Everything you wanted to know about the Steadicam Merlin...

Marko Urbic · September 4th, 2007, 04:59 PM

Yes, it hits the lever and when I open the lever, then it hits the side of the stage.
Here are the pics:

Mikko Wilson · September 4th, 2007, 05:01 PM

Pictures! Cool!

Loosen the locking knobs on the spar (by the Arc-adjustment knob), then you should be able to move the lower spar down a little to give it clearance to fold under the stage.

- Mikko

Marko Urbic · September 4th, 2007, 05:19 PM

When I loosen them I still need to use the same amount (not talking about finger pressing) force to put it in. Is that the way it's suppose to be?

Mikko Wilson · September 4th, 2007, 05:22 PM

There should be a *little* bit of force needed to "click" the spar into place under the stage (you can see the indentation where it's supposed to lock into). But you shouldn't have to force it.

There is a bit of play in the system, especially when those knobs are open, to allow you to lock it into place.

- Mikko

Marko Urbic · September 4th, 2007, 05:40 PM

Well with knobs taken off, here is how much it's off.

Mikko Wilson · September 4th, 2007, 05:42 PM

wow. Yeah, it appears that there's something wrong there.

Start by putting the nobs back on so you don't loose them ;)

Did you buy the unit locally?

- Mikko

Marko Urbic · September 4th, 2007, 05:52 PM

Oooh no, now comes the bad part...
Bought it from BH on the 9th of August, shipped to my relative in LA and he brought it today to Croatia (Europe).

Mikko Wilson · September 4th, 2007, 05:55 PM

hmm..

Give Tiffen a call directly (http://www.steadicam.com/steadiCusService.html) and they will either be able to find a fix for you over the phone, or will most likly ship you out a replacement unit quickly (they are normally very fast!).

- Mikko

Armando Serrano · September 4th, 2007, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko Urbic

When I loosen them I still need to use the same amount (not talking about finger pressing) force to put it in. Is that the way it's suppose to be?

There is NOTHING WRONG with your Steadicam. I have two and they do the same thing. You simply need to push the lower spar below the stage-plate and it will detent in any of the 3 small recessed cut-out sections in the plastic underneath.

Trust me, I toured the factory, I seen enough of them and they all work the same way, just like the one you have. Hope this helps so you can now spend time practicing flying the cam! lol

PS: Just got my Tiffen arm/vest last week and OMG! What an amazing and well designed system! Worth every penny I spent. I'm taking their 2-Day Training class possibly this weekend.

Marko Urbic · September 5th, 2007, 12:56 PM

Well, looks like it's not supposed to be that way.
I emailed the Tiffen support (phone is too expensive from Croatia) with the pictures and they told me to send the unit back.
The problem is that I need the unit from the 15th for weddings that I already said the Merlin will be at, and sending the unit back to US for repairs is going to be too long.

The unit like this is constantly in need for re-trimming if I push it enough to fold. That's really bad for weddings.

I'll see if they can offer me any alternative.

Mikko Wilson · September 5th, 2007, 12:59 PM

Can you wait 10 days and then send it right after your shoot?

- Mikko

Marko Urbic · September 5th, 2007, 01:06 PM

I need it every 7 days till December. But from the 15th I specificly told the Steadicam would be on their wedding. :( (thought a month of training would be enough- I was supposed to get it 14.08.)

Mikko Wilson · September 5th, 2007, 01:08 PM

Perhaps Tiffen could send you a replacement unit first and then you send yours back? Maybe using a credit card as a security desposit during the exchange?

- Mikko

Jim Andrada · September 5th, 2007, 11:39 PM

You mean it's supposed to click into place and stay there by itself?

Not on my unit! The arm just flops down so I've been using a piece of velcro tape to hold it in the folded position.

Now that I look carefully at the bottom of the stage I can see that the tool that was supposed to cut the latching indentation apparentlly made 3 passes and that whole area is chewed up so there is no longer a detent!

Glad I read this - I'll call Tiffen Friday (Client meetings all day tomorrow!)

And all this time I've been muttering to myself about why there wasn't some kind of detent to hold the arm in the folded position!

Phil Shima · September 6th, 2007, 12:24 PM

Marko -

Don't bother trying to get it "fixed" - mine is like that too. I have the recent SE model, serial # 100601xx, and I suspect there have been changes since it first came out. The manual states the the arc size varies from a max of almost 13" to a min of 7", but mine is 13 3/4" to 8 1/16". I don't use the latch when folded because it puts way too much stress on the hinge.

September 4th, 2007, 04:59 PM	#106
Marko Urbic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 68	Yes, it hits the lever and when I open the lever, then it hits the side of the stage. Here are the pics: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Canon 5D2 & 7D, Canon XH-A1, Senn. G2, Steadicam Merlin, Glidetrack, Sony D-50, Edius 5

September 4th, 2007, 05:01 PM	#107
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Pictures! Cool! Loosen the locking knobs on the spar (by the Arc-adjustment knob), then you should be able to move the lower spar down a little to give it clearance to fold under the stage. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

September 4th, 2007, 05:19 PM	#108
Marko Urbic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 68	When I loosen them I still need to use the same amount (not talking about finger pressing) force to put it in. Is that the way it's suppose to be? __________________ Canon 5D2 & 7D, Canon XH-A1, Senn. G2, Steadicam Merlin, Glidetrack, Sony D-50, Edius 5

September 4th, 2007, 05:22 PM	#109
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	There should be a little bit of force needed to "click" the spar into place under the stage (you can see the indentation where it's supposed to lock into). But you shouldn't have to force it. There is a bit of play in the system, especially when those knobs are open, to allow you to lock it into place. - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

September 4th, 2007, 05:40 PM	#110
Marko Urbic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 68	Well with knobs taken off, here is how much it's off. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Canon 5D2 & 7D, Canon XH-A1, Senn. G2, Steadicam Merlin, Glidetrack, Sony D-50, Edius 5

September 4th, 2007, 05:42 PM	#111
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	wow. Yeah, it appears that there's something wrong there. Start by putting the nobs back on so you don't loose them ;) Did you buy the unit locally? - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

September 4th, 2007, 05:52 PM	#112
Marko Urbic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 68	Oooh no, now comes the bad part... Bought it from BH on the 9th of August, shipped to my relative in LA and he brought it today to Croatia (Europe). __________________ Canon 5D2 & 7D, Canon XH-A1, Senn. G2, Steadicam Merlin, Glidetrack, Sony D-50, Edius 5

September 4th, 2007, 05:55 PM	#113
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	hmm.. Give Tiffen a call directly (http://www.steadicam.com/steadiCusService.html) and they will either be able to find a fix for you over the phone, or will most likly ship you out a replacement unit quickly (they are normally very fast!). - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

September 5th, 2007, 12:56 PM	#115
Marko Urbic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 68	Well, looks like it's not supposed to be that way. I emailed the Tiffen support (phone is too expensive from Croatia) with the pictures and they told me to send the unit back. The problem is that I need the unit from the 15th for weddings that I already said the Merlin will be at, and sending the unit back to US for repairs is going to be too long. The unit like this is constantly in need for re-trimming if I push it enough to fold. That's really bad for weddings. I'll see if they can offer me any alternative. __________________ Canon 5D2 & 7D, Canon XH-A1, Senn. G2, Steadicam Merlin, Glidetrack, Sony D-50, Edius 5

September 5th, 2007, 12:59 PM	#116
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Can you wait 10 days and then send it right after your shoot? - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

September 5th, 2007, 01:06 PM	#117
Marko Urbic Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Zagreb, Croatia Posts: 68	I need it every 7 days till December. But from the 15th I specificly told the Steadicam would be on their wedding. :( (thought a month of training would be enough- I was supposed to get it 14.08.) __________________ Canon 5D2 & 7D, Canon XH-A1, Senn. G2, Steadicam Merlin, Glidetrack, Sony D-50, Edius 5

September 5th, 2007, 01:08 PM	#118
Mikko Wilson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Juneau, Alaska, USA Posts: 624	Perhaps Tiffen could send you a replacement unit first and then you send yours back? Maybe using a credit card as a security desposit during the exchange? - Mikko __________________ Mikko Wilson - Steadicam Owner / Operator - Juneau, Alaska, USA +1 (907) 321-8387 - mikkowilson@hotmail.com - www.mikkowilson.com

September 5th, 2007, 11:39 PM	#119
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	You mean it's supposed to click into place and stay there by itself? Not on my unit! The arm just flops down so I've been using a piece of velcro tape to hold it in the folded position. Now that I look carefully at the bottom of the stage I can see that the tool that was supposed to cut the latching indentation apparentlly made 3 passes and that whole area is chewed up so there is no longer a detent! Glad I read this - I'll call Tiffen Friday (Client meetings all day tomorrow!) And all this time I've been muttering to myself about why there wasn't some kind of detent to hold the arm in the folded position!

September 6th, 2007, 12:24 PM	#120
Phil Shima New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Videoland USA Posts: 11	Marko - Don't bother trying to get it "fixed" - mine is like that too. I have the recent SE model, serial # 100601xx, and I suspect there have been changes since it first came out. The manual states the the arc size varies from a max of almost 13" to a min of 7", but mine is 13 3/4" to 8 1/16". I don't use the latch when folded because it puts way too much stress on the hinge.