Glide Gear DNA 5050 User manual

Glide Gear

DNA-5050

Set-up and Operations Handbook

GLIDE GEAR LLC

714 Seaboard Street #9B, Myrtle Beach SC 29577, USA

www.glidegear.net

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 Parts and Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Assembling your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Attaching your camera to your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Balancing your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Handling your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Operating your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Shooting Tips & Tricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Improper Handling Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Other Camera Attachment Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Professional Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Maintaining your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Introduction

Congratulations! You have in your hands the wonderfully advanced GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050,
our most advanced hand-held camera stabilizer.

With the cutting edge design and engineering of the GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 Camera
Stabilizer, hard to watch, shaky camera footage will be a thing of the past; now, you can
have beautifully smooth, professional quality footage.

The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 sports advanced features unique in its category of hand-held
camera stabilizers. As with all GLIDE GEAR Camera Stabilizers, recording devices mounted
on them will shoot smoothly, free from bumps, shakes, and other common disruptive
movements. Due to the balance and isolation it provides, the GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 will
give your devices a seemingly floating movement, free from any instability or shaking.

Now, you can perform all sorts of movements with your camera—pan, tilt, boom, and move
without any worries about maintaining balance and stability. The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050
works so amazingly that you can produce professional quality shots even in extreme
conditions such as going over rugged terrain or running up and down steps. When it can
perform that well under such conditions, you can just imagine how magical your output will be
when shooting normally, in natural walking speed or slow movement around a subject.

The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 features an offset, foam-wrapped, cushioned Handle Grip that
is connected to a free-floating, three-axis Gimbal. This is what allows the camera operator to
move it from side-to-side or up and down yet keep the camera stable; the camera is isolated
from all the movement. The Hand Grip and Gimbal together attenuate the bouncy, jumpy
movement that often results from the use of similar systems out in the market. This is because
our Handle Grip has been engineered to allow for vertical movement. This design element,
combined with the overall higher inertia of the GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 results in greater
stabilization especially in comparison to the competition.

Meanwhile, the patented precision three-axis Gimbal features multiple adjustable axis
convergence controls, which allows for the compound axes to intersect for correct alignment
during operation.

The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 is designed with a Camera Plate on its Camera-Mounting
Platform; this no-tools-required camera mount allows for a fast attachment and removal of
the camera. It has ergonomic Control Knobs for easy and accurate adjustment of the platform

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mount’s forward and backward, and sideways movement. These Control Knobs are how the
operator adjusts the camera’s horizontal balance.

An assortment of Counterweights is included with every GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050.
By modifying the amount of weight on the Base Platform or by adjusting the height of the
telescoping Central Post, the camera’s vertical balance can easily be fine-tuned. A properly
balanced camera on a GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 practically floats and is ready to get into the
thick of the action whenever you are.

The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 showcases features much sought-after by camera operators,
which are: exceptional control and maneuverability and ease of use—with its solid but
exceedingly adjustable control, weight, and balance distribution areas. Setting it up,
controlling it, and making adjustments on the system balance can now be done quickly and
with precision.

What allows for the easy adjustment of the system’s dynamic balance and its rotational pan
inertia is the exclusive dynamic Base Platform that can expand and contract depending on
the requirements. Whatever the shot and whatever the move, this camera stabilizer can bring
on that beautifully polished, professional output. With the GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050, tripods
and dollies become non-essentials; all you will need is to let your imagination and creativity
run free.

GLIDE GEAR continues to develop camera stabilization products for the modern enthusiast
and professional; continuing to push the envelope in design and manufacturing to ensure that
more and more can have access to them. This is also why it is fast becoming the choice of
this new generation. GLIDE GEAR now has a wide array of camera stabilizers, every one of
which is created to work best with specific camera equipment and shooting requirements.

To achieve professional quality results with GLIDE GEAR products, some practice and a good
understanding of the equipment is needed. Please read this manual through carefully before
setting up and using your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050. Reading the instructions, performing
the Setup and Operation steps in the correct order will not only lower the risk of possible
accidents that may cause damage to your equipment, it’ll also help you avoid frustration.

For further technical assistance, you may reach us at [e-mail]

or call our Technical Support Lines [phone] (US) and [phone] (UK).

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GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 Parts
and Components

Welcome to your GLIDE GEAR experience! With your
purchase of the GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 comes a whole
new perspective on shooting and creativity!

As you unpack your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050,
you will find the following components.

From the box:

• GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 Manual

• Central Post with Gimbal assembly

• Camera Plate

• Camera Mounting Platform

• Telescoping Post

• Base Platform

• Counterweight Plates

• Hardware bag

Tools for assembly:
Standard and Phillips head screwdrivers (not
included).

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1. The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 has a Central Post with the
Gimbal assembly attached.

IMPORTANT: Do not make any adjustments or attempt to
tighten the original factory settings on the Gimbal, handle,
and yoke. These parts need to be able to move freely and

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stay loose, exactly as they have been shipped to you.

2. These make up the head assembly of the
GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050. It includes:

• Camera Plate

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• Camera Mounting Platform

3. The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050’s Camera Plate is where the
camera is mounted. To take it out and release the plate quickly
from the head assembly, turn the knobs counterclockwise and
pull on them to release.

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4. The Camera Mounting Platform features forward and back­ward, and sideways movement adjustment knobs.

5. The Telescoping Post.

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6. The Base Platform.
This can expand to accommodate the Counterweights.

7. The GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 comes with hardware that
consists of:

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• 12 Counterweight Plates

• 4 Thumb Nuts

8. Hardware set for the GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050

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• 2 Weight Bolts with Washers

• 2 Camera Mounting Screws

• 4 Metal Washers

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Assembling Your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050

10. Start with the Base Platform and the Telescoping Post.

11. Check the bottom one end of the Telescoping Post, it has
the threaded insert.

12. A threaded stud attached to the center of the Base Platform
is the connection point for the Telescoping Post. Screw in the
Telescoping Post securely to connect it to the Base Platform.

13. The Telescoping Post attached to the Base Platform should
look like image # 13.

14. Locate one pair of bolts and attach their corresponding
washers from the hardware pack.

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15. Insert the bolts with their washers into the slots on the Base
Platform. Do this for both sides.

16. PROGRESS CHECK: your GLIDE GEAR DNA-5050 should
look like image #16.

17. Get the Counterweight Plates and slide them through the
bolts on the Base Platform. The holes in the Counterweight
Plates line up with the position of the bolts.

NOTE: Heavier cameras will need more counterweight than
lighter ones.

18. Lock the Counterweight Plates in place with thumb nuts. Do
the same for the other stack on the other side of the Base Plat­form.

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