Steadicam merlin issue!! possibly broke! at DVinfo.net

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 9th, 2006, 12:42 PM

ok so i got this merlin right, i'm using dvx 100a with a 9hr battery.

i was setting it up last friday, and i noticed something fishy after a little while of me getting it ready for the camera. The Front Trim Line( the silver threaded piece that the front trim is attached to keeeps on sliding left and right between the plastic housing). Now, i dont think thats supposed to happen, i can grab the gimbal grip and just slide the gimbal left and right as i please, it is not secured in the middle as i belive it should.

Each time i adjust the trim to the place hwere its ballanced, i slightly move my hand and the grip slides to one side, throwing hte camera off.

I'm going to get it looked at tomorrow, but if anyone who has one now can just doulbe check for me if their does the same thing, wich i dont belive it does. Can u get back to this thread.

thanx

Mikko Wilson · January 9th, 2006, 04:02 PM

Can you post or e-mail me a picture of the part in question?

I'm having trouble picturing which part has the problem.

- Mikko

Leigh Wanstead · January 9th, 2006, 04:15 PM

I think best is to post a video to demo the issue.

Regards
Leigh

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 9th, 2006, 04:50 PM

video link pulled, appears that the screws were loose and its fixed , thanx to all

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 9th, 2006, 10:19 PM

it appears that no one on this board has one of these units.....come on ppl...heheh gimme somethin' here

James Emory · January 9th, 2006, 10:56 PM

I love it. That is the first time I have seen someone post video showing an issue. So much more detail can be covered that way instead of just text and stills. Looks like the play in that is going to cause you alot of headaches.

Jeff Moravec · January 9th, 2006, 10:59 PM

I have one, and that piece should not slide back and forth. I don't know what might be causing it to move -- are those two Philips head screws loose? The only problem with mine is that the lever that holds the dovetail plate tight needs an occasional tightening with a screwdriver. But a minor problem.

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 9th, 2006, 11:05 PM

nothing is loose....i didnt tighten nothing or unscrewd anything, its under warranty....i just think that for that kind of money, this shoudlnt really happen...plus on the first day of setting it up..come on!!!

ill be taking the link down in a day, anyway, on tuesday i will get it hopefully taken care off.

Mikko Wilson · January 9th, 2006, 11:22 PM

Saturnin,
EXCELENT video!

The good news is that it's not "broken" per say, but no that should not happen.

It is probably as a simple fix of a loose part.

First sugestion is to indeed check that those two philips screws on the bottom of the stage. As you can see, they clamp down around the end of that rod and should hold it in place. Tightening them should fix the problem.

- Mikko

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 10th, 2006, 01:09 AM

thanx Miko..that did the job.......

Mikko Wilson · January 10th, 2006, 02:38 AM

Good to hear it's working.
Seems like there has been a minor issue with that before. Suposedly Tiffen is looking into it. Thankfully it's not a big deal. :-)

Can you give us some of your impresions of the Merlin?
...oh oh, and video is always good too!

- Mikko

Jim March · January 10th, 2006, 10:02 AM

I had the same problem. I highly recommend checking all of the screws on the Merlin.

I found several that were loose, one of which holds the "switch" on the stage that secures the stage to the base.

This allowed me to slide the camcorder back on forth on the base while the switch was supposed to be locking it down.

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 10th, 2006, 11:10 AM

yah..i will get some video when my ankle gets better.....right now i'm hopping around on one foot..lol
cheers

Charles Papert · January 10th, 2006, 11:13 AM

Saturnin:

Perhaps the two screws under the ankle are loose, try tightening...!

Seriously though--I can commiserate as a severe ankle injury took me out of operating Steadicam for five months last year. Baby that baby!

Saturnin Kondratiew · January 10th, 2006, 11:48 AM

fractured fibula....pain in the ass, i tell ya...

January 9th, 2006, 12:42 PM	#1
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	Steadicam merlin issue!! possibly broke! ok so i got this merlin right, i'm using dvx 100a with a 9hr battery. i was setting it up last friday, and i noticed something fishy after a little while of me getting it ready for the camera. The Front Trim Line( the silver threaded piece that the front trim is attached to keeeps on sliding left and right between the plastic housing). Now, i dont think thats supposed to happen, i can grab the gimbal grip and just slide the gimbal left and right as i please, it is not secured in the middle as i belive it should. Each time i adjust the trim to the place hwere its ballanced, i slightly move my hand and the grip slides to one side, throwing hte camera off. I'm going to get it looked at tomorrow, but if anyone who has one now can just doulbe check for me if their does the same thing, wich i dont belive it does. Can u get back to this thread. thanx __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

January 9th, 2006, 04:02 PM	#2
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Can you post or e-mail me a picture of the part in question? I'm having trouble picturing which part has the problem. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com Last edited by Mikko Wilson; January 9th, 2006 at 04:33 PM.

January 9th, 2006, 04:50 PM	#4
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	video link pulled, appears that the screws were loose and its fixed , thanx to all __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com Last edited by Saturnin Kondratiew; January 10th, 2006 at 01:09 AM.

January 9th, 2006, 10:19 PM	#5
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	it appears that no one on this board has one of these units.....come on ppl...heheh gimme somethin' here __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

January 9th, 2006, 11:05 PM	#8
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	nothing is loose....i didnt tighten nothing or unscrewd anything, its under warranty....i just think that for that kind of money, this shoudlnt really happen...plus on the first day of setting it up..come on!!! ill be taking the link down in a day, anyway, on tuesday i will get it hopefully taken care off. __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

January 9th, 2006, 04:15 PM	#3
Leigh Wanstead Trustee Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NZ Posts: 1,276	I think best is to post a video to demo the issue. Regards Leigh

January 9th, 2006, 10:56 PM	#6
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	I love it. That is the first time I have seen someone post video showing an issue. So much more detail can be covered that way instead of just text and stills. Looks like the play in that is going to cause you alot of headaches.

January 9th, 2006, 10:59 PM	#7
Jeff Moravec Tourist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 3	I have one, and that piece should not slide back and forth. I don't know what might be causing it to move -- are those two Philips head screws loose? The only problem with mine is that the lever that holds the dovetail plate tight needs an occasional tightening with a screwdriver. But a minor problem.

January 9th, 2006, 11:22 PM	#9
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Saturnin, EXCELENT video! The good news is that it's not "broken" per say, but no that should not happen. It is probably as a simple fix of a loose part. First sugestion is to indeed check that those two philips screws on the bottom of the stage. As you can see, they clamp down around the end of that rod and should hold it in place. Tightening them should fix the problem. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com Last edited by Mikko Wilson; January 10th, 2006 at 02:44 AM.

January 10th, 2006, 01:09 AM	#10
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	thanx Miko..that did the job....... __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

January 10th, 2006, 02:38 AM	#11
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Good to hear it's working. Seems like there has been a minor issue with that before. Suposedly Tiffen is looking into it. Thankfully it's not a big deal. :-) Can you give us some of your impresions of the Merlin? ...oh oh, and video is always good too! - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

January 10th, 2006, 10:02 AM	#12
Jim March New Boot Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 11	I had the same problem. I highly recommend checking all of the screws on the Merlin. I found several that were loose, one of which holds the "switch" on the stage that secures the stage to the base. This allowed me to slide the camcorder back on forth on the base while the switch was supposed to be locking it down.

January 10th, 2006, 11:10 AM	#13
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	yah..i will get some video when my ankle gets better.....right now i'm hopping around on one foot..lol cheers __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com

January 10th, 2006, 11:13 AM	#14
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Saturnin: Perhaps the two screws under the ankle are loose, try tightening...! Seriously though--I can commiserate as a severe ankle injury took me out of operating Steadicam for five months last year. Baby that baby! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 10th, 2006, 11:48 AM	#15
Saturnin Kondratiew Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: vancouver Posts: 310	fractured fibula....pain in the ass, i tell ya... __________________ My documentaries - http://www.asphaltjunkiez.com