User Manual

8 www.glidegearhdslr.com
With the small camera adapter, the Glidegear 3000 has the capability to
stabilize cameras from 1oz (28g) to 5lbs (2.2kg).
Begin your balancing with the batteries and memory card installed in your
camera. There are three axes of balance that need to be achieved: vertical
(Y-axis), horizontal (X-axis), and fore/aft (Z-axis). To keep it simple, better do
them one at a time.
Vertical: For this explanation we will start with the vertical balancing. You
can simply start with all weights removed and keep adding weight until the
system is vertically balanced. The large counterweight discs are 0.6 oz., and
the small counterweight discs are 0.25 oz. It is an important point to make
that the nut that holds the weights in place also has weight and when fine
tuning your system, you may improve the balance by the addition or removal
of one or both of these nuts.
Horizontal: Next, make sure the horizontal is balanced by use of the coun-
terweight arm. Some cameras will have the mounting hole well off to the
left or right of the center of mass. To compensate for this simply loosen the
attachment knob and carefully adjust the counterweight arm to the opposite
direction that the system is leaning. You will know the horizontal has been
balanced properly when the system is completely level along the X-axis. (Hint:
use a small camera bubble leveler for precision).
Fore-and-Aft: If your camera is way out of balance in the Fore and Aft depart-
ment, you may want to make this adjustment first. Simply slide the camera
forward or backward along the mounting cushion strips with the gross
adjustment screw.
This process will be a little different for every type of camera so it always
takes a little fiddling and fine-tuning adjustments. So, how do you know if
your system is balanced? Your system will be balanced when it is completely
level and you can move right to left and forward to aft without the camera
tipping over, and negligible pendulum effect from the bottom of the counter-
weight arm.