Scotty Ray from Satostudiogear, posted a video a little bit ago of his hike up the famous "Half Dome" in Yosemite National Park. He recently uploaded this video of his review of the CAME-Single and mentions how he was able to pull off some of the camera shots he was able to capture in his Yosemite video.
"It was awesome to be able to pull a gimbal out of your backpack and have it up and running in 30 seconds... I also attached the Gimbal to the top of my Tripod by removing the manfrotto head. This is useful for shots you can't normally reach, or over tall cliffs " -Scotty Ray
If you haven't seen his "Half Dome" Yosemite video, make sure to check it out below!
Cinema5D, passed by the CAME-TV booth during IBC 2015 and shot this quick interview with one of our representatives about the CAME-Single gimbal!
The CAME-Single is a 3-axis gimbal that has extremely accurate readings because of the encoders that are built into the motor. The CAME-Single has a built in battery in the handle itself that you can charge by plugging the charging cable directly to the handle. There's a 1/4-20" mounting point on the side of the handle and a 3/8" along with another 1/4-20" mounting point on the bottom of the handle.
In this video, Laurent Briere, used the CAME-Single to shoot this video that highlights a marathon at the royal city of Blois!
That CAME-Single is a 3-axis 32-bit basecam controlled gimbal that is completely tool-less, making it extremely easy to balance your camera. Currently, the CAME-Single is the first basecam controlled gimbal to offer brushless motors with encoders for highly accurate readings of the motors position. The sixth round of pre-orders are currently being accepted and should be shipping out around September 20, 2015.
Vimeo user, PigMintFilm, posted this wedding video that was shot using the CAME-Single Gimbal of the Bride and Groom's first choreographed dance. The video was shot with a Sony A7S + Sony 16mm F/2.8 lens.
The CAME-Single is a 3-axis basecam controlled gimbal that has brushless motors with encoders, which allows highly accurate monitoring of the motors position. The CAME-Single comes with a hard case for storage and a battery charger that you plug into the handle.
Vimeo user, Dieter Knüttel, uploaded this three part CAME-Single review. The first part is an overview and an unboxing, the second is a driving test and the third is labeled "Action Scenes" where he shows how the CAME-Single handles during some running situations.
PART 1: Unboxing And Overview
PART 2: Driving Test
PART 3: Action Scenes With A Dog
The CAME-Single has a max payload of about 2.6 pounds and can work with small cameras like the Sony A7s, Panasonic GH-4 and the BMPCC. The new updated version of the CAME-Single has internal batteries located in the handles that produce higher voltage for more power and stability.
Everything Steadicam, used the CAME-Single to shoot this intense video that showcases some of the beach workouts that Rawmana Fitness has to offer.
The CAME-Single is a 3-axis gimbal that is made primarily for those "on-the-go" shooters who want a quick one-handed setup. With it's built in joystick, it will allow you to easily pan and tilt while the gimbal is in motion or stationary. The 1/4-20" mounting point on the side of the CAME-Single's handle gives the shooter the option to mount a monitor or a smartphone.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Please know that all CAME-TV gimbals come pre-programmed to properly function and stabilize right out of the box without the need for software tuning. However, if you choose to make adjustments using the SimpleBGC software, you do so at your own risk. If or when you choose to do so, we strongly urge you NOT to make any changes that are not recommended by us. Doing so may affect your gimbal's functionality, and may require you to send it into one of our facilities for repair at your own cost (if still under warranty). Before making any of the suggested changes below, we also advise that you save your current profiles once connecting and/or capture screenshots of each tab & profile.
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On the most part, the CAME-TV Single gimbal can be balanced and fully operated straight out-of-the box. However, with the introduction of encoders, the most minor tweaks in the SimpleBGU calibration software can cause the Single to act somewhat erratic. Unfortunately, there is no undo button, nor is there a singular factory reset switch that can bring your gimbal back to its original state.
However, there is a very specific, yet simple 5-minute process that you can follow in order to get your gimbal functional again. Essentially, it will allow you to start over from scratch and remove any uncharacteristic behavior that you may have accidentally triggered. Tech media reviewer and colleague MrCheesycam breaks down this process step by step in the video below.
Download the CAME-TV Single Default Restoration profile if you are using SimpleBGC GUI version 2.55 b3HERE.
If you are using SimpleBGC GUI version 2.56 b7, then download and use the Restoration profile linked HERE.
Not sure which SimpleBGC version you need? Click HERE.
Please note that these restoration profiles are intended to work ONLY for the CAME-Single and will NOT work for any other gimbal model.
NOTE: If you are only experiencing minor problems with your gimbal such as light shaking and vibrations, DO NOT follow the process above. Simply lowering your Motor Power can help eliminate those problems, as referenced in this article.
In order to get smooth, steady shots with any of our CAME-TV gimbals, you want to make sure that your camera is properly balanced on them. However, sometimes our customers are so eager to put their new gimbal to use, that they don't take the time balance it accurately.
If you are reading this article, then chances are that you already have, or are in the process of balancing your gimbal. The video below, we will show you a very quick and easy test that will let you know if you've done so correctly.
In this beautifully shot video, Scotty Ray, traveled to Yosemite National Park to hike up "Half-Dome". He brought along the CAME-Single Gimbal to document his trip and was able to piece together this video.
"I used the CAME-Single over other gimbals because of its size and reliability. It does everything I need and fits inside my normal DSLR bag. It's a great overall gimbal.
For the video, I used a Sony A7s with a Sony 16-35 Zeiss version lens. The video was shot in one day which took about 14 hours without having to charge the CAME-Single."
-Scotty Ray
The CAME-Single is a one handed 3-axis gimbal featuring motor encoders that prevent the motors from losing synchronization and skipping steps, decreases power consumption, increases precision of stabilization, and more. The CAME-Single is perfect for small mirrorless cameras such as the Panasonic GH4, Sony A7s or A7RII, and BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera. With the upgraded battery, the gimbal can run up to 20 hours on a single charge.
All CAME-TV gimbals have been designed to support numerous camera/lens setups. That is, as long as the overall payload does not exceed that particular gimbal's pre-determined weight capacity. However, it is also possible for a camera setup to be too light. When this happens, users may notice shaking, vibrating, and even noises coming from the motor of their gimbal. But don't panic!! Essentially, the gimbal's motors have been programmed to expect a slightly heavier payload and are just working a little bit harder than they have to.
A quick fix to this problem, would be simply to lower the Motor Power in the SimpleBGC software. But first, before making any changes, we advise archiving all of your current settings (ex: saving your profile or capturing screenshots). In the unlikely event that you may have to revert back to those values, you'll at least have your screenshots for reference. Once that's done, investigate the gimbal and find out which motor (Yaw, Pitch, or Roll) is giving you problems. Once you have determined the culprit, connect to the software and reduce the Motor Power settings accordingly. Step by step details can be found in the video below.
NOTE: For heavier camera setups, simply increase motor power settings instead of decreasing them.
During this motor power adjustment process, it is ok to turn on your gimbal and test functionality after applying changes. Please know that this is a trial & error process and it may take some time to find the perfect settings for your camera setup. And just as a reminder, once you're able to determine the correct settings in one profile to stabilize your gimbal, apply those settings to the remaining 2 profiles in the Basic Tab of the software.
One of the more useful functions of any CAME-TV gimbal is the built-in joystick/remote control feature. Simply enough, the 2-axis joystick essentially allows you to do seemless panning and tilting movements while maintaining smooth and steady shots with the gimbal.
However, all gimbals come with a pre-programmed joystick speed that dictates how fast its movements are. And sometimes this default speed isn't ideal for the shot that you may want to execute. But luckily, speed can easily be adjusted using the SimpleBGC software. Full step-by-step details are shown in the video below.
Perhaps one of the more common questions we get from customers is "why is my gimbal drifting when it's powered on?." Obviously, a properly balanced and calibrated gimbal will stay put and only move when (and how) you want it to move.
A likely reason for the drifting is that the RC Sub-Trim settings may be off. The RC Sub-Trim is used to calibrate the Joystick. This is an electro-mechanical control surface that over time may need calibration for it’s true Neutral Position. The most common problem is slow ‘drifting’ of camera position. When the Joystick is not calibrated properly, the gimbal believes that someone is applying Joystick commands and starts to move. The video below will help you properly calibrate your joystick and thus likely eradicate the problem of drifting.
NOTE: If you're using a gimbal with an external wireless remote, then make sure the remote is turned on during this process.
NOTE: After completing this process, if drifting persists on any 1 profile, but is no longer present on either of the 2 Profiles, then you can manually copy the RC subtrim values from the non-drifting profile onto the profile that does drift. In other words, after completing the Auto RC-Subtrim process, if Profile 3 still drifts, but Profile 1 & 2 remains still, then you can manually copy the RC-Subtrim settings from Profile 1 or 2 onto Profile 3. Drifting should then be eliminated from all 3 profiles as a result.
When you purchase a CAME-TV gimbal, chances are that it has been pre-programmed with 3 main profiles. And each profile contains its own unique set of follow modes, which you can toggle between depending on which mode you need to use.
Profile 1 will enable Follow Modes for both Pan and Tilt (Yaw and Pitch). Profile 2 will enable Follow Mode ONLY for Pan (Yaw) and will Disable Tilt (Pitch). Profile 3 will disable All Follow Modes. The Camera heading will stay constant.
However, in the event that these follow mode settings are unknowingly or mistakenly altered in the SimpleBGC software, you can manually restore them by dialing them in yourself.
Service Modes are used to assign button clicks to various gimbal operations. On most CAME-TV gimbals, you can toggle between these different modes simply by clicking on the service button (or joystick) to operate them. By default, the first three modes are set as follows:
1 Click: Switch to Profile 1 2 Clicks: Switch to Profile 2 3 Clicks: Switch to Profile 3
To see how Profiles 1, 2, and 3 are configured, click here.
It's also a good idea to take advantage of your Service Modes by using the Profile 4 and Profile 5 options. These profiles should specifically be set to calibrate your sensors and gyro, respectively. These modes will especially come in handy when you're shooting out in the field and don't have access to your laptop to recalibrate your gimbal.
4 Clicks: Calibrate ACC (Calibrate sensors. Must hold camera and gimbal level and square when using this option) 5 Clicks: Calibrate Gyro (Calibrate Gyros. Must hold camera and gimbal level and square when using this option)
SAMPLE: Once you have Profiles 4 & 5 programmed and saved, you can now calibrate your sensors and gyros directly through the gimbal. (Demonstrated in video below with a CAME-Single, but the process applies to all CAME-TV gimbals when calibration modes have been programmed in them.)
Gimbal calibration demonstrated on CAME-Single and CAME-7800 gimbals below. (Process applies to all gimbals with service modes programmed in).
