Tiffen Steadicam Curve User manual

Etched Marks
CURVE Arc
GoPro® Quick
Release Mount
CURVE Socket
Front/Back Tilt Knob
Round Swivel Collar
Handle
Outer Weight Tube
Small Balance Weight
Large Balance Weight
Handle Lock
Camera sold separately.
Medium Balance Weight
Medium Balance Weight
LIT-818001- Rev. A
Quick Start Guide
Compact Camera Stabilizer
for GoPro® products.
The Tiffen Company
90 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788
800-645-2522 • 631-273-2500
[email protected] • tiffen.com
Steadicam is a registered trademark and CURVE is a
trademark of The Tiffen Company. GoPro, HERO
and BacPac are registered trademarks of Woodman
Labs, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Patent Pending. Design and specifications subject to
change. Designed in the U.S.A., manufactured in Taiwan
© 2014 The Tiffen Company. All rights reserved.
Camera sold separately.
Designed specifically
for use with
GoPro®
products.
TIFFEN – TERMS AND CONDITIONS
THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY TO ALL SALES AND USES OF THE TIFFEN STEADICAM CURVE (THE
“PRODUCT”). “TIFFEN” AS USED HEREIN MEANS THE TIFFEN COMPANY LLC AND ANY AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATES AND/OR
SUBSIDIARIES. PLEASE REVIEW THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE PRODUCT. KEEPING, USING,
OR ALLOWING USE OF THE PRODUCT INDICATES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS. ANY TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF
THE PRODUCT TO ANOTHER PARTY MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
IMPROPER USE OF THE PRODUCT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT OR PROPERTY, SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY, OR
DEATH.
ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK
Each user of the Product (“User” or “you”) is solely responsible for making their own determination of the fitness of the Product for
their particular purposes and specific applications and assuring that the Product is used in a safe manner. Information concerning the
Product in any Tien catalog, marketing materials or Tien website including, without limitation, www.tien.com and www.stea-
dicamcurve.com, is provided for illustration purposes only and may not be used or relied upon as a statement of suitability for use in
any particular application. Each User is obligated to use good judgment and common sense in determining appropriate use for the
Product and to inspect the Product prior to each use.
By buying, using, providing, or allowing the use of the Product, you understand and agree that you expressly and voluntarily assume
the risk of damage to, or loss of, equipment or property, serious personal injury, or death, while using the Product in any fashion.
Additionally, by choosing to use the Product in any high-risk sports activity, you participate in such activity at your own risk.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Tien warrants the Product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of
purchase (the “Warranty Period”), provided such Product has not been subjected to obvious abuse, neglect or misuse. Tien’s sole
liability is limited to repairing or replacing Product that is returned within the Warranty Period. This limited warranty does not apply
to normal wear of any parts, including metal, plastic, rubber, surface finish, or other materials, or if unauthorized repair and/or
alteration has been performed.
WARRANTY DISCLAIMER
USE OF THE PRODUCT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE STATED LIMITED WARRANTY, TIFFEN EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, OR ARISING BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE IN LAW OR FROM A COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. NO
ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM TIFFEN OR ANY OTHER PERSON SHALL
CREATE ANY SUCH WARRANTY.
TIFFEN CANNOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE TO, OR LOSS OF, CAMERAS OR OTHER
RECORDING DEVICES, EQUIPMENT OR PROPERTY THAT MAY BE ATTACHED TO THE PRODUCT.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY EITHER HEREIN OR IN ANY OTHER DOCUMENT WHATSOEVER, IN NO
EVENT SHALL TIFFEN BE LIABLE FOR NOR SHALL YOU MAKE ANY CLAIM FOR (WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT,
PRODUCTS LIABILITY, STRICT OR STATUTORY LIABILITY, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE,
EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER LIKE DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM
LOSS OF USE, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOST WAGES, INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOST GOODWILL, LOSS OF REVENUE,
LOST OPPORTUNITY OR LOSS OF EXPECTED SAVINGS) ARISING OUT OF, OR OTHERWISE RELATING TO USE OF THE PRODUCT.
YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT IN NO EVENT WILL THE LIABILITY OF TIFFEN FOR ANY CLAIM OR DAMAGES EXCEED THE
PURCHASE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT.
APPLICABLE LAW
Use of the Product shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its
conflict-of-law principles. You hereby agree that any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection to the Product shall be brought
exclusively in the federal or state courts located in New York County, New York and for this purpose you hereby submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts. Any cause of action or claim you may have with respect to the purchase of the
Product or any other claim related to the use of the Product must be commenced within one (1) year after the claim or cause of action
arises. Tien’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any terms, covenants or conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of
such terms, covenants or conditions, nor will any waiver or relinquishment of any right or power hereunder at any one or more times
be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time.
Designed specifically
Designed specifically
for use with
products.
products.
Get to know your
Requires GoPro® LCD BacPac®, LCD Touch BacPac®,
or Curve Weight Kit sold separately.
Go to steadicamcurve.com/compatibility
for GoPro® product compatibility and requirements.

With your GoPro Hero mounted onto
our Steadicam CURVE, you’ll be able
to capture the world in front of
you—smoothly—without the shakes
associated with hand-held cameras.
Go to:
steadicamcurve.com
– Register your CURVE
– View tips and tricks for using your CURVE
– See how others are using their CURVEs
– Connect with us on:
+
=Super Hero!
NOTE: Requires GoPro® LCD BacPac®, LCD Touch
BacPac®, or Curve Weight Kit sold separately.
For GoPro® HERO camera/accessory compatibility and requirements, go to:
steadicamcurve.com/compatibility
Get ready:
When your CURVE is
perfectly balanced,
you’re ready to ‘FLY’.
Steering:
After balancing, let go of the
collar with your fingers and
let it settle for a second or
two. Lightly pinch the collar
between your index finger
and thumb just enough to
overcome any sway or drift.
Notice how your thumb finds
the indent in the back of the
CURVE socket.
Operating:
Use a light touch to steer,
pan and balance the
CURVE. Practice slowly
adding pressure to tilt the
camera forward or back.
Hold the handle at an
angle, straight, or to the
side, whichever is most
comfortable.
Grip mode:
In extreme conditions
where additional stability
is needed, use the CURVE
in grip mode. Grip mode
allows for rigid camera
control. Lock the handle
into the CURVE arc. Now
the CURVE behaves like
a hand grip.
Camera mounting:
With handle in locked
position, slide the GoPro
Quick Release mount into
the CURVE’s socket from
the front until it clicks.
Two-handed operation:
This is the preferred method
for larger hands. Grasp the
handle in one hand, and
lightly grasp the collar
with your index finger
and thumb with the other
hand. (Remember to use
a light touch.)
Front to back level:
Holding the CURVE by the
handle only, camera facing
front, you may need to tilt
the camera slightly forward
or backwards to achieve
initial leveling. Turn the knob
located on the back of the
CURVE Socket (B) clockwise
or counterclockwise to fine
tune the level (A). Etch
marks on the top of the
CURVE’s arc show the range
of movement on the arc.
Practice…Practice…
You can fly the GoPro with
one hand or two — one for
support, the other to steer
the camera — for more
precise control.
Step 1 Step 2
H1 H2 H3
W1 W2 W3
Step 3
Step 5
One-handed operation:
Unlock the CURVE’s arc
and grip the handle with
three fingers. Your index
finger and thumb should
reach the round collar
under the socket. Use a
light touch with your
thumb and index finger.
(If you grasp it too hard,
hand vibration can transfer
to the camera.)
Unlocking handle:
Unlock the handle by
sliding the red handle
lock up. (This will allow
camera to float so you
can balance it.)
Set Up Operation
Step 6
Step 4
A A
B
Assembly:
For basic set up, use the
following camera and
housing combinations:
For H1 install W1, W2, and W3
into outer weight tube.
For H2 install W1 and W2
into outer weight tube.
For H3 install W2 and W3
into outer weight tube.
To find all the camera and
housing combinations:
steadicamcurve.com/compatibility
Side to side level:
Turn the outer weight
tube left or right to level
the camera on the CURVE.
If necessary, you can move
the internal weight(s)
from side-to-side to
balance.

CURVE/SMOOTHEE WEIGHT KIT
For use with GoPro®cameras
without LCD BacPac®
or LCD Touch BacPac®
WORKS WITH
BOX CONTENTS:
Steadicam Camera Weight Black • Steadicam Camera Weight Gray • 2x Balance Weight
Steadicam, Steadicam CURVE and Steadicam SMOOTHEE are registered trademarks of The Tiffen
Company. GoPro, HERO, and BacPac are registered trademarks of Woodman Labs, Inc. in the United
States of America and other countries. VELCRO is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V.
LIT-818715
GOPRO®
Designed specifically
products.
for use with
Go to: tien.com/curve_compatibility
or tien.com/smoothee_compatibility
for GoPro® Hero® compatibility and requirements.
The Tiffen Company
90 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788
800-645-2522 • 631-273-2500
[email protected] • tiffen.com
Part no.
818-7910

1. Select the compatible
Steadicam camera
weight for GoPro®
housing used.
2. Clean and
dry housing surface
before application.
Remove backing
from VELCRO®.
3. Center weight left to right on
back door, align top edge of
weight with bottom of housing
latch (A), press weight onto
backdoor (B). After VELCRO®
sets for one hour the weight can
be removed. When re-installing the
weight, align the VELCRO® strips
and press together. An audible click
will signal a secure hold.
H1 H2 H3
A
B
VELCRO
VELCRO
V
VELCRO
VELCRO
®
VELCRO
®
V
V
W3
W2
W1
A. For use with H1, H2,
and H3 housings install
(1) W1 and (2) W3
weights into outer
weight tube. Balance
the CURVE as required,
see original instructions.
B. Holding the handle
with the CURVE horizon-
tal, release the arc. If the
camera side (A) falls
down add weight W3
into the outer weight
tube. If the arc side (B)
falls to vertical (<1 sec.)
remove W3 weight from
the outer weight tube. If
the arc side (B) falls
to vertical (≥1 sec.),
continue to next step.
C. Re-balance the CURVE as required,
see original instructions.
Visit:
tien.com/manual/CURVE
to view the original instruction.
To find all the camera and
housing combinations visit:
tien.com/curve_compatibility
Visit:
tien.com/manual/SMOOTHEE
to view the original instruction.
To find all the camera and
housing combinations visit:
tien.com/smoothee_
compatibility
A. When using the
SMOOTHEE, install
the camera on the
SMOOTHEE mount
and set front weight
by moving it up from
index mark (A) to
position (B). Balance
the SMOOTHEE as
required, see original
instructions.
B. Holding the handle
with the SMOOTHEE
horizontal, release the
arc. If the camera side
(A) falls down, lower the
front weight. If the arc
side (B) falls to vertical
(<1 sec.), raise the front
weight. If the arc side (B)
falls to vertical (≥1 sec.),
continue to next step.
C. Re-balance the SMOOTHEE as
required, see original instructions.
Set Up
For use with CURVE
For use with SMOOTHEE
A
B
A
B
A
B