Set-Up & Operation Guide

FLYCAM 3000
For mini DV Cameras

INTRODUCTION :
The Flycam 3000 is lightweight, aluminum, hand-held camcorder stabilizing system designed to
allow you to walk, run, go up and down stairs and travel over tugged terrain without any camera
instability or shake. When used correctly, the Flycam 3000 can move with such fluidity and grace
as to be virtually undistinguished from shots made by expensive dollies, cranes and stabilizers.
The Flycam 3000 is the most versatile and dynamic of all the camcorder stabilizers on the
market. It can shoot straight up and down, or even sideways and still produce stable images.
Fluid tilts and pans, crane-like booms, dolly-type exercise, and the ability to shoot smooth
shots from moving vehicles are all easily accomplished with the Flycam 3000. The offset gimbaled
handle-grip and enclosed bearing assembly allow your hand to move freely in several directions,
while the horizontal yoke allows your hand and arm to move up and down, alleviating the
bouncing, pogo-type action often associated with our competitors systems.
The upper camera platform moves back and forth, and side to quickly allow the balancing
of your camera in relationship to the counterweights. By varying the amount of counterweight
disks in the cups on the base platform, the Flycam 3000 can support any compact, camcorder
weighing up to 2.5 to 5 pounds.
The Flycam 3000 requires practice and understanding to achieve professional looking
results. We are sure that you will find years of enjoyment with Flycam 3000.

This Package includes :

When you unpack your Flycam 3000 , you will receive it unassembled. Take off all the packaging
materials and check that you have received all the parts.
Contents of the shipping box:

Flycam 3000 Central Post with

Gimbal Assembly

Rubber grip for handle

Head Plate, Mid Plate & Bottom

Plate (attached with each other)

Base Platform

Hardware Kit

Four Counter weight cups (attached

with the Base Platform)

Manual (Users Guide)

Flycam 3000 :
This is the Flycam 3000 Central Post with attached Gimbal Assembly and
Telescoping Post.
Warning: Do not adjust or tightened the factory settings on the Gimbal,
Handle & York. These parts should remain loose and move freely, just as
they are shipped to you.

The Head Assembly of the Flycam 3000 includes:

Head Plate
Mid Plate
Bottom Plate
You will receive the Head Assembly assembled.

This is the Base Platform.

Use this v-shaped adapter to securely screw the

camera on the head plate. This adapter has a
pin that will not allow the camera to rotate.

ASSEMBLING YOUR FLYCAM 3000 :

First, get the Base platform of Flycam 3000 and connect the
Central post with attached telescoping post to the Base
platform by tightly screwing the telescoping post onto the
threaded stud sticking up from the center of the base
platform.

Now, remove the upper cups to insert the weight washers into them. There are slots in the base
platform. You can adjust them away from the post or near to the post as per your requirement.
Repeat this procedure on other side also.
Note: Add the counter weight disks (as required). Heavy cameras require more counter weight disks
than light cameras.

Securely tighten the adjustment knob on the telescoping

clamp by rotating the knob clockwise.
Note: Do not over tighten this knob.

Now, attach the Head Assembly with the central post.

Tighten the side screws to attach it properly.

So, now you have to find your camcorders center of balance :

Remove the Head Plate from the Head Assembly to attach it with the camera. Place & Center the
Head Plate on the base side of your camera and secure it properly.
NOTE: Do not over tighten this screw. Over tightening could break the threaded insert.

Hold the camcorder by the handle with two fingers of one

hand. Move your fingers back & forth until camcorder hangs
level and balanced.
With the grease pencil / marker, mark the place on
the head plate that is directly below your fingers on handle.
This is the center of balance.

Now, securely place and center your camera and the attached Head plate on the top of the mid plate.
Tighten the side screws to attach the Head Plate properly.

As you can see that there are slots in the Head Plate and the Bottom Plate, these will allow you to
adjust the X & Y axis movement to have the perfect balance.

Balancing your Flycam 3000:

Before beginning the balancing process check the following :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Camera is securely attached to head plate.

Lens cap has been removed and secured.
Telescoping clamp has been tightened.
Weight cups are added successfully.
All the screws are tightened securely.
Battery & all cables should be secured.

Balancing the Horizontal axis :

When your Flycam 3000 is setup and assembled properly, you can test and setup the horizontal
balance of the system. The objective in obtaining correct horizontal balance for the Flycam 3000 is

to allow the Camera to remain level during operation and the Central Post will remain vertical
unless you intentionally position the Flycam 3000.
When testing for correct horizontal balance you need to make sure that you pick up your
Flycam 3000 from a flat & level surface (e.g. table) & that you let the Flycam 3000 hang freely as
you hold it. If the Flycam 3000 is balanced correctly on its horizontal axis, then it will be level &
upright, with the Central Post in a virtually perfect vertical position.
Warning: If you do not have enough Weight on the Base Platform at this time, the entire Flycam
will completely flip upside down. If this happens, add more Weight below until during this test
the Flycam remains side up. The best way of adjusting the horizontal balance is to move the
center of gravity of the Camera. This can be accomplished by re-bolting the Camera to a different
area of the Head Plate and Mid Plate, either front to back or side to side with the Camera on it.
If the Flycam 3000 tilts to the front, then you will have to loosen the Screws on the sides of
the Head Plate and gently slide the Head Plate back a bit. If the Flycam 3000 still tilts to the front,
then move to the back. If the Flycam 3000 is tilting to the back, then move the Head Plate to the
front. Always secure the Screws after any adjustments.
If you cannot get the front to back axis balanced with this method then try remounting
your Camera to a different hole on the Head Plate. Once you achieve correct horizontal balance
for the front to back axis, tighten the Screws that control this movement of the Head Plate
If the Flycam 3000 leans to the right, then you will have to loosen up the Screws on the bottom of
the Bottom Plate and then gently slide the Mid Plate and then gently slide the Mid Plate over to
the left a bit. If the Flycam 3000 leans to the left from the operators point of views, then move the
Mid Plate to the right.
NOTE: Always secure and firmly tighten the Screws after any adjustment.
After adjustment of the side-to-side balance as mentioned above you might have to go
back and readjust the front to back balance to obtain a truly fine balance of the whole system.
Also, another way of fine-tuning the horizontal balance is to move the Counter Weight cups back
& forth on the Base Platform. There are slots on the Base Platform to help with this task. Also,
placing the Weight cups away from the Center Post on the Base Platform will increase panning
stability. Make sure to tighten the cups down you move them.

Balancing the Vertical Axis :

The sled should be tied up to the docking adapter of your stand or similar so that you can start
the fore & after balancing adjustments by centering the camcorder over the central post.
1. Loose the side screws of the head plate and the bottom screws of the bottom plate.

2. Look at the Flycam 3000 from side. If the camcorder lens is tipped up or down, move the
camcorder forward or backwards until your center of balance is over the central post.

3. Then, look at the Flycam 3000 from the front. If the post is not vertical, adjust the bottom
plate until the center post is vertical.
4. You can also adjust the weight cups near & away from the sled as per the requirement till
the post is not vertical.
The stability of the Flycam 3000 depends on it being slightly bottom heavy. If it is top
heavy, it will tilt more. If it is too bottom heavy, it will be sluggish & too hard to aim. If it is
slightly bottom heavy, it will be both stable & too easy to control.

Check the vertical balance by using this drop time test :

Make sure that everything is tight and stand behind the stand.

Grasp the center post near the base and move the center post from vertical to horizontal.
Hold it there. Be sure that it will not hit the stand when you drop the center post and put
your free hand to catch the center post when it drops.

Count how many seconds it will take to fall to vertical. Try using a stopwatch. If the drop
time is less then 2 seconds, it is too bottom heavy. You need to move the bottom mass
closer to the post. If the drop time is more than two seconds, it is top heavy.
Drop time of 2- 2.5 seconds is ok.

Note : Recheck the balance by looking at the sled. If necessary, use the side screws and the bottom
plate screws.

FURTHER TO BALANCING :
1. Set up your camera exactly how you want to have it while you are recording. This means
batteries, lenses, cards, LCD screen open, quick release plate, on-cam lights, etc.
2. Take off the top plate of the flycam and line up your camera so that its center of gravity is as
close to the center of the plate as possible (basically hold the camera in your hand and feel
where it feels balanced both left and right as well as forward and back).
3. Find the hole in the plate that is as close to the threaded tripod mount on your camera as
possible (while you are still holding your camera's center of gravity to the center of the plate).
Run a screw through that hole and attach your camera (or quick release mount if you have
one). Tighten it down so it won't accidentally rotate.
4. Re-attach the top plate to the flycam. Center it, but don't worry about getting it absolutely
perfect yet.

5. Take off most of the weights, but leave one on each side. Insert the center post as far as it will
go and tighten so it won't slide out.
6. Hold the handle normally and turn the flycam so that it is horizontal to the ground. Let go of
the flycam(just don't let go of the handle at the same time ) and count how long it takes to
right itself so that it is vertical again. You should be able to count a good, "One one thousand,
two one thousand", before it rights itself. With only two little weights it might take
considerably longer.
7. Add one pair of weights at a time and repeat the "horizontal to vertical" test until it falls at the
correct rate. It will probably not be perfect. You'll get one that's too slow and then you'll add a
pair and it will fall too fast. When that happens, take off the last pair of weights that you
added.
8. Tighten down the weights so they don't slide around.
9. To get the count perfect, slightly lower the center post that the weights are attached to until you
get the "one one thousand, two one thousand" count right on. You now have the basic balance
perfected.
10. Now it is time to fine tune the left-right, forward-backward balance. I usually start with leftright (but it doesn't matter because you'll have to go back and forth between the two
directions to get the balance just right). Loosen the screw sets that allow the sled to move left
and right. Adjust the top plate so that it is centered and tighten down the screws like you
would a tire (in other words slowly and alternating around the sides).
11. Repeat the step 10 for "forward-backward" balancing.
12. Check to see if your camera is sitting level. If not, repeat steps 10 and 11 until it sits level.
13. Practice walking so that your body movements aren't transmitted into your hands -and thus,
the flycam.

Holding the Flycam 3000 :

When handling your Flycam 3000, you will have to use one hand to hold onto the handle and the
other hand to gently guide the Camera in the direction you wish to shoot.
For normal shooting, hold the handle in the middle. For shots that require aiming the
Camera either up or down or sideways, hold the handle firmly at the bottom. This will allow the
yoke part of the gimble to twist around without hitting your hand or knuckles.

MAINTENANCE :
Bearing Maintenance The Main Bearing on your Flycam 3000 is attached to the Central Post
about two inches Down from the top. It is metal and is partially enclosed by the Bearing assembly.
If after some period of time your Bearings doesnt turn smoothly, you can oil it lightly with light
lubricating oil. We recommend that you use very little oil. Very little, because this is all that is
needed, plus anything more than a little will end up coming out of the bearing and onto the rest of
your Flycam 3000. Light lubricating oil can also be used if needed on Yoke and Handle Bearings.
Be sure to keep oil away from your Camera, & clean up any over spill when one.
Cleaning Do not use solvents or harsh cleaners of any kind on your Flycam 3000. If the unit
becomes dirty, use only a cloth or sponge with water and a very mild Detergent to gently rub the
unit clean.
Storage If you are going to store your Flycam 3000 for a long period of time then please store the
unit upright in a dry or low to normal humidity area whenever possible. If you are unable to find
an environment like this, then we suggest you store the unit in an airtight plastic container or bag.
Standing the unit upright helps to alleviate stress on the system.
Note: The Flycam 3000 doesnt work under water, nor is it Waterproof , so avoid direct exposure
to rain or water spray. Also, the bearings are not sand proof ; so avoid getting dirt or sand into
them.

Walking the line :

This is a kind of training or exercise that is designed to help you
operate your Flycam 3000 more accurately. Using the masking
tape, or gaffers tape, create a cross mark on a flat and even wall.
This cross mark will be used for framing purposes.
Now on the floor leading up to the cross mark, tape a straight line,
about 10-20 feet long. The idea behind this exercise is to walk the
line that you have taped on the floor, while keeping the cross
mark centered in the LCD monitor. Practicing this exercise will
teach you how to frame a shoot with precision.

OTHER ACCESSORIES TO BE USED WITH FLYCAM 3000 :

Arm Brace

Quick Release Adapter

9