the sled as per
requirement, ll the post is straight up and down.
NOTE: The stability of Flycam Stabilizer depends on it being slightly boom heavy. If it is top
heavy, it will lt more. If it is too boom heavy, it will be sluggish and hard to aim.
When tesng for horizontal balance start from a at and level surface like table. This will allow
the stabilizer to hang freely as you hold it. If your stabilizer is correctly balanced on its horizontal
axis, then it will be both leveled & upright, with Central Post in a perfect vercal posion.
Balancing the Horizontal Axis
When your Flycam HD Stabilizer is properly assembled, you can start the test and setup of
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.

10
 Make sure that everything is ght.
 Grasp Central Post near the base and move it from vercal to horizontal.
 Hold it there. Be sure that it will not hit the stand when you drop it. Keep your free hand to
catch the central post when it drops.
 Count how many seconds it takes to fall to vercal. Try using a stopwatch.
A Drop Time of 2-2.5 seconds is preferred.
NOTE: Recheck the balance by looking at sled. If necessary, use side screws and boom plate
screws to make required adjustments.
Balancing Review
Proper system balance can only be achieved once your camera is set up with appropriate
accessories 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 top plate of stabilizer and line-up your camera so that its center of gravity is as close
to the center of plate as possible (basically hold the camera in your hand unl it feels
balanced both le and right as well as forward and backward).
 If the drop me is less than 2 seconds, it is too boom heavy. You need to move the boom
mass closer to post.
 If the drop me is more than 2 seconds, it is top heavy.
Slightly Boom Heavy, it will be both Stable and Easier to Control.
Check the Vercal Balance by using this Drop Time Test.