Steadicam Merlin

Jeff Harper · February 11th, 2009, 10:28 AM

Tim, is your model with a plastic or metal gimbal?

Tim Akin · February 11th, 2009, 10:33 AM

Ok...gotcha Ethan. But I'll tell ya, if you add any more weight to that rig you will definitely want the vest, or use it in very short spurts.

Tim Akin · February 11th, 2009, 10:35 AM

I think it's plastic Jeff, but I'll look when I get home and let you know for sure.

Jeff Harper · February 11th, 2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Akin

Ok...gotcha Ethan. But I'll tell ya, if you add any more weight to that rig you will definitely want the vest, or use it in very short spurts.

I know you are right about that, Tim. Ten pounds or so held in that position, I can imagine I'd be good for maybe two minutes tops. If I do buy this thing, I will have to build strength and endurance in my arms to use it for any length of time. I imagine it would take some serious endurance to get even 4 minutes of smooth continuous shots with it.

I'll look forward to your reply about the metal vs plastic. Thanks for your helpfulness, Tim.

Blake Cavett · February 11th, 2009, 12:25 PM

It is my understanding the Merlin with a metal gimbal will hold up to 7 pounds. Double check that first before you start throwing weight at it!

I've used my Z1 with a big, thick battery on it with no issue. However, my forearms aren't like Popeye's so I recently bought a HV30 specifically for the Merlin.

Whew!

Ethan Cooper · February 11th, 2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake Cavett

It is my understanding the Merlin with a metal gimbal will hold up to 7 pounds. Double check that first before you start throwing weight at it!

I've used my Z1 with a big, thick battery on it with no issue. However, my forearms aren't like Popeye's so I recently bought a HV30 specifically for the Merlin.

Whew!

Since you've used both heavier and smaller cams with the Merlin I'd be interested to get your thoughts on the differences between the two.

I've found that smaller cameras are harder to control and tend to get a little more finicky than the larger cams. Your take?

Jeff Harper · February 11th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Blake I was thinking the same thing about getting an HV30 for use with the merlin. It would be a killer combination in a well lit environment, but Ethan puts a damper on that idea!

Ethan Cooper · February 11th, 2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Blake I was thinking the same thing about getting an HV30 for use with the merlin. It would be a killer combination in a well lit environment, but Ethan puts a damper on that idea!

I never said it was impossible, just that I find the little guys harder to fly. My uneducated theory is that it's a mass issue, the greater mass of the larger cams tends to hold them in place better and makes them slower to change direction. Keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and who knows what other's experiences are.

I'm also a pessimist and tend to put a damper on most ideas.

Jeff Harper · February 11th, 2009, 04:00 PM

I know that my heavier FX1000 is much better on tripod than my old 2100, the added weight really makes a difference.

Martin Duffy · February 11th, 2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

I know that my heavier FX1000 is much better on tripod than my old 2100, the added weight really makes a difference.

I'll back that up Jeff. That was the first thing I really liked about the 1000/Z5 was it's just beautiful on the tripod.

Seems weighted nicer than TRV900/VX2000 and Z1 on the legs.

Hey I had a mate in yesterday and showed him just how quickly my old TRV900 goes in and out of rec/pause back into record.

He was blown away.

This is just something I am going to have to accept with the FX.

I guess all cameras have their pitfalls and one has to just work around any issues but gee I still can't get over seeing a shot and not being able to record it.

Should have waited for a Z5 as I understand recording to the Compact Flash unit gets around this problem.

I think I read this correctly on a post a week or so ago.

If this is correct this therefore would mean that one would be recording more footage to Flash card and less to tape because recording to tape has the 2-4 second delay when doing a quick rec/pause/rec sequence.

Hope that makes sense.

Can anyone out there back that theory up?

Tim Akin · February 11th, 2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Tim, is your model with a plastic or metal gimbal?

It's plastic Jeff.

There's a Z1U with a 970 listed in the Merlin cookbook which gives the weight as 5.2lbs.

Here's the link: Welcome to Tiffen - Steadicam Merlin Cookbook Settings

Panasonic HVX-200 5.4lbs here: http://www.merlincookbook.com/user.php

Ken Ross · February 11th, 2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Duffy

Should have waited for a Z5 as I understand recording to the Compact Flash unit gets around this problem.

I think I read this correctly on a post a week or so ago.

If this is correct this therefore would mean that one would be recording more footage to Flash card and less to tape because recording to tape has the 2-4 second delay when doing a quick rec/pause/rec sequence.

Hope that makes sense.

Can anyone out there back that theory up?

Martin, I've got the Compact Flash Reader on order, but I'm pretty sure it elminates the delay since it starts a new file every time you hit record & stop. The Z5 has to be set to 'follow' as opposed to synchro if you use the Z5 without tape.

As far as the theory that you'd be able to record more to flash by eliminating the delay, it does make sense.

The Reader is really the major point for me going with the Z5 over the 1000. I think Sony really dropped the ball by not having external device control on the FX1000, but then again they may have thought that omission would sell more Z5s.

Jeff Harper · February 11th, 2009, 05:54 PM

Martin, I have regretted on more than one occasion I didn't hold out for a Z5. I was in a hurry and bought what I could afford at the time.

The advantages are too numerous.

The FX1000 will work out fine, but my third cam will be a pro model, whether it be a Z1 or Z5.

Jon McGuffin · February 11th, 2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

If I do buy this thing, I will have to build strength and endurance in my arms to use it for any length of time. I imagine it would take some serious endurance to get even 4 minutes of smooth continuous shots with it.

Sounds like a good excuse to get or use the gym membership. Who says being a videographer won't get you in shape! :-)

Jon McGuffin · February 11th, 2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

Martin, I have regretted on more than one occasion I didn't hold out for a Z5. I was in a hurry and bought what I could afford at the time.

The advantages are too numerous.

The FX1000 will work out fine, but my third cam will be a pro model, whether it be a Z1 or Z5.

Jeff, having used several FX1's and Z1's together, I can tell you that optically speaking, you I could absolutely not tell the difference in the footage taken. In other words, they are a perfect match to use as a set.

I have read that the FX1000 and the Z5 are in the same scenerio. Yes there are features on the Z5 that aren't on the FX1000 but from a visual perspective, those two should mate perfectly in a 2 camera shoot. So when considering your 2nd cam, I'd forget about a Z1 and go straight to the Z5...

Jon

February 11th, 2009, 10:33 AM	#17
Tim Akin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 414	Ok...gotcha Ethan. But I'll tell ya, if you add any more weight to that rig you will definitely want the vest, or use it in very short spurts. __________________ Tim

February 11th, 2009, 10:35 AM	#18
Tim Akin Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Newbern, TN Posts: 414	I think it's plastic Jeff, but I'll look when I get home and let you know for sure. __________________ Tim

February 11th, 2009, 10:28 AM	#16
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Tim, is your model with a plastic or metal gimbal?

February 11th, 2009, 12:25 PM	#20
Blake Cavett Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Madison Posts: 330	It is my understanding the Merlin with a metal gimbal will hold up to 7 pounds. Double check that first before you start throwing weight at it! I've used my Z1 with a big, thick battery on it with no issue. However, my forearms aren't like Popeye's so I recently bought a HV30 specifically for the Merlin. Whew!

February 11th, 2009, 03:15 PM	#22
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Blake I was thinking the same thing about getting an HV30 for use with the merlin. It would be a killer combination in a well lit environment, but Ethan puts a damper on that idea!

February 11th, 2009, 04:00 PM	#24
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	I know that my heavier FX1000 is much better on tripod than my old 2100, the added weight really makes a difference.

February 11th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#28
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Martin, I have regretted on more than one occasion I didn't hold out for a Z5. I was in a hurry and bought what I could afford at the time. The advantages are too numerous. The FX1000 will work out fine, but my third cam will be a pro model, whether it be a Z1 or Z5.