# BALANCING
To achieve the best performance from the PIXY SM, proper balancing is necessary. Accurate balance is critical in shots where the gimbal will be subjected to extreme movements or accelerations. There are 3 axes that need to be precisely balanced prior to powering up the gimbal.
## MOUNTING THE CAMERA
Use a 1/4”-20 screw to secure the camera to the camera tray, then put the camera to the tilt cage.
## CAMERA CABLE CONNECTION
**Step 1:** connect to the CRTL port on Pixy SM.
**Step 2:** connect to the USB-C port and Hotshoe port on Sony A7R IV camera.
{% hint style="info" %}
*Note: make sure the Hotshoe connection is tighly.*
{% endhint %}
### TILT AXIS FRONTBACK BALANCE
When the proper front-back balance is achieved, the camera will stay level when you remove your hands.
1. Loosen the thumbscrew underneath the camera tray and the top bar knob. Then, gently slide the camera forward or backward until the tilt axis remains level.
2. Tighten the thumbscrew and knob to lock the camera and camera tray in position.
### TILT AXIS VERTICAL BALANCE
When the proper vertical balance is achieved, you can rotate the camera in any angle and it will stay at that position.
1. Rotate the tilt axis so that the lens is pointing upward.Then, loosen vertical adjustment thumbscrew, gently slide the camera mount crossbar forward and backward until the camera remains pointing upward when released.
2. Tighten the thumbscrew. Sometimes, the vertical balance could not be achieved, the front-back balance should be re-checked in this case.
### ROLL AXIS BALANCE
When the proper left-right roll balance is achieved, the camera will stay level when you remove your hands.
1. Loosen the thumbscrew underneath the roll bar, then gently slide the roll bar left or right until roll axis remains level.
2. Tighten the thumbscrew to lock the roll bar in position.
### PAN AXIS BALANCE
Tilt the gimbal about 20 degrees from the verticality, identify if the gimbal is front heavy or back heavy. Slide the pan axis slider until the camera does not swing.
1. Loosen the thumbscrew, then gently slide the pan axis slider backward/forward until it doesn’t swing and stay at any given position when released.
2. Tighten the thumbscrew to make sure pan axis slider is locked in position.
