March 10th, 2006, 08:49 AM | #31 |
Major Player
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Somerville, MA
Posts: 360
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For you folks who have been using these devices with a PD-170 type camera, what would you say about the fatigue factor. I'm talking about wedding use where it has to be hand-held with no robo extension arm contraptions. Does it require longer stays at the gym?
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March 10th, 2006, 09:36 AM | #32 |
Major Player
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 302
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I'm not sure how heavy the PD170 is, I'm using it with a DVX100a. That's at the top end of what the Merlin will handle, so I end up at a total weight of over ten pounds. It doesn't sound like a needing the gym weight, but the first time I did a 4 hour afternoon with it I woke up the next day wondering why I was so stiff. It got better after a while though.
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March 10th, 2006, 10:30 AM | #33 | |
Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rego Park , NYC
Posts: 665
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Quote:
You aren't always going to be in "flying mode". The beauty of the JR and Merlin is that it can be folded/collapsed to enter shoulder mounted mode when you don't need to be moving around. This is very comfortable and stable and a bonus feature of JR/Merlin. When you are ready to move again, you just quickly unfold it and go back to work. |
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March 11th, 2006, 03:05 AM | #34 |
Regular Crew
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 192
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I've been using a PD-150 with a JR for nearly a year and don't go to the gym! Seriously, provided you don't expect to do very long shots and take a few breaks this sort of weight (about 10 pounds with W/A lens , battery etc ) is no real problem. It's not the same as using a shoulder-mounted cam that you can cart about all day though, but then you don;t get the fluid moving shots!
As the previous poster says, you can always fold it up and handhold, or use a tripod when you need a rest! Hope this helps |
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