Learning to fly......the Merlin at DVinfo.net

Marcus Martell · March 12th, 2012, 01:13 PM

Any suggestions are highly appreciated! I m sure i Have to bilance
It well
La Valle test on Vimeo

Marcus Martell · March 12th, 2012, 04:47 PM

Hope my idol Charles pops up to give me suggestions
;)

Enrique Orozco Robles · March 12th, 2012, 07:27 PM

great stuff.... what camera are you using ?

Marcus Martell · March 13th, 2012, 02:53 AM

550d and d5100

Buba Kastorski · March 13th, 2012, 12:44 PM

hey Marcus, slow down a little, and you're a bit bottom heavy

Marcus Martell · March 13th, 2012, 02:25 PM

Buba i m learning so your suggestion are highly appreciated!
So u suggest to:

- don t run and slow down a little

- bottom heavy, so i should turn a gimbal in clockwise side? What exactly affect this?

Many thanks

Todd Mizomi · March 13th, 2012, 04:21 PM

Nice! Great location as well.

I dd a similar test a while ago with the Merlin and my 7D.

In the video I listed the settings I used on the Merlin. I know its not an exact match to your setup but it might give you some ideas. I'm still getting used to flyng it myself.

Marcus Martell · March 14th, 2012, 05:12 AM

Nice! I liked it on vimeo

Buba Kastorski · March 15th, 2012, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Martell

- bottom heavy, so i should turn a gimbal in clockwise side? What exactly affect this?

it's hard to tell without holding the unit, but i think just turning the gimbal is not enough, cuz that's a very fine adjustment, what i mean your drop time is probably less than 2 seconds and being a bit bottom heavy shows right away, keep your drop time 2 seconds at least, and to get that either add weight on top, or turning adjustment knob shorted the distance between bottom weight and the mounting plate.

Marcus Martell · March 17th, 2012, 02:05 PM

Guys many Thx to your precious suggestion....
I ll try to shoot a video framing the Merlin with the camera on and i ll show you the drop time test.... I m sure i m doing something wrong over there....
Is it ok for u?

Charles Papert · March 17th, 2012, 02:19 PM

Hi Marcus: sadly, I'm a bit of a hack with the Merlin, as are many big-rig operators. It's so damn delicate! Kind of like: a real helicopter pilot won't automatically be a good RC helicopter pilot, ya know?

Your video wasn't accessible so I can't give any notes, but I always recommend fliers of any kind of gimballed stabilizer to buy the Steadicam Operator's Handbook, because most of the techniques therein are applicable to any rig.

It's a long process to get it down. Patience is key. As Buba says, move slowly and get a feel for the delicacy first. Put a tape cross on the wall and walk towards it slowly, then back away. Far more enlightening that following human beings.

Marcus Martell · March 17th, 2012, 04:11 PM

Hola Charles aka the michael Jordan of the steadicam,

Thx for taking time to help me! First steps with a small steadicam like the Merlin and i want to learn the basics.... Unfortunately i can t afford a workshop in this bad period.... But i ll buy the book 4 sure!
Just checked the video on vimeo and plays fine !

March 12th, 2012, 01:13 PM	#1
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Learning to fly......the Merlin Any suggestions are highly appreciated! I m sure i Have to bilance It well La Valle test on Vimeo

March 12th, 2012, 04:47 PM	#2
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Hope my idol Charles pops up to give me suggestions ;)

March 12th, 2012, 07:27 PM	#3
Enrique Orozco Robles Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chihuahua MEXICO Posts: 146	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin great stuff.... what camera are you using ? __________________ Enrique Orozco - Sony/JVC/Nikon/Panny cams, DJI/Yuneec drones, VegasPro www.aerofilm.com.mx

March 13th, 2012, 02:53 AM	#4
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin 550d and d5100

March 13th, 2012, 12:44 PM	#5
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin hey Marcus, slow down a little, and you're a bit bottom heavy __________________ I love this place!

March 13th, 2012, 02:25 PM	#6
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Buba i m learning so your suggestion are highly appreciated! So u suggest to: - don t run and slow down a little - bottom heavy, so i should turn a gimbal in clockwise side? What exactly affect this? Many thanks

March 13th, 2012, 04:21 PM	#7
Todd Mizomi Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maui, Hawaii Posts: 141	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Nice! Great location as well. I dd a similar test a while ago with the Merlin and my 7D. Canon 7D / Steadicam Merlin Test Flight on Vimeo In the video I listed the settings I used on the Merlin. I know its not an exact match to your setup but it might give you some ideas. I'm still getting used to flyng it myself. __________________ Todd Mizomi Photographer/Videographer/Editor/Computer Guy Island Production Group Maui, Hawaii

March 14th, 2012, 05:12 AM	#8
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Nice! I liked it on vimeo

March 17th, 2012, 02:05 PM	#10
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Guys many Thx to your precious suggestion.... I ll try to shoot a video framing the Merlin with the camera on and i ll show you the drop time test.... I m sure i m doing something wrong over there.... Is it ok for u?

March 17th, 2012, 02:19 PM	#11
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Hi Marcus: sadly, I'm a bit of a hack with the Merlin, as are many big-rig operators. It's so damn delicate! Kind of like: a real helicopter pilot won't automatically be a good RC helicopter pilot, ya know? Your video wasn't accessible so I can't give any notes, but I always recommend fliers of any kind of gimballed stabilizer to buy the Steadicam Operator's Handbook, because most of the techniques therein are applicable to any rig. It's a long process to get it down. Patience is key. As Buba says, move slowly and get a feel for the delicacy first. Put a tape cross on the wall and walk towards it slowly, then back away. Far more enlightening that following human beings. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

March 17th, 2012, 04:11 PM	#12
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Re: Learning to fly......the Merlin Hola Charles aka the michael Jordan of the steadicam, Thx for taking time to help me! First steps with a small steadicam like the Merlin and i want to learn the basics.... Unfortunately i can t afford a workshop in this bad period.... But i ll buy the book 4 sure! Just checked the video on vimeo and plays fine !