ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

9 years, 11 months ago - Anna Carrington

Try the following:

Attach the plate using hole M ( I found a small peice of gaffertape attached to my camrea near the hole allowed better grip of the plate)
On the top attach just one rounded weight
On the bottom attach 2 'normal' weights plus one rounded weight
Adjust the angle of the arm to around 31cm from camera to end weight

Now fine-tune until the camera is stable (e.g. not going off to the left, right, down or up).

I've tried different settings including making the rig less heavy (but using fewer weights) but although I could get it 'balanced' - it was so twitchy from being lighter I found the above easier to operate. Good luck.

Anna

9 years, 11 months ago - Eric C Y Young

Hi Holly

The Canon 7D Mk1 has a body weight of 820g, which is very close to the 5D Mk1 body weight of 810g, and they have similar dimensions. So look at the second entry down for the "5D+50mm 1.4" on the Tiffen Steadicam Merlin User Submitted Cookbook settings here:
http://www.merlincookbook.com/user.php

Hope that helps?

Good luck!
Eric

9 years, 11 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

I haven't looked, but there is bound to be zillions of Merlin set-up advice vids on youtube.

From what I recall, when I tried Merlins out some years back, they wearn't really worth the bother. You might want to consider selling it and getting a 3-axis gimbal,

9 years, 11 months ago - Anna Carrington

Oh I forgot to mention - the set up described earlier is what I use with a Canon 550D and Tamron 17mm-50mm lens - so probably similar in size and weight.

Anna

9 years, 11 months ago - Dave Young

Hi Holly
Sorry if this isn't the answer you want, but the very best way to learn how to use your Steadicam is to do the 2 day Bronze course run by Steadicam in Oxford. I did it last year and it's brilliant. You learn from the bottom up. There was a guy on the course who had been an op for 4 years who said he'd learned loads by the first tea break. Only 2hrs in to the course.
Steadicam takes a lifetime to master so it's worth learning the basics correctly.
On the plus side, I used my Steadicam for a 6hr stretch for a recent promo (on my website www.pidfilms.tv) without being over tired. Try doing that with a Romin or Movi!

9 years, 11 months ago - Dan Selakovich

Hi Holly, I've only monkeyed around with the Merlin at trade shows, but I really like it. What I've noticed is there are 2 places where people muck up: not getting the plate that attaches to the bottom of the camera in the right place. And 2, the arch adjustment that moves the counterweight toward or away from the gimbal. All of these things are a bitch to balance, but once you have it, you have it, as long as nothing changes (like a longer or shorter lens).