Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Support Your Local Camera > Stabilizers (Steadicam etc.)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 21st, 2016, 03:41 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 385
Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

Can anyone give me some advice on how to balance this thing. I have been working on it for probably 3 hours and cannot get it balanced.

Every time I actually get it balanced, I tighten the screws and then it becomes unbalanced again. I absolutely cannot figure it out. It's maddening. I've watched every single video on the internet about balancing it and nothing is helping me

Any advice would be great.
Brock Burwell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2016, 03:57 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 9,510
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

What camera have you mounted and is there a mike or anything else mounted onto the camera?
Noa Put is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2016, 04:05 PM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 385
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

It's a GH4 with a 12-35mm lens on it. No mic
Brock Burwell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2016, 04:23 PM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 9,510
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

I have a beholder ms1 and while I can quickly get it balanced with a gh4 and a 12mm or 9-18mm as soon as I place a small microphone on top of the camera for a unclear reason I cannot get it balanced anymore, that's why I asked.

You say that after balancing the camera becomes unbalanced again as soon as you tighten the screws, if you then switch on the gimbal, what happens then? Is there vibration or does it not level out?
Noa Put is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 21st, 2016, 04:35 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 385
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

I think I actually may have it close to balanced (as close as I am going to get at the moment). That said, They say you are supposed to turn it sideways and if it rotates, then you need to adjust it a bit more. So I adjusted it far one direction and that was way off, so I adjusted it about halfway and it was closer, and then I adjusted it all the way the other direction and it's closer, but its still off. It won't go any farther and it's still rotating when I turn it sideways.

Not sure if this makes a difference, but I have the camera as back as far as I can on the plate so that I always know where it was when I go to balance it again. Wonder if that is making a difference.

To answer your question though, yea if I turn it on, it seems to balance itself, but I want to make sure it's right on before I go and start filming
Brock Burwell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 22nd, 2016, 01:20 PM   #6
Trustee
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 1,435
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

Here is a video in Spanish (first one at the bottom of the page,) but there are subtitles. At the end of the video he tames some pretty wild balance problems, see if this can help you.
http://copter-rc.com/en/catalog/68-p...ss-camera.html
Warren Kawamoto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 22nd, 2016, 01:31 PM   #7
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 9,510
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

I think if you get it that close to balancing, even if it does seem to be unbalanced again just by tightening the screws, and if it doesn't vibrate when you activate it it should be just fine to use it in that way as long as you don't notice any other weird behavior.
Noa Put is offline   Reply With Quote
Old January 31st, 2016, 07:41 AM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Preston, England
Posts: 40
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

See if this helps
Peter Parker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 4th, 2016, 03:13 PM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 385
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

I've actually watched that video and it helped a little, but not much.

I ended up contacting Pilotfly directly and they told me (after a week of me trying to get it working) that my unit was faulty and that I needed to return it (something with one of the motors was bad). So I just sent it back and exchanged it for the Came Single. Should be here in a week
Brock Burwell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 15th, 2016, 04:45 PM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Preston, England
Posts: 40
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

Brock, can you let me know how you get on with the Came single? I've been thinking of this for my gh4 but wasn't sure about the weight it could carry.
Peter
Peter Parker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 17th, 2016, 10:30 AM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Charleston, WV
Posts: 385
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

Just got the Came TV Single in and I was able to balance my GH4 and 12-35 on it in probably 6 or 7 minutes. Within 20 minutes of opening the box, I was walking around getting really smooth footage. At least for me, this is a HUGE step up from the Pilotfly. Like Dave Dougdale said in his review, it takes a 1/3 of the time to balance. The toolless design is fantastic and really helpful.

Only downside is it is a little bit heavy so my arms did get a little tired, but the ease of use completely covers that up. I'm so glad I sent the Pilotfly back. Not that there is anything wrong with the Pilotfly, but it's not for me.
Brock Burwell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 19th, 2016, 02:50 PM   #12
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Preston, England
Posts: 40
Re: Pilotfly H1+ is Driving Me Crazy

Glad you got it sorted. I was seriously considering this but feel that the Mini2 might be best. You can hold it in two hands and it has the ability to be used one handed for low down shots.
Peter Parker is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > Support Your Local Camera > Stabilizers (Steadicam etc.)

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:09 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network