A1 mounted on Merlin. Vibrations while walking at DVinfo.net

Josh Swan · July 10th, 2009, 12:50 PM

Anyone else having problems with an A1 on the Merlin and experiencing jittery footage due to vibrations while walking?
No matter what I've tried, there seems to be a slight movement of the cam, on the Merlin, to cause jittery footage while walking.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My setup is a stock A1, BP-945 Battery. The Screw is touching between the focus and zoom ring.

Thanks

Josh Swan · July 14th, 2009, 11:30 AM

Guess I just have a bad Merlin?

Steve Winters · July 14th, 2009, 11:49 AM

OIS disabled?

Paul Mailath · July 14th, 2009, 04:58 PM

are you saying the the shock from your footsteps is showing up in the footage?

If so It may be the way you're walking. I'm around the 100k and have a large stride which translates into very heavy footsteps and jittery footage (Godzilla's POV) - I'm still working at it, smaller footsteps, the groucho Marx walk - I think (I hope) it;s just a matter of practice, practice, practice.

Richard Gooderick · July 14th, 2009, 05:11 PM

Steve Winter's suggestions sounds like the best guess to me.

Josh Swan · July 16th, 2009, 12:40 PM

yes OIS is disbled.
I'll try different walking techniques, but I've seen footage with people running while getting really good footage with these, so it makes me wonder how I would be walking too hard.

Buba Kastorski · July 16th, 2009, 01:11 PM

No, it's not "bad" Merlin,
do you have "gezornenplatz" screw in place?
with larger cameras it helps before you'll learn how to walk :)

Richard Gooderick · July 16th, 2009, 01:16 PM

This is difficult to figure out.
If you hold the plate still, can you move the camera ie is there any play?
I don't see how you can introduce vibrations whilst walking. Movement but not vibration.

Paul Mailath · July 16th, 2009, 03:05 PM

maybe some footage would help - then we can see exactly what you're talking about

Jack Walker · July 16th, 2009, 10:06 PM

Keep the arm and shoulder holding the Merlin relaxed.

Instead of taking steps, walk in a continuous, unbroken relaxed movement cycle.

Without the Merlin, practice walking in smooth slow motion, controlling the muscles in a very relaxed way. It will be difficult at first, but improvement here will show in the Merlin later.

Josh Swan · July 17th, 2009, 06:25 AM

Buba- I do have the g-platz screw in place. It's touching between the zoom ring and the aperture ring.

Richard- there is no play while holding the plate. The plate flexes a tiny bit, but it's mounted on the cam securely.

Paul- I'll try to post some footage.

Jack- Thanks. I'll try practicing walking this way.

Danny O'Neill · July 17th, 2009, 06:41 AM

You should be able to walk normally and have no problems. Vibrations are normally because something is loose.

Try asking on the steadicam forums in the newbies section or better yet contact Tiffen. their customer service is second to none both here in the UK and in the US. I had to get my pilot adjusted and was able to take it into my UK branch and they did it there and then.

Richard Gooderick · July 17th, 2009, 10:03 AM

One other thought.
I've seen the grub screws work loose on a Merlin that was rented out.
The screws I am referring to are the ones that hold the tubing of the curved arms to the mouldings that connect the tubes to the hinge.
Are any of these loose perhaps?

Josh Swan · July 17th, 2009, 03:53 PM

Grub screws were nice and tight. There seems to be a tiny bit of play in the joint where the arc adjustment knob is. It seems to be in the silver round channel that keeps each arc piece in position. In the locked position, if you grab the ends and try to move them together as if to touch the ends together, and then away from each other, I notice a bit of movement, and as in a bit, I mean just a little. I hope I explained that, so it made sense.

Richard Gooderick · July 20th, 2009, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Swan

Grub screws were nice and tight. There seems to be a tiny bit of play in the joint where the arc adjustment knob is. It seems to be in the silver round channel that keeps each arc piece in position. In the locked position, if you grab the ends and try to move them together as if to touch the ends together, and then away from each other, I notice a bit of movement, and as in a bit, I mean just a little. I hope I explained that, so it made sense.

There shouldn't be any movement when the lock is engaged. This could be the problem. I suggest calling the manufacturer or the retailer. It may need fixing.

July 10th, 2009, 12:50 PM	#1
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	A1 mounted on Merlin. Vibrations while walking Anyone else having problems with an A1 on the Merlin and experiencing jittery footage due to vibrations while walking? No matter what I've tried, there seems to be a slight movement of the cam, on the Merlin, to cause jittery footage while walking. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My setup is a stock A1, BP-945 Battery. The Screw is touching between the focus and zoom ring. Thanks

July 14th, 2009, 04:58 PM	#4
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	are you saying the the shock from your footsteps is showing up in the footage? If so It may be the way you're walking. I'm around the 100k and have a large stride which translates into very heavy footsteps and jittery footage (Godzilla's POV) - I'm still working at it, smaller footsteps, the groucho Marx walk - I think (I hope) it;s just a matter of practice, practice, practice. __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

July 14th, 2009, 05:11 PM	#5
Richard Gooderick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 795	Steve Winter's suggestions sounds like the best guess to me. __________________ http://www.gooderick.com

July 16th, 2009, 01:11 PM	#7
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	No, it's not "bad" Merlin, do you have "gezornenplatz" screw in place? with larger cameras it helps before you'll learn how to walk :) __________________ I love this place!

July 16th, 2009, 01:16 PM	#8
Richard Gooderick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 795	This is difficult to figure out. If you hold the plate still, can you move the camera ie is there any play? I don't see how you can introduce vibrations whilst walking. Movement but not vibration. __________________ http://www.gooderick.com

July 14th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#2
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	Guess I just have a bad Merlin?

July 14th, 2009, 11:49 AM	#3
Steve Winters New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 8	OIS disabled?

July 16th, 2009, 12:40 PM	#6
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	yes OIS is disbled. I'll try different walking techniques, but I've seen footage with people running while getting really good footage with these, so it makes me wonder how I would be walking too hard.

July 16th, 2009, 03:05 PM	#9
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	maybe some footage would help - then we can see exactly what you're talking about __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

July 16th, 2009, 10:06 PM	#10
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	Keep the arm and shoulder holding the Merlin relaxed. Instead of taking steps, walk in a continuous, unbroken relaxed movement cycle. Without the Merlin, practice walking in smooth slow motion, controlling the muscles in a very relaxed way. It will be difficult at first, but improvement here will show in the Merlin later.

July 17th, 2009, 06:25 AM	#11
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	Buba- I do have the g-platz screw in place. It's touching between the zoom ring and the aperture ring. Richard- there is no play while holding the plate. The plate flexes a tiny bit, but it's mounted on the cam securely. Paul- I'll try to post some footage. Jack- Thanks. I'll try practicing walking this way.

July 17th, 2009, 06:41 AM	#12
Danny O'Neill Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 915	You should be able to walk normally and have no problems. Vibrations are normally because something is loose. Try asking on the steadicam forums in the newbies section or better yet contact Tiffen. their customer service is second to none both here in the UK and in the US. I had to get my pilot adjusted and was able to take it into my UK branch and they did it there and then. __________________ mintyslippers.com

July 17th, 2009, 10:03 AM	#13
Richard Gooderick Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 795	One other thought. I've seen the grub screws work loose on a Merlin that was rented out. The screws I am referring to are the ones that hold the tubing of the curved arms to the mouldings that connect the tubes to the hinge. Are any of these loose perhaps? __________________ http://www.gooderick.com

July 17th, 2009, 03:53 PM	#14
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	Grub screws were nice and tight. There seems to be a tiny bit of play in the joint where the arc adjustment knob is. It seems to be in the silver round channel that keeps each arc piece in position. In the locked position, if you grab the ends and try to move them together as if to touch the ends together, and then away from each other, I notice a bit of movement, and as in a bit, I mean just a little. I hope I explained that, so it made sense.