Glidecam 4000 VS Merlin for XHA1 at DVinfo.net

Tariq Peter · August 5th, 2007, 06:54 AM

Hi,

I have a glidecam 4000 and a XHA1 with a onboard light and a bigger battery. It is so heavy that my wrist wobbles I have even tried giving to to a friend of mine who is a Body builder and after a while it was hurting for him. A glidecam 4000 is not the way to go unless you have the vest. Now I have heard that the Merlin is easier because you can use two hands with it, has anybody tried it with a XHA1 is it ok for shoots that last around 20 mins?

Nick Tsamandanis · August 5th, 2007, 09:16 AM

For 20 mins I would need a shot of steroids.

Chris Klidonas · August 5th, 2007, 12:27 PM

get a vest, the camera and sled get heavy after a few minutes no matter who you are.

Nick Tsamandanis · August 5th, 2007, 06:42 PM

After a while, the blood stops circulating in the hand as well. You do need a vest system for a long shot.

Sean Seah · August 6th, 2007, 09:16 AM

I believe u need one hand to control the merlin as wel.. it should operate similarly like the glidecam..

Mikko Wilson · August 6th, 2007, 10:59 AM

Yeah, but with the Merlin, your control hand can also be used to carry the weight of the rig - you can't do that with a Glidecam.

Also, the Merlin is designed & built to place the weight over the operator's hand, not out to the side like the Glidecam does. The Glidecam places a lot of tourque on the operator's hand & wrist, which makes you tire out much faster than without any tourque as is the case with the Merlin.

- Mikko

August 5th, 2007, 06:54 AM	#1
Tariq Peter Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester England Posts: 435	Glidecam 4000 VS Merlin for XHA1 Hi, I have a glidecam 4000 and a XHA1 with a onboard light and a bigger battery. It is so heavy that my wrist wobbles I have even tried giving to to a friend of mine who is a Body builder and after a while it was hurting for him. A glidecam 4000 is not the way to go unless you have the vest. Now I have heard that the Merlin is easier because you can use two hands with it, has anybody tried it with a XHA1 is it ok for shoots that last around 20 mins?

August 5th, 2007, 09:16 AM	#2
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	For 20 mins I would need a shot of steroids. __________________ Nick

August 5th, 2007, 06:42 PM	#4
Nick Tsamandanis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 318	After a while, the blood stops circulating in the hand as well. You do need a vest system for a long shot. __________________ Nick

August 6th, 2007, 10:59 AM	#6
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Yeah, but with the Merlin, your control hand can also be used to carry the weight of the rig - you can't do that with a Glidecam. Also, the Merlin is designed & built to place the weight over the operator's hand, not out to the side like the Glidecam does. The Glidecam places a lot of tourque on the operator's hand & wrist, which makes you tire out much faster than without any tourque as is the case with the Merlin. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

August 5th, 2007, 12:27 PM	#3
Chris Klidonas Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NY, NY Posts: 129	get a vest, the camera and sled get heavy after a few minutes no matter who you are.

August 6th, 2007, 09:16 AM	#5
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	I believe u need one hand to control the merlin as wel.. it should operate similarly like the glidecam..