Steadicam Steadimate-S User manual

Steadicam®Steadimate-S™
LIT-900000, RevA

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The Tiffen Company
90 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Visit us at tiffen.com
Introduction
The Steadicam®Steadimate-S™
Welcome to the Steadicam family! Steadicam began stabilizing
cameras over 40 years ago, and continues to innovate solutions for
today’s cinematographers.
In combination with a Steadicam A-30 or A-15 arm, and Zephyr or
AERO vest, the new Steadimate-S greatly reduces operator fatigue
and increases operating time by carrying the system weight on the
hips through a spring arm and vest. The spring arm greatly reduces
the common bouncing image effect on the vertical axis that occurs
while walking with handheld stabilizers, allowing more natural camera
movements and smoother nal shots.
Get ready to take your lm making to the next level by identifying the
Steadimate-S parts, and installing them onto your handheld stabilizer!

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What’s in the box?
Gimbal handle and yoke
Inner clamp
Clamp bushings
Base bracket
(15mm LWS)
Outer clamp
ring
(4) Thumbscrews Tripod extension
1/4”-20 screw
Bearings
pre-installed
Anti-rotation
3/8” screw

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(2) 15mm rods
Weights
(4) 1/4 Lb
(6) 1/2 Lb
(2) Clamp adapter pads
for other gimbals
1/2” balance
stand adapter
See tiffen.com/steadimate-s for the full list of compatible stabilizers
and applicable accessories and adapters.
3mm Allen wrench(6) M4 screws

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Before you install
Adding the Steadimate-S components to your handheld stabilizer
is a technical job, but if you can balance a 3-axis gimbal, you can
do this! We’ll add a weight base below the handle, then attach the
Steadimate-S gimbal above the handle, and nally balance the
complete system. It requires a at-head screwdriver, the included
3mm Allen wrench, and a little patience.
To view the companion install video, visit: tiffen.com/steadimate-s
Build, balance and test your stabilizer before adding the Steadimate-S
parts. Make sure you include everything necessary for the camera and
stabilizer; the batteries, memory cards, monitor or microphone.
Building Steadimate-S
TIP: to protect your
camera, mark the
position of the camera
plate, and remove the
camera while installing
the Steadimate-S.

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Thread all of the weights onto
the rods as shown:
(2) large plus (4) small
at one end.
(4) large at the other.
Insert the 15mm rods into the
base bracket, then add two
thumbscrews to clamp the rods.
Re-install your tripod onto the
tripod extension screw.
Remove the tripod from the
bottom of the handle.
Attach the base bracket in place
of the tripod, with the tripod
extension screw.
NOTE: if your stabilizer has
TWO threaded holes, add the
anti-rotation screw as well.
Attaching the base
x2
Rear

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Wrap the inner clamp ring
halves around the top of the
handle, with the Steadicam logo
facing up.
For Ronin-S, be sure the four
pockets inside the clamp
index with the four ribs on the
stabilizer.
Other stabilizers will require the
included clamp adapter pads
to ensure a tight t. The pads
make contact inside the lower
half of the clamp.
NOTE: be sure to only clamp
the non-rotating part of the
handle, as shown here.
Install four M4 screws nger
tight rst, to ensure even
clamping.
Attaching the inner clamp
x4

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Wrap the outer clamp ring
around the groove in the inner
clamp ring.
Either side can face up.
Install two M4 screws nger
tight rst, to ensure even
clamping.
Install the bushing surfaces
inside the outer clamp halves,
as shown.
Use the 3mm Allen wrench to
crisscross tighten each of the
four screws a little bit, starting
with the bottom screws, until
the clamp is snug.
NOTE: the pan motor must be
free to rotate, don’t
clamp the motor!
Attaching the outer clamp ring
x2
1
3
2
4

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Use the 3mm Allen wrench
to tighten both screws evenly
until snug. The ring should spin
freely on inner clamp.
TIP: if ring doesn’t spin freely,
loosen the four INNER CLAMP
screws slightly, and re-tighten
starting at the bottom.
Attaching the gimbal handle
Attach the gimbal handle with
yoke to the outer clamp ring
using two thumbscrews.
It ts either side up.
Do not use tools on these, just
snug them tight by hand.
x2

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Balancing the Steadimate-S
Before you balance
Balancing your Steadimate-S equipped stabilizer is similar to balancing
any handheld stabilizer. The goal is to balance the complete system
so that the stabilizer handle hangs vertically from the Steadimate-S
gimbal handle, but tilts up and down with a light touch, and uses the
least additional weight. Note that you’ll likely have to repeat a couple
of the balance steps to optimize the number and location of weights.
To view the companion balance video, visit: tiffen.com/steadimate-s
IMPORTANT: start with your camera mounted on the stabilizer and
balanced, and keep the stabilizer powered ON while balancing the
Steadimate-S.
TIP: you can use a
c-stand or a strong light
stand, with the included
1/2” adapter, to support
the Steadimate-S while
balancing. Otherwise, pick
it up by the gimbal handle
to balance.

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Next we’ll start removing
weights, while maintaining this
bottom-heavy behavior.
For all but the largest cameras,
try removing two large weights
at a time.
If necessary, loosen the
thumbscrews and slide the
weights fore or aft until the
handle hangs vertically.
TIP: move weights “uphill” to
center the handle.
Lift the system by the
Steadimate-S gimbal handle,
and observe if the stabilizer
handle hangs vertical.
Balancing
1
2
3

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Re-distribute the remaining
weights, or adjust the weight
rods to keep the handle vertical.
Test how much effort it takes to
tilt the system up and down.
Continue removing weights until
the handle is easy to tilt.
When you’re close to achieving
ngertip control of the tilt, try
removing or adding the small
weights, until it’s perfect.
4
5
If you remove too much weight,
and the system inverts, simply
add a couple weights back on,
and re-center.
NOTE: inverting the stabilizer is
called “low mode,” and can be
useful in some situations.
X

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Make sure all weights, and all
four thumbscrews are tight
after balancing.
NOTE: swapping lenses or
changing accessories may
require a quick re-balance, so
keep those extra weights near
your kit!
Repeat the balancing steps
until the effort required to tilt
the stabilizer is minimized, and
suits your operating style.
TIP: take note of the number
and position of the weights for
your camera setup, so you can
balance quickly next time!
Balancing
6

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The Steadicam vest
Before you throw it on
The Steadicam vest is the major connection between your body and
the Steadimate-S system. It’s adjustable to t most body types via
Velcro®straps and micro-adjustable buckles. Just like setting up the
Steadimate-S, taking your time to properly t the vest will ensure you
get the highest performance and most comfort out of the system.
Take a look at the general components of a Zephyr vest:
Refer to the manual included with your vest for additional details and
for a complete tting guide. Some customization may be required.
Shoulder pads
Shoulder
connectors
Hip pads
and buckles
Chest straps
and buckles
Center spar
Socket
block
Length
adjustment

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The shoulder connectors should
not ride high and the shoulder
pads should rest on your
shoulders.
The center spar should stay
centered on your torso and not
slip to either side.
The length of the vest should
place the waist low over the hip
bones, yet still allow your legs
to lift for climbing stairs.
Putting on a Steadicam vest

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The t should be very snug, but
not straitjacket tight.
You must be able to breathe!
The socket block should move
with you, and not shift under
load.
Close the chest buckles rst,
and nish with the hip buckles.
Your vest should t as well as
the vest in these pictures!

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The Steadicam arm
Before you add the arm
The Steadicam arm supports the weight of the Steadimate-S system,
while helping isolate the camera from the operator’s movements,
and facilitates booming up and down. The lifting strength of the
arm is adjustable to accommodate a wide range in payload, but the
adjustment knobs can only be turned with the arm loaded. The arm
can be worn on either side of the operator by ipping the sockets on
the arm and vest. Here are the general components of an arm:
Refer to the manual included with your arm for additional details, how
to swap sides, and warnings for the use of A-series arms.
Arm post
Lift adjustment knob
Double action hinge
Springs
Side to side
adjustment wheels
Arm socket
Lift adjustment knob
Forearm section
Upper arm section
Socket release pin

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Attaching the Steadicam arm
Conrm that the side to side
adjustment wheels are set as
follows:
The top knob is rst turned
all the way in, and then TWO
turns out.
The bottom knob turned all the
way in.
Insert the arm pin into the vest
socket block fully.
IMPORTANT: always maintain
control of the arm with at least
one hand, so nobody gets hurt.
Secure the arm to the vest
by tightening both fore-aft
adjustment knobs equally, so
the sockets are parallel.
The knobs must be snug, but do
not need to be overly tight.
Two turns out
Turn in

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With the arm lift adjusted,
stand up straight and hold the
system as shown.
Your gimbal hand controls
booming, and moves the arm
with a rm grasp.
Your stabilizer hand controls tilt
and pan with a lighter touch.
If the arm is lifting too much,
or too little, adjust the lift knob
on each arm section until both
sections of the arm are neutral
just above horizontal.
IMPORTANT: arm lift is
only adjustable with the arm
sections just above horizontal.
Do not force the knobs!
Add the Steadimate-S system
to the arm post, and boom up
and down.
Like balancing, we must
observe how the arm behaves,
and make adjustments.
Adding the Steadimate-S

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If the rig tends to move straight
away from you; loosen the
bottom thumbscrew and slowly
tighten the top thumbscrew
until the rig is neutral.
Then re-tighten the bottom
thumbscrew.
If the rig tends to move straight
towards you; loosen the top
thumbscrew slowly, until the rig
behaves, and then tighten the
bottom thumbscrew.
TIP: remember these settings,
so you can attach the arm
quickly every time!
Repeat the arm adjustments as
needed until the Steadimate-S
system is neutral when sitting
slightly to your operating side,
in balance with your vest.
You’re just about ready!