Tiffen STEDICAM Steadimate-RS User manual

Steadicam®Steadimate-RS™
LIT-901000, RevA

1
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
2

3
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?

4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
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

9
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

10
Balancing
To make large adjustments to the tilt
feel, we’ll remove pairs of weights
and compare how it feels to tilt with
less counterweight.
Remove the pair of small weights
from the rear of the rods, and check
the effort required to tilt.
Can you feel a difference?
The post should rest vertically.
Feel how much effort it takes to tilt
the post up and down by the handle.
For all but the heaviest cameras, it is
probably very “bottom heavy” with
all of the weights attached.
Use a C-stand or a heavy-duty light
stand, with the included adapter, to
support the system while balancing.
If you don’t have a stand, you can
pick it up by the Steadimate-RS
handle to test the balance.

11
Balancing
Any time you change the weights,
the post tilt may need to be
balanced fore-aft.
Loosen the rod clamps slightly
and slide each weight set fore or
aft to, then re-lock the clamps.
Slide each rod the same amount,
so the weight sets remain parallel.
Redistribute the two small weights
from the front of the rods to the
rear, then re-balance by sliding the
rods fore-aft.
Typically, more weight is needed
at the front of the Steadimate-RS
to maintain a vertical post.
If the tilt remains bottom heavy,
repeat the previous steps, this time
remove the large weights at the
rear of the rods.

12
Balancing
NOTE: for lightweight cameras, you
may be able to remove ALL of the
weights without the post inverting.
Use the weight rods alone and
continue to ne tuning.
Continue removing weight pairs,
re-balancing fore-aft, and testing,
until the system will not rest with the
camera at the top.
Then replace one pair of weights so
the system is bottom heavy.
Re-balance fore-aft, if necessary.
Success! This is the minimum balance
weight for your camera payload.
Now ne tune the tilt feel by
raising the weight rods a little at a
time, and testing, until you achieve
ngertip control of tilt.
The higher you slide the weights,
the lighter the feel becomes.

NOTE: You may nd it necessary to
raise one weight rod slightly higher
than the other to maintain a level
roll axis.
Make sure all weights and
thumbscrews are tight after
balancing, and your Steadimate-RS
equipped gimbal is ready to y!
TIP: take note of the position of the
weights for your camera setup, so
you can balance quickly next time!
Continue sliding the weights higher
on the post until the effort required
to tilt the stabilizer is minimized.
This is to your preference,
depending on your operating style
and the shots you’ll be creating.
13
Balancing

14
Notes

Refer to the manual included with your vest for additional details and for a
complete tting guide. Some customization may be required for optimal t.
15
Shoulder pads
Shoulder
connectors
Hip pads
and buckles
Chest straps
and buckles
Center spar
Socket
block
Length
adjustment
The Steadicam vest is the major connection between your body and the
Steadimate-RS system. It’s adjustable to t most body types via Velcro® straps
and micro-adjustable buckles. 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 an A-30 vest:
The Steadicam vest

The shoulder connectors should
not ride high and the shoulder
pads should rest on your
shoulders.
Set the hip straps second, but
don’t fasten those buckles.
Set the length of the vest to place
the waist pads low over the hip
bones, yet still allow your legs to
lift for climbing stairs.
Set the chest straps, but don’t
fasten the buckles yet.
Adjust the size of the vest using
the Velcro® straps at the shoulders,
back, and hips.
16
Hip pads
and buckles
Putting on a Steadicam vest

17
The t should be very snug, but not
straitjacket tight.
You must be able to breathe!
Pull down on the vest to make certain
the hip pads are centered over your
hip bones, and the shoulders t well.
Close the chest buckles rst, and
nish with the hip buckles.
The center spar should stay
centered on your torso and not slip
to either side.
Your vest should t as well as the
vest in these pictures!
Putting on a Steadicam vest

18

The Steadicam arm supports the weight of the Steadimate-RS 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. Steadicam A-15 and A-30
arms are similar in design and operation, only their capacities are different.
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
19
The Steadicam arm