Tiffen steadicam solo User manual

User’s Manual
Solo User’s Manual
v. 01.01
p/n LIT-821000

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to STEADICAM!
Getting to know the SOLO
Mounting your camera
STEADICAM MODE
Balancing the SOLO
Basic STEADICAM Operation
What NOT to do!
Beyond the Basics of STEADICAM
STEADICAM Training
MONOPOD MODE
Monopod Operation
Maintenance
Useful Accessories, Contact TIFFEN
11
12
19
22
24
31
37
38
40
41
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3
6
User’s Manual
NOTE: It’s important to read this manual thoroughly, so you can have your SOLO up and running
(maybe literally) in just a few minutes. Let’s get started!

PB
Welcome to STEADICAM!
A letter from Steadicam® inventor, Garrett Brown.
Dear Friends,
Congratulations! Your Steadicam SOLO™ is a professional shooting instrument. It’s also
a brand new critter -- a radical hybrid that crosses-over seamlessly from Steadicam to
monopod and performs tricks in between that neither can do alone.
You may be a veteran Steadicam ace looking for the ultimate run-and-gun rig for your
new digital camera, or a seasoned conventional shooter, eager to expand your technique,

professional world...
in any case you’re in for a rewarding experience. Your new SOLO is a true Steadicam®:
precise, rigid and beautifully engineered, and it’s also a brilliant and versatile monopod;
but most startling to me, after decades of shooting, is the realization that SOLO can de-
liver combination shots I never imagined, and with a speedy panache that would spin
the heads of my old Hollywood colleagues.
With its inertia-augmenting ‘wings’ folded out, monopod shooting is stable in all three
axes -- ‘tilt and roll,’ obviously, but now also ‘pan’ -- and with SOLO also balanced in Stea-
dicam mode (at any desired length), you can smoothly ‘lift off’ and walk, run or climb
stairs like your favorite moves from the movies.

then seamlessly return to monopod or Steadicam-mode -- with or without the optional
arm and vest.
              
-
nally depend more on skill and talent than on big budgets -- and SOLO can help you get
there.
This latest iteration of the ‘noble instrument’ is cool and it’s hot! and I look forward to
seeing your results -- in sample reels, documentaries, commercials, home videos, reality

-
yond, including superb Steadicam training exercises and monopod techniques.
Good luck with your new Steadicam SOLO™ and good shooting!
Garrett Brown
Philadelphia, 2013
www.garrettcam.com
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4User’s Manual
Top Stage
Quick Release (QR) Plate, Lock
Knob and Release Button.
Balance Adjuster Knobs.
Gimbal Handle and Post Grip
One to support and one to control
the rig.
Yes, the handle is supposed to be
loose!
4-section post
Post Locks.
Length increases for MONOPOD
MODE or for Beyond Basic
STEADICAM Operation.
Getting to know the SOLO
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5User’s Manual
Getting to know the SOLO
Wings
With 8x Weights.
They’re folded now, but you’ll
spread them and be flying soon.
Swivel Foot
For use in MONOPOD MODE.
Or for resting the rig after a long
STEADICAM shot.
Tools
Allen Wrenches.
Next: Mounting your camera
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6User’s Manual
Mounting your camera
Build the camera exactly as you
plan to use it
Install the battery and media card
(or tape or film!)
Attach ALL camera accessories, in a
compact setup with no loose wires.
Make sure the LCD screen is flipped
open and positioned for easy
viewing. It’ll affect the balance.
Find the center of balance of
your camera
Use a pen or something round to
find the Fore-and-Aft balance
point.
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7User’s Manual
Mounting your camera
Mark the point with a piece of tape
on the side of the camera.
Rotate the camera 90° and find the
Side-to-Side balance point.
Mark this point as well.
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8User’s Manual
Mounting your camera
Fasten QR Plate to your camera
Remove QR Plate from the Top
Stage and remove the 2 camera
screws.
Center the Camera to the QR
Plate by using the Fore-and-Aft
and Side-to-Side marks you made.
NOTE: Some cameras (like DSLRS)
may have balance points OUTSIDE
of the camera body. In that case,
you would mount the QR Plate
to the camera FIRST and use the
pen to find and mark the balance
points.
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9User’s Manual
Mounting your camera
Fasten with the appropriate camera
screw.
Do not over tighten, but ensure the
camera will not rotate.
NOTE: The QR plate will work in
either direction, but make sure to
mount it parallel to the lens.
Mount camera to Top Stage
with QR Plate
Slide the QR Plate into the Top
Stage, position your Fore-and-
Aft mark at or slightly behind the
CENTER of the Post.
Tighten the Lock knob to ensure
the QR Plate won’t slide.
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10 User’s Manual
Don’t pick it up just yet! We’ll learn
how to set up the SOLO to fly in the
next section.
Mounting your camera
Using the Side-to-Side Adjuster
Knob, align your Side-to-Side
mark with the CENTER of the Post.
Next: STEADICAM MODE
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11 User’s Manual
STEADICAM MODE
Now for the fun part!
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12 User’s Manual
Camera is 2-5 lbs Start with 1 Weight 23” Post extension
Camera is 5-8 lbs Start with 3 Weights 25” Post extension
Camera is 8-10 lbs Start with 4 Weights 27” Post extension
Quick reference guide to SOLO setup:
Balancing the SOLO
Rest the SOLO
With your camera mounted, rest the
Swivel Foot on a solid surface.
Fold down The Wings
Pull the Tab while rotating each
Wing down.
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13 User’s Manual
Balancing the SOLO
The Tabs should *click* into place.
Picking up the SOLO.
Carefully pick up the SOLO,
support it by the Gimbal Handle
alone and allow the Post to hang
without touching anything.
Observe how the SOLO is
balanced Fore-and-Aft and Side-
to-Side (both axes.)
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14 User’s Manual
Balancing the SOLO
TIP: Always move the weight UPHILL
to balance.
Use the Fore-and-Aft Adjuster
Knob to balance the Post vertically.
Use the Side-to-Side Adjuster
Knob to balance the Post vertically.
When the Post is vertical in BOTH
axes, move on to test your Drop
Time.
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15 User’s Manual
Balancing the SOLO
Test for Drop time
Support the SOLO firmly with the
Gimbal Handle.
With your other hand, rotate the
Post so it’s horizontal.
Release the Post and observe
how fast the SOLO drops.
Count the number of seconds until
the Post passes vertical.
Your target for the Drop Time is 2
seconds.
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16 User’s Manual
Balancing the SOLO
If your Drop Time is MORE
than 2 seconds, is completely
neutral or the SOLO inverts
when held by the Gimbal
Handle:
Extend Post #2 by an inch or so (if
possible.)
OR add 2 more weights to the
Wings.
Screw additional weights under the
existing weights.
Always use the same number of
weights on each Wing and in the
same positions.
Quickly re-test your Drop Time
and continue adjusting until you’re
in the zone.
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17 User’s Manual
Balancing the SOLO
If your Drop Time is LESS than
2 seconds (the SOLO drops too
fast):
Retract Post #2 by an inch or so (if
possible.)
OR remove 2 of the weights from
the Wings.
Unscrew locking nut and remove
the weight.
Always use the same number of
weights on each Wing and in
the same positions. It’s all about
balance.
Quickly re-test your Drop Time
and continue adjusting until you’re
in the zone.
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18 User’s Manual
Balancing the SOLO
TIP: To ensure accurate leveling,
you may want to attach a tiny
bubble level on the gimbal, on
the camera or another horizontal
surface of the SOLO.
Repeat the Fore-and-Aft and
Side-to-Side balance.
The slower the Drop Time, the
more critical the Balance Adjusters
will be to get the Post PERFECTLY
vertical.
Continue these adjustments
until the Post remains vertical
in both axes with a 2 second
drop time.
You might repeat each step several
times until you find that sweet spot.
That’s just the process of properly
balancing any STEADICAM. Take
your time.
Well done! You’re now in Static Balance. You’re ready to fly SOLO.
Static Balance Quick Reference Flow Chart
Next: Basic STEADICAM operation
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19 User’s Manual
The Grip
The Hand on Gimbal Handle
supports weight of rig.
A STRONG grip controls where the
SOLO goes and how it flies.
Use either hand and alternate if
necessary.
Post Grip hand guides the
rig, preventing unwanted
movement.
*IMPORTANT*
Use a VERY light touch on the Post
Index finger and thumb are directly
underneath the Gimbal.
Basic STEADICAM Operation
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20 User’s Manual
Use this hand for panning and
tilting the camera.
Don’t LIFT the SOLO with the
Post Grip, do your lifting with the
Gimbal Handle only.
The Posture
Stand upright, don’t bend over.
Hold the SOLO as close as possible
without contacting your body.
Allow the SOLO to move
independently of your body.
Basic STEADICAM Operation
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