Sony Mirrorless Gimbal for SOLO Build Project

[jxo]

Sony Gimbal Project

Thanks to the gentleman at Nikon J5 mirrorless camera on 3Dr Solo - ch7 shutter

You’ve been indispensable in this effort to put decent still photo equipment on these drones. For the last 2+ years, I have been using fixed mounts (not tilting gimbals) for Sony Alpha series cameras. Started with GoPro-like plastic mounts that would not work and various 3d custom printed plastics mounts. In all cases these mounts did not stabilize the weight of the camera enough to keep the Solo from shaking and whining. Fatal to decent images; HDR brackets in particular. Carbon fiber bolted direct to the Solo body is the best solution to lock my Sony cameras down without any wiggle or movement; without doing so, the images are not usable except at extremely high shutter speeds.

The Sonys weigh 385 grams with a 16-50 zoom and 333 grams with a 16mm prime.

Not the purpose of this post, but I use a CamRemote (CR) camera control device. I have a few custom cables and a breakout board that plug into the Solo’s internal gimbal cable. I use one to pull power from the Solo gimbal cable to feed the CamRemote device. The CR device is mounted on the exterior of the Solo bodies. The CR is incredibly versatile and enables me to control shutter, aperture, shutter speed, ISO levels, power zoom, and hot video recording—all in the air. No need for me to go with another tool or Solo integration for triggering or shutter control. Mount and Camera Remote Control Options for Non-GoPro Cameras

The only thing (other than a battery that will last for 60 minutes) missing is a tilt-controlled gimbal. Being cooped up, I have some time and will start the project now. I have most of the materials: 2mm sheets of carbon fiber; glue; screws (for the gimbal and to mount to the drone body); CF cutting tools (Dremel and jigsaw); plastic and aluminum right angle corner braces.

APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE, THIS WILL THE FIRST OF MANY ASKS FOR HELP: I need to go with the necessary camera tilt servo and related cabling and accessories. How do these look?

• Tilt Servo Choice: JX PDI-2504MG 6V 0.1 sec 4.5kg core Metal Gear Digital Core Servo, found here: Amazon.com: JX PDI-2504MG 6V 0.1 sec 4.5kg core Metal Gear Digital Core Servo for RC 450 500 Helicopter Fixed-Wing Airplane 1/18 car Remo Hobby Smax wltoys 12428: Toys & Games
• 180 degree servo Stretcher (for full 90 degree movement): 180° Servo Stretcher: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
• Cabling: it is not clear to me from Makatanav’s posts exactly how the tilt servo is wired to the Solo (for power and tilt control). Suggestions here would be appreciated givnen I am already tapping power from the gimbal cable. LV 3DR Photo Drone

So that’s it, POST 1. Any advice on the tilt servo choice? The 180 Stretcher? Additional wiring options?

Best,

Jim

 

[makatanav]

looking forward ?
@jimloss is also on Sony ML setup on his 3DR

p.s. what was your shutter speeds for photo?

 

[jxo]

looking forward ?
@jimloss is also on Sony ML setup on his 3DR

p.s. what was your shutter speeds for photo?

How do the linked servo and expander/stretcher look? Will order the parts tomorrow if these will work.

 

[jimloss]

How do the linked servo and expander/stretcher look? Will order the parts tomorrow if these will work.

Interesting that you selected that servo - that's the servo that I purchased for that next gimbal that I was building. Also interested to hear what anyone else thinks of it, but I'm going a different direction now. I've learned to dislike servos because they don't have a fluid motion. I'm looking to use old Solo gimbal boards and one of the gimbal motors to use for stabilizing and tilting. Now if I can just find the time to finish!

 

[makatanav]

Interesting that you selected that servo - that's the servo that I purchased for that next gimbal that I was building. Also interested to hear what anyone else thinks of it, but I'm going a different direction now. I've learned to dislike servos because they don't have a fluid motion. I'm looking to use old Solo gimbal boards and one of the gimbal motors to use for stabilizing and tilting. Now if I can just find the time to finish!

the question is will they work with extra weight of Sony ML?
for now I can shoot with servo tilt and get good results if not high winds + can sacrifise higher shutter speeds (1/800sec) doe good light, but...
I`ll be building brushless gimbal to gain stablization, got lower shutter speeds, ISO, increase aperature, but not for now - just finished power module and buttery mode - need to setle down a litle bit and smoothen up curent setup

 

[jimloss]

the question is will they work with extra weight of Sony ML?
for now I can shoot with servo tilt and get good results if not high winds + can sacrifise higher shutter speeds (1/800sec) doe good light, but...
I`ll be building brushless gimbal to gain stablization, got lower shutter speeds, ISO, increase aperature, but not for now - just finished power module and buttery mode - need to setle down a litle bit and smoothen up curent setup

The servo that I use today is smaller (MG90D), yet works and has held up. It did not require any adjustment to get over 90 degrees of travel. My hope in using the JX PDI-2504MG was to smooth out the movement a little more. @jxo - I can test travel of this servo later this week if you would like.

By careful placement of the pivot point with lens fully extended the amount of force on the servo is minimal. @jxo - make sure to test your pivot point so that the camera is balanced, whether pointing straight ahead or down, before you mount the servo. With the stock lens, the bottom of the camera will be about 1 1/16" below the hinge point and the camera's tripod mount socket 25/32" behind the pivot point.

Keeping weight to a minimum, centering below, and as close to the Solo body as possible is important to keep the Solo stable to improve flight and picture quality.

I like low ISO and shutter speeds, but this is very difficult with all the movement and small vibrations of the Solo plus any vibrations introduced by a servo.

I agree that brushless is the way to go, but this can introduce more weight and size. I am considering brushless for pitch, and just using a hinge point for roll.

 

[jxo]

...- I can test travel of this servo later this week if you would like.

By careful placement of the pivot point with lens fully extended the amount of force on the servo is minimal.
...

Thanks, please do test and let me know what you conclude.

It may make sense to stick with the 16mm prime pancake lens with the gimbal and leave the zoom for a fixed mount. I rarely use the zoom on the 16-50 lens anyway and shoot at 16mm most of the time with the Sony. The pancake lens is well suited for this.

I may need some further design input before designing and cutting the carbon fiber frame.

 

[jxo]

...
] - I can test travel of this servo later this week if you would like.

Jimloss: any feedback on this servo? If you give it a thumbs up, I will place an order.

 

[jimloss]

Good news Jim. The 2504MG servo can travel 145 degrees on it's own. This gives you 90 degrees for tilt plus up to 27.5 degrees of travel at each end for stabilization without any modifications or additions to the servo. In addition, this servo has much more fluid movement than the smaller MG90D that I was using previously.

 

[jxo]

Good news Jim. The 2504MG servo can travel 145 degrees on it's own. This gives you 90 degrees for tilt plus up to 27.5 degrees of travel at each end for stabilization without any modifications or additions to the servo. In addition, this servo has much more fluid movement than the smaller MG90D that I was using previously.

awesome. the order will be placed soon.