Quick Flycam advice?!

G

gshort

Active member
I have had my Flycam for 4-5 months now and have used it successfully since but I noticed I have my weights on either side, whilst everyone else seems to have them front and back! My results are good so I dont want to mess around with it too much if I dont need to, I just wondered if I was doing something drastically wrong or if its a matter of preference?
Thanks
 
Sounds a bit odd. So what your saying, is that you ONLY have weights placed on 1 side of the bottom stabilizer platform, but never weights evenly distributed on BOTH sides?
If your rig is stable and balanced when your "flying", then it shouldn't be an issue... however you have it setup.
There are a bunch of steady cams on the market, sporting a single weight point below the camera, but the flycams have a duel sided weight configuration.
From what i've seen, you almost ALWAYS have to have the weights distributed, because this insures mass is even. And so when your moving dynamically, 1 side isn't pulling the camera in an odd directions.
If you pictured a man on a tightrope, you'd never see him/her holding only 1 arm out to their side. Even if they where leaning to 1 side to counter the weight, it just doesn't make sense when clearly the optimum balance would be to have weight/arms on both sides.
Maybe a photo of your setup, can provide people with more specifics and advice.
Also, what kind of camera are you flying? Its recommended you have a pretty heavy setup to insure smooth motion.
 
daihard said:
Sounds a bit odd. So what your saying, is that you ONLY have weights placed on 1 side of the bottom stabilizer platform, but never weights evenly distributed on BOTH sides?
If your rig is stable and balanced when your "flying", then it shouldn't be an issue... however you have it setup.
There are a bunch of steady cams on the market, sporting a single weight point below the camera, but the flycams have a duel sided weight configuration.
From what i've seen, you almost ALWAYS have to have the weights distributed, because this insures mass is even. And so when your moving dynamically, 1 side isn't pulling the camera in an odd directions.
If you pictured a man on a tightrope, you'd never see him/her holding only 1 arm out to their side. Even if they where leaning to 1 side to counter the weight, it just doesn't make sense when clearly the optimum balance would be to have weight/arms on both sides.
Maybe a photo of your setup, can provide people with more specifics and advice.
Also, what kind of camera are you flying? Its recommended you have a pretty heavy setup to insure smooth motion.
Click to expand...


Sorry I didnt make myself clear, I have two sets of weights, one set on either side! My question was, should the weights be at front and back or at either side? Sorry for the confusion!
 
"whilst everyone else seems to have them front and back!"
Yea, i was a little confused.
Anyhow, if its balanced and does a smooth 5 sec "fall". Then i think wherever the weights are will be fine. But its more stable when evenly distributed.
It could be any number of reasons: weights of extra batts, monitor, camera top plate position, or angle they are flying at...
From all the tutorials ive seen on setting one up, the weights are on BOTH sides (near the edges) and usually as evenly distributed as possible.
 
Side to side can hit your leg or other objects. Front and back is narrower and clears things more easily. Not much of an issue, but for tight confines or when clearing furniture and such it could be a tiny issue.

Cheers,
Pete
 
c3hammer said:
Side to side can hit your leg or other objects. Front and back is narrower and clears things more easily. Not much of an issue, but for tight confines or when clearing furniture and such it could be a tiny issue.

Cheers,
Pete
Click to expand...

Cheers Pete, that is pretty much what I assumed, my drop time is spot on and balance is definitely good I just wondered if it was a prefference thing or if it was me being an idiot! Either way it works very well with my 600D and Samyang 8mm fish eye!
 
I haven't been able to get mine to fly smoothly, and thought I'd eventually have to upgrade from flycam to glidecam - but maybe I'm doing something wrong: 5-sec drop time? I thought it had to be 2-3 sec
 
If I put my Swivi monitor on the front bottom, I need to have the bottom sideways, or the monitor hanging out to the left will make it almost impossible to balance, since there's nothing to counter. Definitely more stable with the bottom aligned front to back, but it's possible to do sideways if you can get the weights in the right position

NormanBates said:
I haven't been able to get mine to fly smoothly, and thought I'd eventually have to upgrade from flycam to glidecam - but maybe I'm doing something wrong: 5-sec drop time? I thought it had to be 2-3 sec
Click to expand...
That's the ideal timing to keep the unit straight up and balanced as much as possible when moving around. The longer the delay, the more "floaty" it will be in getting back to vertical. The shorter the delay, the more pendulum like it will act, with the weight on the bottom pulling instead of balancing the weight on the top. Either way, those two require you compensating more with your other hand to keep the unit steady, though their eccentric movement can be useful in certain types of scenes.
 
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