Tiffen STEDICAM Steadimate-RS User manual

Steadicam®Steadimate-RS™
LIT-901000, RevA

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The Steadicam®Steadimate-RS™
Welcome to the Steadicam family!
Steadicam began stabilizing lm cameras over 40 years ago, and we continue
to innovate solutions for today’s digital cinematographers.
Designed exclusively for use with the DJI RS 2, RS 3 and RS 3 Pro motorized
gimbals, the Steadimate-RS offers many advantages of traditional Steadicam
stabilizer operation, without sacricing the strengths which make motorized
gimbals so popular. It’s a true hybrid system.
In combination with a Steadicam A-15 or A-30 arm and vest, the new
Steadimate-RS greatly reduces operator fatigue and increases operating time
by carrying the system weight on the hips. The spring arm also reduces the
common bouncing image effect on the vertical axis that occurs while walking
with handheld stabilizers, allowing more natural camera movements, resulting
in smoother nal shots.
Get ready to take your lmmaking to the next level, by identifying the
Steadimate-RS parts, and installing them onto your DJI stabilizer!
Introduction

The Tiffen Company
90 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Visit us at Tiffen.com
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Steadimate-RS Gimbal
Balance stand adaptor
5/8” stand to 1/2” stud
Hex wrenches
3mm and 5mm
NOTE: if your system is equipped with an A-15 arm, you can y camera
payload up to approximately 7lbs (3.2kg) with the Steadimate-RS.
Using an A-30 arm allows your system to handle the full 10lb (4.5kg) capacity
of the DJI RS 2, RS 3 or RS 3 Pro electronic stabilizer.
Pan bearing
Gimbal handle
Thumbscrew locks
M4 threads
Arm post receiver
NATO mounts 1/4”-20 threaded
accessory hole
Lock screws
M4 x 10mm
What’s in the box?

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Visit tiffen.com for a complete list of available accessories
Steadimate-RS Post
Index tabs
1/4”-20 retaining screw
Markers
15mm weighted rods
Screw-on weights
(4) .25lbs (.11kg)
(4) .50lbs (.22kg)
1/4”-20 threads
T-slot nut in channel
Rod clamps
1/4”-20 tripod hole
Retaining screw 5mm hex
1/4”-20 threaded holes
What’s in the box?

Step 1
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Start by passing the ring of the
gimbal up over the stabilizer handle,
aligning the two NATO mounts with
the RSA/NATO ports on each side of
the stabilizer body.
Building Steadimate-RS
Adding the Steadimate-RS components to your DJI RS 2 or RS 3 stabilizer
is a technical task, but if you can balance an electronic gimbal, you can do
this! First, we’ll attach the Steadimate-RS gimbal above the handle, then add
the post with adjustable weights below the handle, and nally balance the
complete system for optimum performance.
IMPORTANT: build, balance and test your electronic stabilizer before adding
the Steadimate-RS parts. Make sure you include any camera batteries, memory
cards, and accessories like lters or microphones you plan to use. Don’t hold
back, because the Steadimate-RS will be supporting the weight!
To protect the camera; after conrming your stabilizer is working correctly, mark
the position of the camera plate where it is balanced, lock all 3 axis, and remove
the camera before installing the Steadimate-RS.

Step 2
Step 3
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For additional security, or in place
of the thumbscrews for certain
situations, you may wish to add the
included, optional lock screws to
the dovetails.
Use the provided 3mm hex wrench.
NOTE: The four screws on top of
the pan bearing that secure the
NATO mounts MAY need to be
loosened slightly to help properly
align the mounts to the DJI Ronin
RSA/NATO ports, then re-tightened.
Use the provided 3mm hex wrench.
Ensure the thumb screws are out
of the way, so the RSA/NATO ports
fully seat into the NATO mounts.
Tighten the thumbscrew on each
side to secure the Steadimate-RS
gimbal to your stabilizer.
Don’t over-tighten.
Attaching the gimbal

Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
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Grab the post and attach the two
weight rods by threading the rod
clamp screws into the captive t-nuts,
one on each side.
The two rods should always be at
the same height on the post. Use the
marker numbers to conrm.
Thread the balance weights onto
the weight rods as shown, one
large and one small on each end.
We’ll start with ALL of the weights,
and the rods aligned at the
bottom of the post.
Remove the factory tripod base
from the bottom of your stabilizer
handle and set it aside.
Building the base

Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
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Attach the post to the handle by
turning the retaining screw clockwise
with the provided 5mm hex wrench.
Don’t over-tighten, but ensure the
post is secure.
Align the Steadimate-RS post with
the bottom of the handle, taking
care to place the retaining screw at
the 1/4”-20 hole near the FRONT
of the handle.
Conrm the post alignment tabs
are on either side of the stabilizer
handle.
Conrm the battery grip is locked
to the gimbal, then re-install your
camera onto the stabilizer.
If you wish to use the DJI tripod,
spin it onto the base of the post.
Double check everything is secure,
and ip to the next section to
balance the Steadimate-RS!
Final assembly

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IMPORTANT: while balancing the Steadimate-RS, your electronic gimbal
must be precisely balanced, but preferably powered off and locked.
All accessories must be added before balancing the system.
Balancing your Steadimate-RS equipped stabilizer is similar to balancing
any mechanical stabilizer. We observe how the system behaves, and make
changes. The goal here is to balance the stabilizer only slightly bottom heavy;
the handle should hang vertically from the Steadimate-RS gimbal, but tilt up
and down with a light touch, and use the least additional weight.
We’ll begin with all of the weights at the bottom, then remove and reposition
the weights to dial it in for your setup. You can expect to repeat a few of the
steps as you approach the optimal arrangement. Here are two examples:
Balancing Steadimate-RS
Lighter camera systems
Use fewer weights
Position weights higher on post
Heavier camera systems
Use more weights
Position weights lower on post