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).
You4reel, shot this huge Corona sponsored event in Ireland with the CAME-TV 7800 Gimbal! The CAME-7800 is a 3-axis gimbal designed for cameras like the Canon 5Dmk3, Canon 5Dmk2, Canon 7D and even the Panasonic GH-4.
The CAME-7800 features a clean design that hides all of the wires to ensure they don't get damaged while it's being used. The 7800 Gimbal, also gives the shooter multiple operation modes that can easily be switched by pressing the joystick.
Recently, Vimeo user, Kluzo, used the CAME-7800 gimbal to cover an event in Paris!
The CAME-7800 uses three motors that stabilize the camera along with the pan, tilt, and roll axis. The motors will help compensate for shakes, vibrations, and other unwanted movements, allowing you to get some smooth shots.
In this quick video posted by Youtube user, Joe Taravella, he takes his new CAME-Single gimbal out for a test run! The footage looks great, especially when he walks up and down the stairs. He used his Sony A7S with a Sony 10-18mm F4 lens.The new CAME-Single is one of the first commercially available 3-Axis 32-bit basecam controlled gimbals that offer brushless motors with Encoders.
The CAME-Steadicam can hold camera setups that are roughly 5 to 33 pounds with a minimum height of 27.5 inches and a max of 40 inches. The CAME-Steadicam comes equipped with a baseplate that has a Power, AV and HDMI connector. You also have the option to buy the stabilizer and the vest separately or as a package.
If you have connected your gimbal via USB, you may need to install the proper driver for your Mac or PC to communicate with the control board which can be found Here>>.
Once you have installed the proper Mac or PC driver and restarted your computer, connect the gimbal, go into the SimpleBGC software, and on the upper left, select the proper USB port, and hit 'Connect'.
If you still do not see the gimbal or if you already have the proper drivers for your computer, please check your USB cable to make sure it is a Data cable. We suggest either testing the cable or just change the cable entirely to make sure it is not an issue.
Make sure the cable is fully connected to the gimbal and your computer, then restart the SimpleSBC program.
