Vinten Vision 250 Manual

Vinten
Camera Control Solutions
Operators Guide
Vision 250
Pan & Tilt Head

Vision 250
Pan and Tilt Head
Publication Part No. 3525-8 Issue 3
Copyright © Vinten Broadcast Limited 2004
All rights reserved throughout the world. No part of this document may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, copied
or reproduced in any way including, but not limited to, photocopy, photograph, magnetic or other record without the prior
agreement and permission in writing of
Vinten Broadcast Limited.
Vinten, QuickFit and Vision are registered trademarks of Vinten Broadcast Limited.

3
Safety - read this first
Warning Symbols in this Operators Guide
Where there is a risk of personal injury, injury to others, or damage to the pan
and tilt head or associated equipment, comments appear, highlighted by the
word WARNING! and supported by the warning triangle symbol.
Technical data
Weight
Flat base (complete with pan bar) 6.05 kg (13.3 lb)
Ball base (complete with pan bar and bowl clamp) 6.39 kg (14 lb)
Height to mounting face
Flat base 184 mm (7.24 in.)
Ball base 171 mm (6.73 in.)
Length 159 mm (6.23 in.)
Width 244 mm (9.6 in.)
Typical payload 25 kg (55 lb) - See balance graph)
Tilt range ±90°
Pan range 360°
Pedestal/tripod fixing 100/150 mm ball
Four-hole flat base
Further information
For further information or advice regarding this pan and tilt head, please contact Vinten Broadcast
Limited, your local Vinten distributor or visit our website.
For full details on maintenance and spare parts, please refer to the Vision 250 Pan and Tilt Head
Maintenance Manual and Illustrated Parts List (Publication Part No. 3465-9), obtainable from Vint-
en Broadcast Limited or your local Vinten distributor. For information on-line, visit our website at
www.vinten.com.

4
Contents
Page
Safety - read this first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Technical data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Further information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Operation
Installing the head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mounting the camera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mounting the camera (optional Quickfit adaptor). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Balancing the head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Locking the platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Pan and tilt brakes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Pan and tilt drag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Servicing
Routine maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Cleaning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Battery replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Balance mechanism digital display calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Converting the base. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Parts list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Associated publication
Vision 250 Pan and Tilt Head
Maintenance Manual
Publication Part No. 3465-9

5
(1) Camera mounting screws
(2) Balance knob
(3) Centre lock
(4) Illuminated level bubble
(5) Ambient light level sensor
(6) Digital display
(7) Flat base
(8) Pan bar mounting
(9) Switch for illuminated level bubble, drag knob scales and digital display
(10) Tilt drag adjustment knob
(11) Pan brake lever
(12) Tilt brake lever
(13) Slide lock release
(14) Slide plate
Vision 250 (Left-Hand Side with Flat Base)
(1)(14)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(11)
(7)(10) (9) (5)(6)
(13)
(12)
(8)

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(15) Slide plate clamp
(16) Battery cover
(17) Spherical base
(18) Bowl clamp
(19) Pan drag adjustment knob
(20) Telescopic pan bar
Vision 250 (Right-Hand Side with Spherical Base)
(15)
(16)(19)
(17)(18)
(20)

7
Introduction
The Vision 250 pan and tilt head embodies an adjustable spring counterbalancing mechanism,
thin film (TF) drag assemblies for pan and tilt motions and an adjustable camera mounting plate.
The balance system is easily adjusted by a knob (2) on the rear of the head. Maximum and mini-
mum payloads that can be balanced, and tilt ranges, are depend-ent on the weight of the camera
and accessories and on the centre of gravity (C of G) height.
ThegraphshowstherangeofloadandC ofG height thatcan be maintainedin balance.Theshad-
ed area of graph corresponds to those load/C of G combinations that can be balanced over the
full tilt range. The area to the right indicate the progressively reducing tilt range with greater load
and higher
C of G.
Where a load/C of G combination falls outside of the graph it will be necessary to increase or de-
crease the weight or the C of G height - if possible - to enable the head to balance the load.
Balance graph
14 16 18 20
5
410 12
10
2 6 8
2
3
4
5
6
7
8200
in. mm
±90°
±60°
22 24 34 36
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 lb
kg26 28 30 32 38 40 42
65 70 75 80 85 90
190
180
170
160
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50

8
A digital display (6) indicates the setting of the balance mechanism on a scale of 00 - HI. The dis-
play is illuminated by pressing the switch (9) and extinguishes automatically approximately 15
seconds after adjustments are complete. The same switch also illuminates the level bubble (4)
and the scales of the pan and tilt drag knobs (19)(10). A sensor (5) automatically compensates for
ambient light levels and dims the display. If the ambient light level is high, the level bubble and
drag knob scales will not be lit. The battery forthe system is housed in a compartment in the base
of the head, closed by a cover (16).
Both the pan and tilt mechanisms incorporate the Vinten thin film (TF) system to ensure smooth
movement of the camera about these axes and are fitted with control knobs (19)(10) to adjust the
drag setting. The whip-pan facility is unaffected by the pan drag setting. Both drag knobs are pro-
vided with scales illuminated by the switch (9).
Friction brakes on each axis allow the head to be locked at any chosen position. The operating
levers for both brakes (11)(12) are fitted on the left-hand side of the head.
A centre lock (3) allows the head to be locked in the horizontal position.
A level bubble (4), illuminated by pressing the switch (9), is fitted to the rear of the head.
Pan bar mounting points (8) are located at the rear of the head, on either side of the camera
mounting platform. A telescopic pan bar (20) is supplied and is attached using a pan bar clamp,
with angular adjustment available on the mount serrations. A second pan bar may be fitted.
Two versions of the head are available. One uses a dual 100/150 mm ball mount (17) with a bowl
clamp (18). The other has a flat base (7), with `Quickfix'®and standard four-hole fixing. Mounting
bolts, washers and a spanner are also provided.
The camera is attached to the head by means of a slide plate (14) or by using the optionalQuickfit®
adaptor. A clamp (15) is provided to hold the slide plate in position and a lock (13) prevents its
inadvertent removal from the head.

9
Operation
Installing the head
The Vision 250 head is supplied with a dual 100/150 mm ball base and is designed for installation
on a compatible Vinten Vision tripod.
The head is also available with a flat base, with `Quickfix' and standard four-hole fixing.
Adaptors are available which enable the heads to be installed on tripods or pedestals fitted with
other mountings. These are listed under ‘Optional Accessories’.
To install a head with a ball mount, remove the bowl clamp assembly (18) from the head, position
the head on the tripod and refit the bowl clamp assembly from below. Level the head with the aid
ofthelevelbubble(4)andtightenthebowlclamp.Thelevelbubblemaybeilluminatedby pressing
the switch (9).The light will extinguish after 15 seconds.
The flat based head may be installed on a tripod or pedestal using the four mounting bolts and
washers provided or by using a `Quickfix' adaptor.
Mounting the camera
Remove the slide plate (14) from the head by releasing the slide plate clamp (15), pressing the
slide lock release (13) and pulling the plate to the rear.
Attach the slide plate to the camera or camera mounting plate under the approximate centre of
the camera's weight using both camera mounting screws (1). Position the screws as far apart as
possible.
Set the platform level and engage the centre lock (3).
Push the slide plate and camera into the platform from the rear, ensuring slide lock release (13)
snaps into position.
NOTE: If the ambient light level is high, the level bubble will not be lit.

10
Mounting the camera (optional Quickfit adaptor)
If not already attached, secure the Quickfit adaptor (23) to the slide plate (14) with the two screws
provided (1).
Free the Quickfit wedge (22) from the adaptor by simultaneously pushing in the safety catch (25)
and operating the wedge release (24).
Fit the Quickfit wedge (22) to the camera with the two screws provided (21).
Set the platform level and engage the centre lock (3).
Insert the forward end of the wedge into the forward end of the adaptor. Lower the rear of the
wedge into the adaptor until an audible click indicates that the wedge is locked.
Mounting the camera (optional Quickfit adaptor)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
(1)
(14)
(3)