DIY DSLR Stabilizer Project, Looking for some advice

[James Palanza]

So, if you reference the pictures you can see ive made some progress on my home made stabilizer. Now, I've been attempting to balance it and while the in and out (lens direction in, pull back) seems very stable, I'm having trouble making the left and right moves stay up. I also have a major issue when I raise the unit up high, it tilts pretty bad.

So my question for those experienced people out there: I'm assuming the idea here is to attempt to create the same amount of weight on both sides of the gimbal ? I found that initially my bottom half was heavier than the DSLR camera, and was giving me major issues. I would have it completely balanced but when I actually would move it, it would turn into a mess. I then cut the length down substantially and it should be a lot closer to the same weight on both sides. Unfortunately now it is making fine-tuning the balance difficult as there is not enough bottom weight to show a drastic out of balance motion.

SUMMARY:
I just wanted to check and make sure my theory here is correct - try to achieve the same weight under the gimbal as the camera rig - then balance it left, right, in and out - then adjust the weight sled on the bottom up and down until the camera stops moving when shaken left, right in and out?

Images Below:

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4928/12397678.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/121/37444792.jpg
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/6143/24130428.jpg
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/4739/32735050.jpg

[James Palanza]

Here is my first walk with it, you'll see what I mean.

Untitled on Vimeo

[Dave Gish]

If you haven't already, make sure you check out the Home Built Stabilizer forum:
The HBS Group - Index