Balancing Magiqcam with heavy battery at DVinfo.net

Tony Hall · October 29th, 2004, 02:35 PM

I've got my Magiqcam set up with an XL1s a monitor and a 7 hour battery that weighs about 4lbs. The sled is very bottom heavy and there's not really anything I can do to change it. I've raised the camera a little to shift the center of gravity.

Now, I don't think that this should really be a problem because I'd think that the weight on the bottom would help keep it level, but the instruction manual says that you want the top and bottom to be balanced... why is that by the way?

Thanks.

Wesley Wong · October 31st, 2004, 10:10 AM

I was under the impression that the instructions/this forum recommends a drop time of 2 -3 secs , and not balanced top to bottom ?

I'm using a frezzi battery for my camera top light and a monitor battery from the Marshall monitor on mine and I still find it pretty difficult to balance my magiqcam.

If I were to add spirit levels to help, where's a good place on the rig ?

Hope I can get pointers from the 2 Charles here ...

Charles Papert · October 31st, 2004, 09:34 PM

Tony:

The problems with a significantly bottom-heavy rig are several. Tilting becomes an issue of force, which is never a good thing. Also, the rig will tend to pendulum, i.e. swing out during acceleration/deceleration or stops and starts.

A 4 lb 7 hr. battery for an XL1s is, honestly, overkill. You would be better off with a 1.5-2lb battery for that set of masses (you're probably into a back-heavy situation with that heavy battery also).

Wesley:

The most critical axis is side-to-side balance. The best place for a level is on the monitor, either above or below the screen so you can keep an eye on it while operating. You should also have another one at the camera plate as a master level that you can true the monitor level to (mount it on velcro etc so that you can adjust it). Fore-and-aft levels are not really useful in my opinion, you can set it up to eye and it will be close enough. Generally one should be trimming the tilt (fore-and-aft) to the specific needs of the shot.

Charles King · November 1st, 2004, 03:25 AM

<<<-- The best place for a level is on the monitor, either above or below the screen so you can keep an eye on it while operating. You should also have another one at the camera plate as a master level that you can true the monitor level to (mount it on velcro etc so that you can adjust it). -->>>

I second that.

Wesley Wong · November 1st, 2004, 03:56 AM

hmmm. any pics that I can have a better idea of ? that will really nail it for me.

Thanks for all the pointers !!

Charles Papert · November 1st, 2004, 08:20 AM

Charles K., take it away--I'm on a job & can't take the time to wrangle photos.

Tony Hall · November 1st, 2004, 01:10 PM

Ok, thanks for the info... I think I'm pretty much stuck with this heavy battery for the time being. I'll probably just try to add weight to my camera to level it out.

Tony Hall · November 1st, 2004, 01:17 PM

By the way, email notification hasn't been working for me lately. Is anyone else having that problem.

Charles King · November 1st, 2004, 04:10 PM

I'll post some pics when I get home.

Tony Hall · November 1st, 2004, 11:41 PM

by the way I just ordered a battery about half the size that will work with my monitor. I'll take some pictures of my setup and post them when it comes. I'll also try to post some Magiqcam footage when I get a chance... although I'm not very good yet :)

Wesley Wong · November 29th, 2004, 08:21 AM

hmmm... busy busy month for me. worked on a stage to tv adaptation as a grip...

Gonna try to find some spirit levels and start experimenting...

Tony Hall · November 29th, 2004, 11:13 AM

By the way, I just ordered the Nebtek lithium to 12v battery adapter and I think it's going to be the magiq solution to the problem of heavy batteries.

That's one design fault I see with the Magiqcam. You really have to have a HEAVY camera to have a monitor and battery on the bottom of the sled and have it balanced properly.

Wesley Wong · November 30th, 2004, 07:49 AM

yeah. I'm getting a 2nd np-1 to try to balance my DVX on it , its leaning 'left' with the Marshall monitor and batt on the 'left side'.

what I don't get is how sticking a spirit level on the top on the monitor is going to help my balancing, seeing that I don't have my monitor horizontally flat out in front of my knees, but at an angle up directed to my eyeline, a bit further out in front.

Charles King · November 30th, 2004, 08:15 AM

Leaning Left?!!!

Wong, It seems to me that your rig is not balanced sids-to-side if it's leaning left, if I understand you right.

Any pic to see your setup, so I can get a better understanding?

By sticking on a spirit level makes it t's simply a guide to help balancing your rig a little easier.

Wesley Wong · November 30th, 2004, 10:57 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Charles King : Leaning Left?!!!

Wong, It seems to me that your rig is not balanced sids-to-side if it's leaning left, if I understand you right.

Any pic to see your setup, so I can get a better understanding?
-->>>
Hehe. was waiting for your pics on where to stick the spirit levels...

Is it possible to post pics here on the forum or has it to be outside link? I'll get around to taking a shot...

October 29th, 2004, 02:35 PM	#1
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	Balancing Magiqcam with heavy battery I've got my Magiqcam set up with an XL1s a monitor and a 7 hour battery that weighs about 4lbs. The sled is very bottom heavy and there's not really anything I can do to change it. I've raised the camera a little to shift the center of gravity. Now, I don't think that this should really be a problem because I'd think that the weight on the bottom would help keep it level, but the instruction manual says that you want the top and bottom to be balanced... why is that by the way? Thanks. __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

October 31st, 2004, 10:10 AM	#2
Wesley Wong Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 143	I was under the impression that the instructions/this forum recommends a drop time of 2 -3 secs , and not balanced top to bottom ? I'm using a frezzi battery for my camera top light and a monitor battery from the Marshall monitor on mine and I still find it pretty difficult to balance my magiqcam. If I were to add spirit levels to help, where's a good place on the rig ? Hope I can get pointers from the 2 Charles here ... __________________ Do more, learn more

October 31st, 2004, 09:34 PM	#3
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Tony: The problems with a significantly bottom-heavy rig are several. Tilting becomes an issue of force, which is never a good thing. Also, the rig will tend to pendulum, i.e. swing out during acceleration/deceleration or stops and starts. A 4 lb 7 hr. battery for an XL1s is, honestly, overkill. You would be better off with a 1.5-2lb battery for that set of masses (you're probably into a back-heavy situation with that heavy battery also). Wesley: The most critical axis is side-to-side balance. The best place for a level is on the monitor, either above or below the screen so you can keep an eye on it while operating. You should also have another one at the camera plate as a master level that you can true the monitor level to (mount it on velcro etc so that you can adjust it). Fore-and-aft levels are not really useful in my opinion, you can set it up to eye and it will be close enough. Generally one should be trimming the tilt (fore-and-aft) to the specific needs of the shot. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

November 1st, 2004, 03:25 AM	#4
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	<<<-- The best place for a level is on the monitor, either above or below the screen so you can keep an eye on it while operating. You should also have another one at the camera plate as a master level that you can true the monitor level to (mount it on velcro etc so that you can adjust it). -->>> I second that. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

November 1st, 2004, 03:56 AM	#5
Wesley Wong Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 143	hmmm. any pics that I can have a better idea of ? that will really nail it for me. Thanks for all the pointers !! __________________ Do more, learn more

November 1st, 2004, 08:20 AM	#6
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Charles K., take it away--I'm on a job & can't take the time to wrangle photos. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

November 1st, 2004, 01:10 PM	#7
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	Ok, thanks for the info... I think I'm pretty much stuck with this heavy battery for the time being. I'll probably just try to add weight to my camera to level it out. __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

November 1st, 2004, 01:17 PM	#8
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	By the way, email notification hasn't been working for me lately. Is anyone else having that problem. __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

November 1st, 2004, 04:10 PM	#9
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	I'll post some pics when I get home. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

November 1st, 2004, 11:41 PM	#10
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	by the way I just ordered a battery about half the size that will work with my monitor. I'll take some pictures of my setup and post them when it comes. I'll also try to post some Magiqcam footage when I get a chance... although I'm not very good yet :) __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

November 29th, 2004, 08:21 AM	#11
Wesley Wong Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 143	hmmm... busy busy month for me. worked on a stage to tv adaptation as a grip... Gonna try to find some spirit levels and start experimenting... __________________ Do more, learn more

November 29th, 2004, 11:13 AM	#12
Tony Hall Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: springfield, OH Posts: 344	By the way, I just ordered the Nebtek lithium to 12v battery adapter and I think it's going to be the magiq solution to the problem of heavy batteries. That's one design fault I see with the Magiqcam. You really have to have a HEAVY camera to have a monitor and battery on the bottom of the sled and have it balanced properly. __________________ Tony "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" - Picasso Blog: http://www.tonyhall.name

November 30th, 2004, 07:49 AM	#13
Wesley Wong Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 143	yeah. I'm getting a 2nd np-1 to try to balance my DVX on it , its leaning 'left' with the Marshall monitor and batt on the 'left side'. what I don't get is how sticking a spirit level on the top on the monitor is going to help my balancing, seeing that I don't have my monitor horizontally flat out in front of my knees, but at an angle up directed to my eyeline, a bit further out in front. __________________ Do more, learn more

November 30th, 2004, 08:15 AM	#14
Charles King Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: sweden Posts: 795	Leaning Left?!!! Wong, It seems to me that your rig is not balanced sids-to-side if it's leaning left, if I understand you right. Any pic to see your setup, so I can get a better understanding? By sticking on a spirit level makes it t's simply a guide to help balancing your rig a little easier. __________________ Charles 'What we perceive to be may not be what we believe to be.'

November 30th, 2004, 10:57 AM	#15
Wesley Wong Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 143	<<<-- Originally posted by Charles King : Leaning Left?!!! Wong, It seems to me that your rig is not balanced sids-to-side if it's leaning left, if I understand you right. Any pic to see your setup, so I can get a better understanding? -->>> Hehe. was waiting for your pics on where to stick the spirit levels... Is it possible to post pics here on the forum or has it to be outside link? I'll get around to taking a shot... __________________ Do more, learn more