The "Ring"

[Pigs dont fly]

Hi DJ, it would be nice to be able to rotate to portrait for panos on an underslung, any chance of doing this?

Cheers
Ian

[doeni]

Well, it isn't a underslung, will be up front.
For Panos and portrait-mode i guess you would take the VR360...
BTW DJ, any progress on that "Switch+carbon plate for taking a photo every 60°"-accesoir? I could really do with one...


Daniel

[halley]

Originally Posted by Pigs dont fly

Hi DJ, it would be nice to be able to rotate to portrait for panos on an underslung, any chance of doing this?

I haven't used it, but the VR360 is probably a better bracket for underslung panoramas; the yaw axle has to be able to go all the way around, the faster the better unless you have rock-solid position holding. Were you hoping to yaw the whole helicopter around, or to rotate the gimbal within the underslung cage? Getting an L-plate for your camera is an alternative.

[doeni]

Also, don't forget you have to be in the Nodal-Point of the Camera, to get no parallax errors. That won't be the case in the ring up-front

Daniel

[halley]

Originally Posted by doeni

Also, don't forget you have to be in the Nodal-Point of the Camera, to get no parallax errors. That won't be the case in the ring up-front

That's really only critical if you have objects within ten meters... the closer your foreground objects, the more critical it is, for a perfect fit without special tricks. If you wanted to get the helicopter's skids with good alignment, you'd need very accurate pivots indeed, but I think most people just want to erase those out.

[PhotoShip One]

Here is the mini-ring as of now. direct digital servo drive on roll with an effective 3.75:1 reduction. Allows for about 45-50 degrees total roll. Gyro stabilization in heading hold or normal mode should be acceptable. Weight as shown in pics below is 7.0 ounces (198 grams)

The large ring will be driven via cogged pulley and teeth on the ring and will provide 180 degrees total of roll.

I'll be working on the outer pan/tilt portion of the mini-ring next.

[Tabbytabb]

IMO the ring is unnecessary. If you can create a simple camera plate that can tilt +-20 degrees and it makes your life easier as a designer it does not make any differnecet to me. I have only had to use 360 roll one time and the end result was really bad IMO.

The ring does look cool though!

[PhotoShip One]

A rotating camera plate would make things easier (a la Photohigher gimbal) but you lose the ability to roll the camera through the lens centerline. Not entirely important I suppose but I prefer to rotate all axis through one central point if possible.

Regarding portait photos with the mini-gimbal. Easy... I can make a mounting point 90 degrees to the side for the pushrod. Just pop the pushrod off, rotate the gimbal 90 degrees, then snap it back on. Portrait shooting in no time.

[PhotoShip One]

1st mini gimbal prototype complete. 5:1 gear reduction on pan, direct drive on tilt, and direct drive 3.75:1 reduction on roll. As with the Aerio X gimbal, this can be configured with dual or single tilt servos, although after I do testing it may not be necessary for dual if the Hyperion DS16 servo is up to the task

Weight as shown not including the mounting arm is 13.5 ounces. My calculated weight projections were almost dead on. Weight with the aluminum/carbon mounting arm is 16 ounces even.

I know you guys are wondering about cost. I'm going to work out the materials and manufacturing costs later this week or early next week.

[Tabbytabb]

Do you sleep? Seriously nice job and I love to see how fast you brought this to a prototype.

[SeismicCWave]

>>Do you sleep?<<

I don't think he does.

>>you lose the ability to roll the camera through the lens centerline.<<

How are you going to do that? You will have to make the camera mounting plate very adjustable to accommodate different camera height.

So the ring is compatible with the 2XPT gimbal, correct? How much for the ring? I am just about ready for one.

[PhotoShip One]

me sleep? are you kidding! Irish Coffee in the morning at 7am, open up my CAD program, knock out a few drawings, eat a good lunch, step into the shop and CNC a batch of prototype parts, then a quick jog or bike ride in the afternoon, after which I assemble prototype parts previously cut before lunch, followed later by a dirty vodka martini and evening conversation with my better half at about 8pm. Then back to the computer to do some 3D modeling and rendering which keeps me working until about 12am at which point I may make international phone calls to/from customers & suppliers (time difference) and in bed by 1am. Repeat the following day.

But I love every minute of it.

So the ring is compatible with the 2XPT gimbal, correct?

Yep! direct bolt on. Also works with the Aerio X as tilt/roll with the proper adapter plates. No idea on cost yet. Cost numbers to come.

[SeismicCWave]

>>evening conversation with my better half at about 8pm.<<

No sleep and manage to keep a better half. That's amazing!

>>No idea on cost yet. Cost numbers to come.<<

I will be waiting.;-)

[jffry7]

DJ you rock

This ring looks great..Considering that you were able to finish and prototype in a short period.

[makiedog]

DJ, you're a prototyping beast!

The tilt axis is coupled directly to the servo with no gear reduction?

[rerazor]

Please test with the DJI gimbal stab. ASAP!!! Its waiting for you...................~

[Hangerash]

Think one of these will fit in that hole?

http://pro.jvc.com/pro/hm100/index.jsp

[PhotoShip One]

HM100 won't fit by a long shot. It's twice the size of typical consumer level HD camcorders.

The HM100 will have to wait for the large ring... or perhaps I should have a 3rd intermediate size ring that snugly fits DSLRs and cameras similar to the HM100.

3 rings? starting to sound like a circus!

[Hangerash]

What would be the max height and width dimensions that the opening would accommodate?

[PhotoShip One]

The ring shown in this post is 4.75" wide by 3.875" tall (inside dimensions). it is not large enough to fit a Lumix LX3 point and shoot camera so I am going to increase the overall inside size by about .625".