Panther S-TYPE DOLLY User manual

S-TYPE DOLLY
USER MANUAL
www.panther.tv

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations to your decision of purchasing or renting your Panther S-Type Dolly. We are
pleased that you made your decision in favor of equipment, which combines state-of-the-art
technology and many years of experience in manufacturing camera support equipment.
Selected materials and a great know-how ensures that in practice you have a wide variety of
possibilities, which you will appreciate during shooting. Your new Panther S-Type Dolly is a
high-quality and modern equipment giving the creative cameraman a new easy way to control
your movements and get more flexibility.
The Panther S-Type Dolly is a very useful Dolly, developed by specialists for specialists in order
to meet the expectations of every cameraman or grip.
To ensure that you will love working with your Panther S-Type Dolly and that all requirements
during shooting can be fulfilled considering utmost safety and reliability, please carefully read
this user manual.
With our best wishes
Andreas Fitz
CEO | Executive President
Panther GmbH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE
Technical Data 5
Basic Knowledge 6
Initial Operation 12
Seat & Seatarm
Power Supply
General
7
9
13
Connect 15
Preparing 7
Wireless Handset 13
Manual Drive 16
Speed / Ramps Adjustment 17
Set Limits 18
Program Movements 19
Further Settings 22
Service Menu 23
Super Low Mode 25
Control Panel 26
Changing Wheels 27
Big Wheels 29
Wheels 27

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE
Steering 31
General 31
Crab & Round 32
Conventional Front / Rear 33
Narrow-Gauge 34
Steering Rod 35
Dolly on Tracks 36
Accessories 38
Push Bar 38
Platform Set 40
High Platform 46
Flex Arm 47
Counterweight 49
Camera Mount 51
Bumper 54
Transport 56
Remove the Scissors-Arm 56
Carrying the Dolly 59
Emergency Operation 60
Notes 61

5
TECHNICAL DATA
Length (Dolly)
Width (Dolly)
Height (Dolly)
Center Distance (Sciccors-Arm)
Standard Lift range (Low-Mode)
max. Lift range (Super Low-Mode)
96,5 cm / 38‘‘
64,5 cm / 25,4‘‘
39,5 cm / 15,55“ (front) | 48 cm / 18,9‘‘ (rear)
37 cm / 14,6‘‘
103 cm / 40,6‘‘
146 cm / 57,5‘‘
Transport weight (Dolly without wheels)
Transport weight (Scissors-Arm)
104 kg / 229 lbs
64 kg / 141 lbs
Track Width
Ground Clearance
62 cm (wide) | 48 cm (narrow)
21cm / 8,3‘‘
Payload (Dolly)
Payload (Scissors-Arm)
800 kg / 1764 lbs
100 kg / 220 lbs
Battery 2 x 24V
96,5 cm / 38“
64,5 cm / 25,4“
39,5 cm / 15,55“
48 cm / 18,9“

6
BASIC KNOWLEDGE
Electro-Mechanical Dolly
The Panther S-Type Dolly is a completely
electro-mechanical dolly. That means there
is no dripping oil, no pumping up etc. Do not
operate underwater or in very wet / humid
environments.
Only one integrated tool
We designed the S-Type Dolly to be used
almost tool-free in order to ensure a fast
and easy operating. If there is a tool needed
it is always the same: only one Allen Key (8)
which has its parking position directly on top
of the dolly. This gives you, the operator, the
possibility to work fast and easy, without
losing time for searching the right tool.
In fact: whenever you need a tool, it is the
one that you can see on the right picture.
Even by laying the dolly sideways, there is
nothing to worry about. The S-type has been
designed to be as flexible as possible to make
your work on set great!

7
PREPARING
SEAT & SEATARM
Seat & Seatarm
The seat arm can be mounted in 8 dierent
positions. Please check the picture on the
right.
Of course, you can also take a second seat arm
and use two at the same time.
Top View
Mounting the seat arm is done by easy plug
& play. Just plug it into the desired position.
You may have to fasten
the Seat Arm to prevent
unintentionally wiggling by
using the integrated Allen
Key and tighten the screws
on the side of the dolly
(depending on where you
positioned the Seat Arm).
Now you can mount the Eccentric Panther
Seat right into the seat arm.

8
PREPARING
SEAT & SEATARM
Height Adjustment
The height of the seat arm can be adjusted
tool free. Pull the black knob on the seat arm
tube and adjust the height. Push back the
black button to fix the position.
If you want to be very low, you can remove the seat arm tube by unlocking it with the blue lever
and removing the tube.
Now plug back the seat arm (without the
outer tube). Even now you can still readjust
the height of the arm.
Don‘t use the seat arm without the blocker
(with the black knob & blue lever). Otherwise
you would damage the dolly wheels.
X

9
PREPARING
POWER SUPPLY
Dolly Batteries
The S-Type Dolly is a fully electro-mechanical
dolly. You need 2 batteries to operate the
S-Type. Each pair of batteries lasts for one
shooting day. We recommend you to reload it
after every shooting day, even if they are still
not empty.
Charging via 230V Charger
To charge a single battery we oer 230V Charger (155559). Plug in one end into a wall socket
and the other end into the battery‘s cable connection slot. The Charger should now begin to
blink. If you battery if fully charged, the blinking light should change into a continuously light.
Charging via Combi Charger
To charge 2 batteries simultaneously we
oer a Combi Charger (155729). Plug in one
end into a wall socket and connect the two
1-Way Charge Cable (134643) - each for one
battery.
Now turn on the Combi Charger. The LEDs
will show you, when the batteries are fully
charged.

10
PREPARING
POWER SUPPLY
Combi Charger as Power Source
The Combi Charger has one additional
feature: you can use it to power the S-Type
Dolly directly via cable connection. You find
the connection socket at the bottom side of
the dolly.
Connection Socket
for Combi Charger
Open the protection cover of the connection
socket and plug in the Power Cable (155210).
Bottom View
Plug in the other end of the cable right into
the Combi Charger.
Now you can turn on the Combi Charger and
operate the dolly.
Batteries must be plugged in!
The Combi Charger only works, if you have plugged in the batteries into the
dolly. While operation via cable, the batteries are charged.

11
PREPARING
POWER SUPPLY
Charging the Wireless Handset
The Wireless Handset can be chargen in two
dierent ways: regularly via mains power or
by cable connection to the dolly.
Regular Charging
To charge the Wireless Handset you can use
the standard charging cable (310848) and
plug it into a wall socket.
The display will show „CHG“ instead of the
remaining capacity.
Charging via Dolly connection
Despite charging the Wireless Handset on the wall socket you can connect it directly to your
dolly. Everytime you have a wired connection from the handset to the dolly, the handset will
be charged.
!
Attention
Please note, that if your Wireless Handset is connected to the S-Type via cable
the power will be taken from the dolly batteries, which decreases the battery
capacity of your dolly.

12
Step 1:
Connect the Panther S-Type Dolly batteries as described in „Power Supply“.
Step 2:
The Panther S-Types’s (and accessories) complete lift, panning and movement range must be
cleared before switching on the dolly.
Step 3:
Connect the Wireless Handset via cable to the dolly.
Step 4:
Switch the dolly on at the red main switch. Then turn on the „On/O“ button at the Wireless
Handset.
INITIAL OPERATION
!
The Panther S-Type Dolly may only be operated with the original Panther
batteries. Although the batteries left our warehouse fully charged, it is
possible that a long transit time/low temperatures caused the batteries to
empty. Please check this before operation.Fully charge the batteries before
first use.

13
WIRELESS HANDSET
Display
The Display shows all current settings and allows to adjust everything with a easy user interface.
It has an integrated backlight for dark environments.
Buttons
Turn On / O the handset by pressing the Main Menu / Power button for a few seconds. It is
also used to navigate through the menu.
Rocker
Move the scissors-arm up or down with the handset rocker.
Charging / Connection Socket
Connect the Handset via cable to synchronize with the dolly and to charge the internal battery.
Latching Disc
The locking plate attaches the handset control to a fluid head or to the dolly‘s body.
Display
Latching Disc
Main Menu / Power Button
variable Menu Button
Rocker
Charging / Connection
socket
FRONT VIEW BACK VIEW
GENERAL

14
WIRELESS HANDSET
Water resistance
The Panther Wireless Handset is precision-engineered to resist water and dust.
Degree of protection: IP67
IP67 Protection against ingress of water
in case of temporary immersion
(up to 1m/39,4‘‘ - 30 minutes)
Total protection against contact, protection
against penetration of dust.
(foreign bodies protection)
(water protection)
To ensure this high resistance there is no possibility of a removable battery. The handsets‘
battery is totally integrated in this device. If you have problems with your battery please
contact our service department (contact details can be found on the last page).
The wireless handset may not be opened by yourself. Consider that the wireless handset was
not made to operate underwater. The water resistance is only to protect you device.
Frequency band
The Panther Wireless Handset sends on a frequency of 2,4 GHz (ISM band).
Distance
The maximum reach of the Panther Wireless Handset is up to 50m / 164 ft. - this value always
depends on your current location (many walls or no walls, forest or field etc.).
Signal interference may occur in certain areas where many signals are present.
Attention
Please check that you always have direct sight to your dolly during the
complete time of operation! Using this mobile device without visual contact
is at your own risk.
!
GENERAL

15
No Connection:
If the wireless handset is not able to
connect with your dolly you will see
the screen left.
You can check this situation by the crossed
wireless icon.
Connected:
If your wireless handset is connected,
but the dolly is turned o, you will
see this „O“ symbol.
Now you can turn on you dolly. This is done by
pressing ON
By pressing the LIM button the dolly will get
into LIMIT-Mode (which allows you to program
limits & drive the arm manually).
By pressing the PRG button the dolly will get
into PROGRAM-Mode (to program sequences of
movements).
„Level“ and on the right side of the display it
will show a „?“ which means the dolly does not
know it‘s arm level / position. This happens if the
S-Type is without power (e. g. changing batteries).
To let the handset know where the arm is you
have to activate the LIMIT-Mode and drive the
arm manually up to it‘s highest position.
WIRELESS HANDSET
CONNECT

16
WIRELESS HANDSET
MANUAL DRIVE
How to drive the arm manually
To drive the S-Type Scissors-Arm manually
you have to be in LIMIT-Mode (which is the
„standard“-mode of the dolly).
Attention
Make sure that „Arm“ is
set to „low“ (as shown in
the picture). If it is set to
„super-low“ please reset
it to „low“ (check page
25). If „super-low“ is
required, please operate
very carefully, because it
will run over it‘s ground level
position.
!
Side View
The Wireless Handset comes with a blue high sensitive rocker. Depending on how hard you are
pressing upwards / downwards the speed of the Arm increases or decreases.
Press
Press the rocker upwards to drive the Scissors-
Arm up.
Press the rocker downwards to drive the
Scissors-Arm down.

17
Speed adjustment:
You can see the current speed settings in the red marked
area (right).
In this case the speed is set to level „4“ (maximum
speed). You can choose between speed 1-4:
speed 1: 0...25%
speed 2: 0...50%
speed 3: 0...75%
speed 4: 0...100% (maximum speed)
To adjust the speed level you have to press and hold the
SPD button and simultaneously tap on the rocker (up
for more speed - and down for less speed).
WIRELESS HANDSET
SPEED / RAMPS ADJUSTMENT
Ramps adjustment:
You can see the current ramps settings in the red
marked area (right).
In this case the ramps are set to level „hard“. You can
choose between 3 dierent ramp settings:
soft ramps: acceleration very soft,
hardly perceivable
medium ramps: characteristic between
soft and hard
hard ramps: strong acceleration to
maximum speed, strong
deceleration until
stopping
To adjust the ramps you have to press and hold the
RPS button and simultaneously tap on the rocker (up
for softer - and down for harder ramp).

18
Setting a limit:
To set an upper limit to your dolly column you have to press and hold the LIM button and
simultaneously double tap on the rocker (up - see right picture below).
To set an lower limit to your dolly column you have to press and hold the LIM button and
simultaneously double tap on the rocker (down - see left picture below).
To deactivate a stored limit you have to press and hold the LIM button and simultaneously
tap one time on the rocker (up to deactivate the upper limit and down to deactivate the lower
limit).
To reactivate a previously stored limit you have to press and hold the LIM button and
simultaneously tap one time on the rocker (up to deactivate the upper limit and down to
deactivate the lower limit).
To overwrite an existing limit please follow the first instructions how to set an upper & lower
limit above.
WIRELESS HANDSET
SET LIMITS
LIMIT-Mode required
All steps are only working if you have set your wireless handset to LIMIT-
Mode.
double tap up for
upper limit
press and hold the
LIM button
press and hold the
LIM button
double tap down
for lower limit
2x
2x

19
WIRELESS HANDSET
PROGRAM MOVEMENTS
Enter the Program Mode
To program movements you first have to go
into the PROGRAM-Mode.
To do so you first have to exit the standard
LIMIT-Mode by pressing the RET (return)
button to go back to the Homescreen.
Now press the PRG button. The Display
now shows „Recallmode“. Here you can recall
previously programmed movements.
To program new movements, please press the
PRG button again.
Now you are in the PROGRAM-Mode.

20
How to program:
If you want to program your dolly you have make sure
that you are in „PROGRAM-Mode“.
Start to drive the S-Type Scissors-Arm manually to
you desired starting position by using the handsets‘
rocker.
If the Scissors-Arm is at this position you have to
press the STF button (STore First Flag). Now the
starting point is stored.
Now you can drive your Scissors-Arm manually to the
next desired point by using the handsets‘ rocker.
You can repeat this process as often as you need it (up to 255 points can be programmed). With
RET button you will get back to the „Recallmode“ where you can start moving what you have
programmed.
WIRELESS HANDSET
PROGRAM MOVEMENTS
You may drive up or down to any stopping point until it is entered. Enter the point by pressing
the STM button (STore Movement).
Stopping point will only be recorded when the Scissors-Arm is completely
stationary. To be quite sure of correct entry of any point, always wait a
moment before pressing STM button.
The Panther electronics will memorize only
the highest speed used to reach this point
manually, and will repeat the move at this
speed throughout. If you wish to program
a slower movement, you must drive slowly
to the stopping point.
!