Vinten Vision 8 Manual

Vinten
Camera Control Solutions
Operators Guide
Vision 8
Pan & Tilt Head

Vision 8
Pan and Tilt Head
Publication Part No. 3441-8 Issue 4
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 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
Head 2.7 kg (5.9 lb)
Pan bar 0.2 kg (0.4 lb)
Bowl clamp 0.14 kg (0.3 lb)
Height to mounting face 15 cm (5.9 in.)
Length 14 cm (5.5 in.)
Width 12.5 cm (4.9 in.)
Typical payload 10.5 kg (23 lb) - See balance graph
Tilt range ±90°
Pan range 360°
Tripod fixing 100 mm ball
Further information
For further information or advice regarding this pan and tilt head, please contact Vinten Broadcast
Limited, your local Vinten distributor (see back cover) or visit our website.
For full details on maintenance and spare parts, please refer to the Vision 8 Pan and Tilt Head
Maintenance Manual and Illustrated Parts List (Publication Part No. 3441-9) This is obtainable
from Vinten 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 on a tripod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mounting the camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Balancing the head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Pan and tilt brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Pan and tilt drag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Servicing
Routine maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Cleaning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Battery replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Brake knob and drag control knob adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Parts list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Associated publication
Vision 8 Pan and Tilt Head
Maintenance Manual
Publication Part No. 3441-9

5
(1) Pan bar
(2) Balance knob
(3) Pan drag adjustment knob
(4) Switch for illuminated level bubble
(5) Pan brake knob
(6) Pan bar mounting
(7) Tilt brake knob
(8) Slide lock release
Vision 8 (Left-Hand Side)
(8) (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(7)
(6)
(5)

6
(9) Slide plate
(10) Slide plate clamp
(11) Tilt drag adjustment knob
(12) Bowl clamp
(13) Illuminated level bubble
(14) Battery compartment
(15) Camera mounting screws
Vision 8 (Right-Hand Side)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(13)
(15)
(14)
(12)

7
Introduction
The Vision 8 pan and tilt head embodies an adjustable spring counterbalancing mechanism, LF
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 dependent on the weight of the camera
and accessories and on the centre of gravity (C of G) height.
The graph shows the range of load and C of G height that can be maintained in balance. The shad-
ed area of graph corresponds to those load/C of G combinations that can be balanced over the
full tilt range. The areas 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
8200
in. mm
2
4
±90°
±60°
±40°
7
6
5
4
3
2
190
180
170
160
150
140
130
120
90
100
110
80
70
60
50
46810 12 14 16 18 20 22 kg
812 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 lb

8
Both the pan and tilt mechanisms incorporate the patented Vinten lubricated friction (LF) system
to ensure smooth movement of the camera about these axes and are fitted with control knobs (3,
11) to adjust the drag setting.
The whip-pan facility is unaffected by the pan drag setting.
Friction brakes on each axis allow the head to be locked at any chosen position. The operating
knobs for both brakes (5, 7) are fitted at the left-hand side of the head.
An illuminated level bubble (13) is fitted to the rear of the head. When the switch (4) is pressed,
the bubble will be illuminated for 15 seconds. The battery for the illuminated bubble is contained
in a battery compartment (14).
Pan bar mounting points (6) are located at the rear of the head, on either side of the camera
mounting platform. The pan bar is attached using a pan bar clamp, with angular adjustment avail-
able on the mount serrations. A fixed pan bar (1) is supplied. A second pan bar may be fitted.
The camera is attached to the head by means of a slide plate (9) or by using the optional Quickfit®
adapter (see Mounting the camera). A clamp (10) is provided to hold the slide plate in position
and a lock (8) prevents its inadvertent removal from the head.

9
Operation
Installing the head on a tripod
The Vision 8 pan and tilt head is supplied with an integral 100 mm ball mount, designed for instal-
lation on a compatible Vinten Vision tripod.
Adaptors are available which enable the head to be installed on tripods or pedestals fitted with
other mountings. These are listed under ‘Optional Accessories’.
To install the head, remove the bowl clamp assembly (12) from the head, position the head on the
tripod and refit the bowl clamp assembly from below. Level the head with the aid of the level bub-
ble (13) and tighten the bowl clamp. The level bubble may be illuminated by pressing the switch
(4). The light will extinguish after approximately 15 seconds.
Mounting the camera
Mounting the camera(3/8 in. mounting screws)
Remove the slide plate (9) from the head by releasing the slide plate clamp (10), pressing the slide
lock release (8) and pulling the plate out 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 mounting screws (15).
Set the platform level and apply both the pan and tilt brakes (5, 7).
Push the slide plate and camera into the track in the platform, ensuring the slide lock release (8)
snaps into position.
Balance the head (see Balancing the head).
Mounting the camera (VHS adaptor)
The optional VHS adaptor (21) consists of a VHS pin and a 1/4 in. BSW camera mounting screw
connected by a plastic link.
To mount the camera using the VHS adaptor, proceed as follows:
Remove the slide plate (9) from the head by releasing the slide plate clamp (10), pressing
the slide lock release (8) and pulling the plate out to the rear.
Remove the two 3/8 in. BSW camera mounting screws (15) from the slide plate.
Position the VHS (21) adaptor in the longer slot in the slide plate, with the pin facing for-
wards. Screw the pin securely into the slide plate.
Secure the slide plate to the camera with the 1/4 in. BSW camera mounting screw, ensuring
the pin engages in the hole in the camera.
Set the platform level and apply both the pan and tilt brakes (5, 7).
Push the slide plate and camera into the track in the platform, ensuring the slide lock re-
lease (8) snaps into position.
Balance the head (see Balancing the head).

10
Mounting the camera (optional Quickfit adaptor)
If not already attached, secure the Quickfit Adaptor (18) to the slide plate (9) with the two screws
(15) provided.
Free the Quickfit wedge (17) from the adaptor by simultaneously pushing in on the safety catch
(20) and operating the wedge release (19).
Fit the Quickfit wedge to the camera with the two screws (16) provided.
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 in position.
Balance the head (see Balancing the head).
Mounting the camera (VHS adaptor)
(9)
(21)
(10)
(15)
(8)