Micro Gimbal for GH4, BMPCC, A7s - $699 USD

Here is the Tekkeon battery attached, set at 12 V.

The Tekkeon case has a 1/4-20 female thread on the bottom for attaching to the usual subjects.

Heavier, which can be good or bad. Can always use my left hand for more support.

Software reads 11.5 volts running off gimbal battery, goes to 11.9 volts when the Tekkeon is attached.

I will leave the Tekkeon cable attached to the gimbal only when the gimbal is turned on. I want to avoid any problem damaging the gimbal battery due to the possibility of overcharging the gimbal battery if the Tekkeon battery is left attached. The gimbal battery charger automatically turns off when charging is completely, not so with the Tekkeon, so just being cautious.

Tekkeon on gimbal-0493.jpg
 
I ended up ordering one due to the confidence I gained reading these threads, it arrived and I set it up. Big thanks to DustyLens, Kraut and Dugdale, but sadly the weight of the nebula/gh4 body/12-35mm lens proved too much for chronic wrist tendonitis. Not sure what I will do with it now, but everyone make sure to take good care of your arms and wrists.
 
bodhiography said:
I ended up ordering one due to the confidence I gained reading these threads, it arrived and I set it up. Big thanks to DustyLens, Kraut and Dugdale, but sadly the weight of the nebula/gh4 body/12-35mm lens proved too much for chronic wrist tendonitis. Not sure what I will do with it now, but everyone make sure to take good care of your arms and wrists.
Click to expand...

Lots of wrist supports out there.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carpal-Tunn...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4d164a9e08


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/568358-REG/Hoodman_H_WS1_WristShot_DSLR_Support_System.html


http://www.ebay.com/itm/PF1-Arm-Bra...356?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8e26b4d4
 
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bodhiography said:
I ended up ordering one due to the confidence I gained reading these threads, it arrived and I set it up. Big thanks to DustyLens, Kraut and Dugdale, but sadly the weight of the nebula/gh4 body/12-35mm lens proved too much for chronic wrist tendonitis. Not sure what I will do with it now, but everyone make sure to take good care of your arms and wrists.
Click to expand...

What about using both hands?
 
dustylense said:
Throughout the entire video. Just face it. But that opening track shot is where I see it completely. Just look at the cliffs. Then in all sorts of other shots. Just too many to list. At 2:11? Whats going on there? Not enough power? YEP.
Let's see a 2 minute uncut walking straight no post stabilized video with your settings??????
Click to expand...
Getting a bigger laugh out of this than anytime before. Seems like you should finally, ya know, create something, instead of walking in circles around cars in front of your house in the 'burbs. Be that as it may, in re:
Some of it's hand-held, all the rest winningly steady around the challenge of dancing around tidal basin rocks, and none of it's post-stabilized (a made-up suspicion, a tantrum?). I suppose I could do "2 minute uncut walking straight" as you weirdly demand in some sort of judicial self-appointment, but life is short dude (don't you know it). The very first shot is plenty proof anyway, but if you're still seeing jitters, it's in your head Fred. At some point, pixel peeping gets eerily out of touch, ending with that trailing duh, "what is this all for anyway?"

Turning positive, I'm looking forward to other community posts putting this tool through practical creative challenges. Something I just started experimenting with is mounting a Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro X upside-down beneath the handle, mating the respective 1/4"-20 sockets with a double bolt, and running a thin headphone cable between the ports. It adds a really visceral documentary presence, worth giving a try.
 
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Go back to your blog dude. Then get into your PIDs. You're video is loaded with gitters, face it. Maybe you don't know how to adjust in the software?
This was the second day I had the device and after I TUNED it, I tested it for what I intend to shoot with the gimbal.

Three days later I filmed another project and paid the gimbal off 15 times over.
Here is a still from the project and the video is still in post.
1-Savona-Ridgewood_Master Bath.jpg
Enjoy your day job and your little blog on your days off. I'll have fries with that...
 
Kraut69 said:
Here is the Tekkeon battery attached, set at 12 V.

The Tekkeon case has a 1/4-20 female thread on the bottom for attaching to the usual subjects.

Heavier, which can be good or bad. Can always use my left hand for more support.

Software reads 11.5 volts running off gimbal battery, goes to 11.9 volts when the Tekkeon is attached.

I will leave the Tekkeon cable attached to the gimbal only when the gimbal is turned on. I want to avoid any problem damaging the gimbal battery due to the possibility of overcharging the gimbal battery if the Tekkeon battery is left attached. The gimbal battery charger automatically turns off when charging is completely, not so with the Tekkeon, so just being cautious.

View attachment 95394
Click to expand...

is it possible to just get a longer USB cable and pocket the external charger? Keeps your load lighter eh?
 
focuspulling said:
Getting a bigger laugh out of this than anytime before. Seems like you should finally, ya know, create something, instead of walking in circles around cars in front of your house in the 'burbs. Be that as it may, in re:
Some of it's hand-held, all the rest winningly steady around the challenge of dancing around tidal basin rocks, and none of it's post-stabilized (a made-up suspicion, a tantrum?). I suppose I could do "2 minute uncut walking straight" as you weirdly demand in some sort of judicial self-appointment, but life is short dude (don't you know it). The very first shot is plenty proof anyway, but if you're still seeing jitters, it's in your head Fred. At some point, pixel peeping gets eerily out of touch, ending with that trailing duh, "what is this all for anyway?"

Turning positive, I'm looking forward to other community posts putting this tool through practical creative challenges. Something I just started experimenting with is mounting a Rode Stereo VideoMic Pro X upside-down beneath the handle, mating the respective 1/4"-20 sockets with a double bolt, and running a thin headphone cable between the ports. It adds a really visceral documentary presence, worth giving a try.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this one. However his framegrab is simply stunning. edited my post: will just say that after that frame grab, you simultaneously won and lost the online nerd war ;)
 
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StMad said:
There are jitters in the first shot.

Can you two ease up? It's getting toxic in here.
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I'd love too, but the guy comes in and contributes nothing to thread but only insults with his thesaurus at his side. I said it once and I'll say it again. The 4 and 5 push of the button only calibrates the sensor (the thing that levels the camera) and the gyros to the INPUT PID VALUES on the board. Doing that only tells the gimbal what is center, level, and straight. The guy is completely wrong and giving people poor input on the gimbal. I have at least 9 different PID profiles for the balance of different camera packages. Many of them I've shared. And yes, I tested running circles around my car in the burbs. How else am I going to change a PID profile and see how it works? I'm not posting samples so people can go to my blog and click on an ad so I can generate money. Now I'm no Christopher Nolan by any means. I don't even consider myself a cinematographer. I'm a stills photographer that does about 30% of his work doing videos. Focuspulling (H. Paul Moon), I'm booked out every week until August of 2015. And the rest of the year will be booked out by the end of February. I don't even have a website anymore. But I still find time to give input and sample along with advice and sharing to other users here. Especially if the input involves a newly released product and I think my findings would help out DVXusers. All without attempting to promote myself and the use of a thesaurus.

Now, I have spent lots of time in PM with people helping them. Even Dan Chung and I have e-mailed a dozen times about the gimbal. My inbox is full of questions about the gimbal. I've taken the time to answer each one of them. I've provided input of my own and links to how to balance and tune any gimbals PID's (I own three gimbals, H. Paul Moon).
 
John Friedman said:
is it possible to just get a longer USB cable and pocket the external charger? Keeps your load lighter eh?
Click to expand...
This is how I shot a project. I knew I had about 5 hours shooting with the gimbal and the battery would not last. I used a battery that I use for powering my strobe lights and slung it in a shoulder bag while running the charging cord to the gimbal. It worked great.
The battery I used is just awesome for all sorts of applications. I have 8 of these for my stills lighting and they will charge just about anything: http://www.paulcbuff.com/vm120.php
I like Kraut's solution though. Adding that bit of weight helps in keeping the gimbal steady.
 
dustylense said:
This is how I shot a project. I knew I had about 5 hours shooting with the gimbal and the battery would not last. I used a battery that I use for powering my strobe lights and slung it in a shoulder bag while running the charging cord to the gimbal. It worked great.
The battery I used is just awesome for all sorts of applications. I have 8 of these for my stills lighting and they will charge just about anything: http://www.paulcbuff.com/vm120.php
I like Kraut's solution though. Adding that bit of weight helps in keeping the gimbal steady.
Click to expand...
. Oh man! I'm glad that works. That's something I believe I will have to do in the future as well. Very cool indeed 😊
 
John Friedman said:
is it possible to just get a longer USB cable and pocket the external charger? Keeps your load lighter eh?
Click to expand...

Plugging the unit in repeatedly to the wall charger on the first job was a PITA. Also I have found dangling external batteries a PITA on the job, and to be avoided as much as possible.I plan on using a monopod under the battery for better angles and control, so plenty of opportunities to rest the right arm.

And a reminder that they said they are coming out with their own external battery system in a month or so.

(also this unit does not charge via USB)
 
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dustylense said:
The battery I used is just awesome for all sorts of applications. I have 8 of these for my stills lighting and they will charge just about anything: http://www.paulcbuff.com/vm120.php
Click to expand...

LMAO...I thought I was one of the only video guys who used that battery. I don't have eight of them but I could see how that would come in handy. Awesome battery with lots of uses.

Great suggestion for prolonging the battery use on this gimbal.
 
I'm done.

My review unit broke down completely. Here is what happened.

1st. The cable that comes of the back of the roll arm to the sensor was bulging and rubbing against the frame causing it to be unstable. I didnt notice it until after I spent a lot of time trying to balance the roll. I got some help from Filmpower and they pointed me in the right direction to the problem. That tells me they have had this issue before. After pulling the cable tight and taking the bulge out I was able to balance the roll.

2nd. The Nebula 4000 Lite wont work at all with the software. No way to change anything and that's a problem even if the gimbal is designed for out of the box PID settings. If I wanted to try inverted mode or any fine tuning I cant.

3rd. The battery is now dead. I cant get it to work for more that two minutes and it goes whack and limp. I opened up the botom plate were the main board is mounted, but I have no idea what to look for. I cant see any loose wires or hints of what could be wrong.

I'm pretty disappointed because I feel it's an innovative product and I cant really test it anymore. What little I was able to do with it was great. I clearly have a defective unit with several issues. I'll see if Filmpower is willing to send me another one but I doubt that will happen. Good luck guys and thanks for the help. This thread is been a huge resource for anyone looking at the Nebula 4000 Lite.

Cheers!
Erik
 
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Chinese batteries built without proper quality control are a scourge. I'm not buying any more. I don't want them cluttering up my work room even if they are free.

So any product that depends on the use of one battery of unknown quality control that can't be replaced quickly by the user is asking for failure in the bigger marketplaces.
 
bodhiography said:
I ended up ordering one due to the confidence I gained reading these threads, it arrived and I set it up. Big thanks to DustyLens, Kraut and Dugdale, but sadly the weight of the nebula/gh4 body/12-35mm lens proved too much for chronic wrist tendonitis. Not sure what I will do with it now, but everyone make sure to take good care of your arms and wrists.
Click to expand...


Didn't I see one of these mounted inside a Fig Rig? Seemed like the perfect solution to me.
 
dustylense

Do you think the new Atomos Power Station would work as a solution? It is small and very portable and about the same price as the battery you used. I already have that on my personal wish list to keep the A7S powered longer while shooting. If I could also use that to power the Nebula 4000, even better.
 
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