Merlin-type support v. Fig Rig - your experience

Nigel Barker · August 30th, 2010, 08:00 AM

Philip,

I already have a Manfrotto 562B monopod which is great & a real Steadicam Merlin but TBH the Merlin requires a lot of fiddling about to use (not to mention it's incredibly tiring on the back & arms unless you suit up in the arm & vest) & as I only ever use it for shots of a few seconds I could get away with flying any cheap Steadicam knock-off that was not very well balanced or stable for a short time. For long takes the Merlin would be great but requires a more experienced operator than me to do it justice.

Thanks for your realism to temper my enthusiasm for yet another gadget:-) I would still like to hear from anyone who has handled one of these Steddiepods.

Philip Howells · August 30th, 2010, 08:24 AM

Nigel, so would I, not least because Manfrotto make a version with little feet but looks more basic - and why do you need a fluid head (which sounds very un-fluid when Barber describe it as "with springs") on a monopod? Manfrotto do one of those too but the guy at Calumet couldn't explain how it might be used.

Nigel Barker · August 30th, 2010, 08:57 AM

My Manfrotto monopod is the one with 3 little feet & has a fluid head that works only in the vertical plane i.e. it's used for tilting. The monopod pivots on a ball & socket joint that attaches the 3 little feet & above that there is a fluid damped joint that allows one to pan quite smoothly.

Chris Harding · September 2nd, 2010, 07:04 AM

Hi Guys

The SteddiePod feet are completely different to a monopods tiny little fold out feet!!! My Benro Pod also had tiny feet which allow you to keep the pod vertical but one would not dare put a camera on it!! Mine has the little feet removed and I have added a mic stand base to the bottom which gives me decent stability. Also you can use it as a sorta stedicam!!! Each leg has counter-balance weights at the very ends of the tube to provide some stability and with a simple swivel grip (a piece of PVC irrigation tube) you can run around with it.

There are a couple of demo movies on YouTube as well.

Chris

September 2nd, 2010, 07:04 AM	#19
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Hi Guys The SteddiePod feet are completely different to a monopods tiny little fold out feet!!! My Benro Pod also had tiny feet which allow you to keep the pod vertical but one would not dare put a camera on it!! Mine has the little feet removed and I have added a mic stand base to the bottom which gives me decent stability. Also you can use it as a sorta stedicam!!! Each leg has counter-balance weights at the very ends of the tube to provide some stability and with a simple swivel grip (a piece of PVC irrigation tube) you can run around with it. There are a couple of demo movies on YouTube as well. Chris Attached Images

August 30th, 2010, 08:00 AM	#16
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Philip, I already have a Manfrotto 562B monopod which is great & a real Steadicam Merlin but TBH the Merlin requires a lot of fiddling about to use (not to mention it's incredibly tiring on the back & arms unless you suit up in the arm & vest) & as I only ever use it for shots of a few seconds I could get away with flying any cheap Steadicam knock-off that was not very well balanced or stable for a short time. For long takes the Merlin would be great but requires a more experienced operator than me to do it justice. Thanks for your realism to temper my enthusiasm for yet another gadget:-) I would still like to hear from anyone who has handled one of these Steddiepods.

August 30th, 2010, 08:24 AM	#17
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	Nigel, so would I, not least because Manfrotto make a version with little feet but looks more basic - and why do you need a fluid head (which sounds very un-fluid when Barber describe it as "with springs") on a monopod? Manfrotto do one of those too but the guy at Calumet couldn't explain how it might be used.

August 30th, 2010, 08:57 AM	#18
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	My Manfrotto monopod is the one with 3 little feet & has a fluid head that works only in the vertical plane i.e. it's used for tilting. The monopod pivots on a ball & socket joint that attaches the 3 little feet & above that there is a fluid damped joint that allows one to pan quite smoothly.