STABILIZERS > Gravity & Body-Mount Stabilizers

Essential Flycam 6000 Mods

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Chris Harding:
These are some essential mods that I have done to the original Flycam 6000 system that comes out of India. The basic engineering is pretty good but a few essential bits have been overlooked. With the help of the technical expertise of the HBS forum guys, I have changed a few things to make this "Stedicam copy" into a really neat piece of gear that flies your camera really smoothly.
DetailsModifications to the Sled :
The actual sled is well built and you are provided with an LCD mount at the bottom and a battery mount plate. To make this sled workable only 2 mods are needed.
(1) The rails and weight tubs are all adjustable using tiny 4mm thread screws with a moulded plastic head which is impossible to tighten properly and during use you can easily leave something behind when it falls off!!
Simply scrap the little thum screws and replace them with 4mm allen head bolts and the rails be be secure.
DetailsThe last item to be changed is the actual post..it's way too long to be practical so I have cut mine down to around 50cm and that seems to be a practical size. The rails need to be about 100mm above each other to allow room for weight tubs etc etc.

Modifications to the Magic Arm :

Unless you are using a DigiBetaCam that weighs in around 40lbs the spring system is much too heavy for "normal" cameras that are in the 5 - 10lb category. The 4 springs in this unit are 90mm long and are wound with 4mm wire and would easily hold an elephant!! (they are supposedly rated for 22 - 50 lbs total load)  I had a new set made for me with 3.55mm wire which are around 40% "softer" and they are perfect!!
DetailsLastly the post at the end of the arm is fixed and although it HAS holes for bearings, none are fitted..just a big fat bolt!!
DetailsBy adding two bearings, the post can turn and it makes the entire process a lot smoother.
If anyone has one of these or is experiencing problems with stiffness, just ask and I will try to help. I have my system flying very smoothly now with the above simple changes and I'm sure that a lot of people who have bought one might is disappointed when it doesn't work as well as it should "out of the box"

Chris

dakkar:
Very nice!  Any footage to share?

Chris Harding:
Hi Dakkar

My wedding website only has footage with my old flycam 5000..as the wedding season is "supposed" to be over I upgraded a month ago and started on the mods on the new one and only finished it this week. I actually have a wedding shoot today and weather permitting I will shoot a bit on the rig. It's our wet Winter here so I don't really shoot a lot in July..it gets busy from August onwards!!
If the weather does hold, I'll post a bit of footage for you during the week.

Chris

RobShaver:
Thanks for your post.

Would you recommend the Flycam 6000 over the Merlin with a vest/arm? I've got the Merlin already and am considering upgrading to the vest for $1575. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/552480-REG/Steadicam_MERLIN_ARM_VEST_MERLIN_ARMVESTPK_Upgrade_Kit_for.html)

Where would I go to get custom springs wound?

Why do the rails need to be 100mm above each other?

What kind of bearings? It looks like the material is thin. How are they held in place?

Thanks again.

Rob:-]

Chris Harding:
Hi Rob

I think the Merlin is great as a handheld rig with a small camera but not really suited to a vest!!! It was designed for "pick up and go" operation.  If you are staying with Stedicam then get at least a Flyer.

My purchase of the Flycam was budget controlled..I didn't have $12,000 for a Flyer!!! It does very well with just a few mods!!!  What I would do is go to the HBS forums (Home Built Stabilizers) and read the posts under "Modifying Commercial Systems" and you will see tons of discussion there from a bunch of people including me!!!  Then make up your mind (you might want to even ask their opinion on the Merlin vest!!!

Chris

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