Who has a Steadicam Merlin?

Graham Risdon · May 27th, 2006, 11:42 AM

OK here's a question...(!)
I've got a JR which I use with a PD150, Canon WA & Sony NP-F950 battery and it's OK, but the plastic stage adjustment seems a bit fklimsy and I'm sure it will break soon... The merlin looks like a proper bit of kit, all metal etc...

So...
1. Will it balance OK with by loaded PD150 (the JR has all the weights on it)
2. How practical is using the flip-out LCD against the JR's built in?

Any comments gratefully received!

Thanks

Douglas R. Bruce · May 29th, 2006, 05:21 AM

The day after I got my Merlin I had it reasonably balanced.
The set-up was a Sony Z1 with an NP-F970 battery pack.

Today I retried with an NP-F570 battery pack.
I could remove on of the weights, and after rebalancing I had a much easier to control set-up.

The difference in weights of the battery packs is definitely something to take into consideration if you have the possibility to buy a lighter battery for the steadicam shooting.

NP-F970 (296 gms - 10.44 oz)
NP-F570 (102 gms - 3.6 oz)

Mikko Wilson · May 30th, 2006, 10:51 AM

Graham,
Yes the Merlin will fly any setup that the JR will fly.
The on-camera monitor works fine on the Merlin. You can of course try this yourself with youy JR. - just open your camera's screen!

Douglas,
Glad to hear the lighter battery worked well for you.
Don't forget to go and add your succesfull setting to the cookbook for the rest of us!: www.merlincookbook.com

- Mikko

Jack D. Hubbard · May 30th, 2006, 11:17 AM

Hi Mikko,

I am going to try it with an HC-1 first, then maybe the Z1.

Haven't set it up yet, hoping to do so this weekend.

Jack

Ismail Aslam · May 30th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Hi

Does anyone know any UK retailers that may sell the Steadicam Merlin? I want to try it out?

If not i may just have to buy it from the states

Graham Risdon · May 31st, 2006, 05:06 AM

Hi Ismail
I think Creative Video are selling the merlin :-http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/search.php?q=merlin&Submit=go&w=1
after Optex went into liquidation.

Hi Mikko
I can't balance the JR with the monitor flipped out, but it may just be too heavy with a W/A and big battery?

Also, slightly OT, I worked with a "real" Steadicam guy last week and tried on his rig - I was worn out after about a minute!!! Call me a wimp, but it's made my mind up to hire a specialist when the budget allows, and use the JR (or possibly a Merlin!) when not!

Take care

Graham

Ismail Aslam · May 31st, 2006, 08:19 AM

Hi thanks for the link,

it works out cheaper from America, any advice on buying from america and shipping it over, is it worth it? pros and cons? anyone tried it

Douglas R. Bruce · May 31st, 2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ismail Aslam

Hi thanks for the link,

it works out cheaper from America, any advice on buying from america and shipping it over, is it worth it? pros and cons? anyone tried it

I am almost certain it will cost you a whole lot more buying and shipping it from the USA.
The weight usualy specified for the Merlin is the weight of the actual unbalanced (weighted) unit.
Included in the pack are all the weights needed to balance cameras.
If you are anything like me you would want the Merlin to be delivered as soon as possible - meaning Airfreight! It will cost you more than the price of the Merlin to have it sent - I think.

Now I may be completely wrong. Hopefully someone else will either agree or disagree with my thoughts on the subject- so you can then judge for yourself.

Darren Rousar · June 1st, 2006, 10:18 PM

Anyone using a Merlin with a Sony HVR-A1?

Steve Madsen · June 4th, 2006, 03:50 PM

Douglas, $67us to have it shipped to the UK through B&H?

Anybody have thoughts on whether flying an xl2 is a ridiculous idea? HVX is about the same weight, no?

Ainslie Davies · June 4th, 2006, 07:54 PM

This link was posted up at HDforindies.com, it's a merlin review http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._saraceno.html

__________________
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=68704 - NOW

Mikko Wilson · June 5th, 2006, 01:35 AM

The A1 works great on the Merlin.

Yes, hoping to use an XL2 is unfortunatly wishfull thinking, it's just too heavy for the Merlin (or to hold on any handheld stabilizer really)

Thanks for the review link, good stuff :)

- Mikko

Armin DeFiesta · June 5th, 2006, 08:31 PM

There's some Merlin footage here...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=68933

Armin DeFiesta · June 15th, 2006, 07:02 PM

Just thought I'd upload another practice run with the Merlin.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...86640061567893

Kris Holodak · June 15th, 2006, 09:10 PM

You make it look so easy Armin. I was using my Merlin on a shoot a couple of days last week. A couple of the shots came out good enough to use, but I'm still finding it really challenging, but a lot were really wobbly. I still feel like I'm fighting to keep it balanced. (Can't post the source footage because it's work stuff.)

May 27th, 2006, 11:42 AM	#16
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	JR vs Merlin OK here's a question...(!) I've got a JR which I use with a PD150, Canon WA & Sony NP-F950 battery and it's OK, but the plastic stage adjustment seems a bit fklimsy and I'm sure it will break soon... The merlin looks like a proper bit of kit, all metal etc... So... 1. Will it balance OK with by loaded PD150 (the JR has all the weights on it) 2. How practical is using the flip-out LCD against the JR's built in? Any comments gratefully received! Thanks

May 29th, 2006, 05:21 AM	#17
Douglas R. Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kumamoto City, Japan Posts: 136	Merlin progress The day after I got my Merlin I had it reasonably balanced. The set-up was a Sony Z1 with an NP-F970 battery pack. Today I retried with an NP-F570 battery pack. I could remove on of the weights, and after rebalancing I had a much easier to control set-up. The difference in weights of the battery packs is definitely something to take into consideration if you have the possibility to buy a lighter battery for the steadicam shooting. NP-F970 (296 gms - 10.44 oz) NP-F570 (102 gms - 3.6 oz) __________________ I was produced in Scotland, edited in Sweden, and am now showing in Japan. http://www.gaijin-eyes.com

May 30th, 2006, 10:51 AM	#18
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Graham, Yes the Merlin will fly any setup that the JR will fly. The on-camera monitor works fine on the Merlin. You can of course try this yourself with youy JR. - just open your camera's screen! Douglas, Glad to hear the lighter battery worked well for you. Don't forget to go and add your succesfull setting to the cookbook for the rest of us!: www.merlincookbook.com - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

May 30th, 2006, 11:17 AM	#19
Jack D. Hubbard Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Menlo Park, CA Posts: 342	2 cams Hi Mikko, I am going to try it with an HC-1 first, then maybe the Z1. Haven't set it up yet, hoping to do so this weekend. Jack

May 30th, 2006, 03:31 PM	#20
Ismail Aslam Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 71	Hi Does anyone know any UK retailers that may sell the Steadicam Merlin? I want to try it out? If not i may just have to buy it from the states __________________ Is your life really yours...

May 31st, 2006, 05:06 AM	#21
Graham Risdon Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 192	Hi Ismail I think Creative Video are selling the merlin :-http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/public/search.php?q=merlin&Submit=go&w=1 after Optex went into liquidation. Hi Mikko I can't balance the JR with the monitor flipped out, but it may just be too heavy with a W/A and big battery? Also, slightly OT, I worked with a "real" Steadicam guy last week and tried on his rig - I was worn out after about a minute!!! Call me a wimp, but it's made my mind up to hire a specialist when the budget allows, and use the JR (or possibly a Merlin!) when not! Take care Graham

May 31st, 2006, 08:19 AM	#22
Ismail Aslam Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 71	Hi thanks for the link, it works out cheaper from America, any advice on buying from america and shipping it over, is it worth it? pros and cons? anyone tried it __________________ Is your life really yours...

June 1st, 2006, 10:18 PM	#24
Darren Rousar Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Excelsior, Minnesota Posts: 59	Anyone using a Merlin with a Sony HVR-A1? __________________ HVR-A1U \| 521Pro LANC \| Blue Snowball \| Dual 2Ghz G5 \| 20" & 23" ACD \| MXO \| FCP 5.1.4 \| Shake 4.1 \| AECS3

June 4th, 2006, 03:50 PM	#25
Steve Madsen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 111	Douglas, $67us to have it shipped to the UK through B&H? Anybody have thoughts on whether flying an xl2 is a ridiculous idea? HVX is about the same weight, no?

June 4th, 2006, 07:54 PM	#26
Ainslie Davies Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 117	This link was posted up at HDforindies.com, it's a merlin review http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage..._saraceno.html __________________ http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=68704 - NOW __________________ Ainslie Davies - www.dualityproductions.com

June 5th, 2006, 01:35 AM	#27
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	The A1 works great on the Merlin. Yes, hoping to use an XL2 is unfortunatly wishfull thinking, it's just too heavy for the Merlin (or to hold on any handheld stabilizer really) Thanks for the review link, good stuff :) - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

June 5th, 2006, 08:31 PM	#28
Armin DeFiesta Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 74	There's some Merlin footage here... http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=68933

June 15th, 2006, 07:02 PM	#29
Armin DeFiesta Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 74	Another practice run with the Merlin Just thought I'd upload another practice run with the Merlin. http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...86640061567893

June 15th, 2006, 09:10 PM	#30
Kris Holodak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	You make it look so easy Armin. I was using my Merlin on a shoot a couple of days last week. A couple of the shots came out good enough to use, but I'm still finding it really challenging, but a lot were really wobbly. I still feel like I'm fighting to keep it balanced. (Can't post the source footage because it's work stuff.)