I'm debating getting a Merlin myself, and this vest certainly seems like a great way to get a budget steadicam system for myself without having to sell my car! What I'm wondering is if I should invest in a Merlin soon (can't really drop $800 at the moment on one) or wait till the vest/arm comes out.

Is there a possibility there will be a bundle for it, at perhaps a reduced price? I don't have a real need for the Merlin yet, so if there's a realistic chance it may drop in price or come cheaper bundled it'd be worth the wait. Any thoughts on that?

..........I don't have a real need for the Merlin yet.......
Well then, this is the perfect time to buy a Merlin. Buying one when you need it is too late. There's a bit of a learning curve to get proficient to a professional level -- weeks or even months -- so buying a Merlin just before the event is not a good plan.

A price drop is always possible, but so is a price increase. Bundled deal? Who knows. I'd like to think current registered Merlin owners would get a discount on the vest & arm as a reward for being loyal customers and walking advertisements.

Look at it this way: Just plucking numbers from the sky, would it be easier to spend $1,300 a year from now, or, $800 now and be able to use the Merlin for 12 months, and $500* next year for a vest & arm? (*Just a WAG).

Tom,
I know that $1300 price you mentioned was a total guess, but it just seems too low to me.
Surely the arm and vest can't come in for anything under $2000. Possibly $2500 including the Merlin as a bundle? I'm just guessing too though.

...I know that $1300 price you mentioned was a total guess...
More like wishful thinking on my part.

Yep, another quesiton about the vest/arm combo. From what I have seen and read about the Merlin, it's not designed to support a video monitor (unlike the Steadicam Jr). Now, with my XH-A1 I'm sure I can just use the pop-out viewer, but I'm curious about the vest/arm. I know many lower end steady rigs have the ability to place a monitor on them, allowing the cameraman to focus on this rather than following the camera with his eyes. Is this going to be possible with Merlin's?

This may end up becoming an important factor in whether I invest in one or not, because from what small experience I have had watching people use stabilizers, they rely on those monitors a good deal. I'd prefer the option of a monitor, even if it's a bigger price jump, because as nice as the viewfinder is on the AI, I can't imagine it'd be convenient to use it in combination with the kinds of movements I'd want to use with the Merlin/vest/arm.

Any information on this guys?

I believe it will indeed be possible. I will enquire about this with the appropriate folks.

Thanks very much Charles! Part of the reason I'm leaning towards the Merlin combo is the price (I assume it will be collectively cheaper than the bigger rigs) and the ability to have a hand held stabilizer if the situation calls for that instead of a full rig. If a monitor is included or at least supported, that'd be perfect! Too abd we don't have a price estimate/release date yet ;)

There is a Monitor development for the Merlin.

It will mount in place of the front weight - in a similar place to the JR's monitor.

It will work in both handheld and "arm/vest" mode.


That's about all I know.

- Mikko

It seems like $2500-3500 would be the ideal price range for a Merlin with Vest/Arm. Much more, then I might as well get a Flyer and possibly use it with a future, heavier camera (Red maybe, or XDCAM HD).

I have grown frustrated with my Glidecam V-8. I have a very non-linear gimbal, thanks for the terminology Charles! And desiring something that will set up and tear down quicker, I'm seriously considering the Merlin. Until the arm and vest comes out I might try rig up a way to use my Glidecam arm and vest with the Merlin. Even with the Merlin Arm I'd probably try to use my Glidecam vest, it seems more substantial and has buckles. It would take a trip to the machine shop since the Glidecam mounts on the opposite side the Merlin does.

The Smooth Shooter socket assembly on the vest can be mounted on either the right or the left...not sure if the Merlin will also have this flexibility (think so) but in any event they could likely be interchanged via the mounting points on the center spar of the vest. This would likely require drilling some new holes, so you would be doing so at your own risk!

I thought the Merlin vest was possibly underbuilt in the same way you describe (substance & lack of buckle fasteners) but Garrett assures me that he considers these to be positive attributes, and having spent only a short time in the rig I will take his word on this.

A colleague and I tried the Merlin with an A1 and a Z1. It shone in it's precision alignment tools; we concentrated on the A1 but I wish we'd spent more time getting to know how the Z1 works on the Merlin.

The Merlin's got a max weight - so what can I put on a Z1 before it tops out?

- Polarizer behind the standard Sony lens shade
- NP-970 battery
- Sennheiser G2 reciever on the shoe mount
- As above somewhere else?
- Anyone tried a Century Optics 0.7 adaptor? :)

Yes, I'm pushing it. Ideally, I'd want a rig that will fly a Z1 with Sanken CS-1 with Dead Cat, a Sennheiser G2 reciever on the shoe, a Century Optics 0.7 and of course an NP-970 off the back. Horribly front heavy. But I guess this Flyer territory?

Anyone used a LANC remote zoom on a flown Z1?

Or maybe let's back track it - what's the max Z1 config a Merlin can fly?

The Z1 is getting towards the top of Merlin's weight range.

The battery should work.
The Filter should be fine.
Not sure about both filter and battery together.
The 0.7x WA lens would most likly be too heavy.

The G2 would be too heavy up top, but you could mount it down at the bottom of Merlin in place of some of the counterweights. The best way to do with would be using the Merlin accessory plate. www.jimfarrell.com/merlin
It's available from B&H here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=445745&is=REG&addedTroughType=search


- Mikko

The G2 would be too heavy up top, but...

Now, that is *great* info - thanks, Mikko. :)

It brings into mind an interview I saw on macvideo.tv with Garret Brown - it concludes that the Meriln is a platform he created to do things he wanted to do with the bigger rigs, but with smaller cameras. There was the implied message that the Merlin platform wasn't finished yet.

Maybe the Merlin/V1 is a match made in heaven, but good to know that a Z1 can still do sound whilst being flown.

Yeah, Garrett is far from done developing the extended Merlin system. The arm and vest annouced in this thread attest to that, and there's more to come I'm sure.

- Mikko

That was a great interview with Mr. Brown! Seeing the master use the Merlin in motion (as well as the old clips of Steadicams) was pretty awe inspiring. It certainly makes me excited to invest in one for me XH-A1. I just hope they don't come out with a Merlin 2 any time soon after that! ;)

Byron:

I've just done some flying with the A1 on an instructional video and can report that it is a lovely combo, although be careful if you intend to load up the camera with accessories (I flew the stock camera by itself).

Great interview indeed. It's been a whopping 22 years for me since I first heard the man speak about Steadicam but it's always worth sitting down and hearing more!

That was a great interview with Mr. Brown! Seeing the master use the Merlin in motion (as well as the old clips of Steadicams) was pretty awe inspiring. It certainly makes me excited to invest in one for me XH-A1. I just hope they don't come out with a Merlin 2 any time soon after that! ;)

May I ask what interview you are talking about? Is there a link?

Thanks!
Peter

As listed on Matt's post above, it is viewable at macvideo.tv.

Thanks for making it clear to me, Charles ;)

The Smooth Shooter socket assembly on the vest can be mounted on either the right or the left...not sure if the Merlin will also have this flexibility (think so) but in any event they could likely be interchanged via the mounting points on the center spar of the vest. This would likely require drilling some new holes, so you would be doing so at your own risk!

I thought the Merlin vest was possibly underbuilt in the same way you describe (substance & lack of buckle fasteners) but Garrett assures me that he considers these to be positive attributes, and having spent only a short time in the rig I will take his word on this.

Yes the merlin socket can be left or right. I flipped mine from the left to the right. I was somewhat concerned with the buckless configuration, but the smaller size (for travel) and the comfort of the vest could make up for lak of buckles.

I guess we'll have to wait for NAB... but has anyone heard the cost of the vest, etc...

The Merlin is less than $800 bucks at a dvi dealer... no vest...

Yeah, Garrett is far from done developing the extended Merlin system. The arm and vest annouced in this thread attest to that, and there's more to come I'm sure.

- Mikko

But with a vest and arm coming out, what more could they make?

I could think of a few things... :)


- Mikko

Like a monitor (as I believe was mentioned) or perhaps a car mount! Heheh.

I have heard about some of things being dreamed and schemed for this platform and they are very exciting and innovative.