Steadicam Merlin gets vest and arm at CES

[Matt Davis]

A colleague and I tried the Merlin with an A1 and a Z1. It shone in it's precision alignment tools; we concentrated on the A1 but I wish we'd spent more time getting to know how the Z1 works on the Merlin.

The Merlin's got a max weight - so what can I put on a Z1 before it tops out?

- Polarizer behind the standard Sony lens shade
- NP-970 battery
- Sennheiser G2 reciever on the shoe mount
- As above somewhere else?
- Anyone tried a Century Optics 0.7 adaptor? :)

Yes, I'm pushing it. Ideally, I'd want a rig that will fly a Z1 with Sanken CS-1 with Dead Cat, a Sennheiser G2 reciever on the shoe, a Century Optics 0.7 and of course an NP-970 off the back. Horribly front heavy. But I guess this Flyer territory?

Anyone used a LANC remote zoom on a flown Z1?

Or maybe let's back track it - what's the max Z1 config a Merlin can fly?

[Mikko Wilson]

The Z1 is getting towards the top of Merlin's weight range.

The battery should work.
The Filter should be fine.
Not sure about both filter and battery together.
The 0.7x WA lens would most likly be too heavy.

The G2 would be too heavy up top, but you could mount it down at the bottom of Merlin in place of some of the counterweights. The best way to do with would be using the Merlin accessory plate. www.jimfarrell.com/merlin
It's available from B&H here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search


- Mikko

[Matt Davis]

Originally Posted by Mikko Wilson

The G2 would be too heavy up top, but...

Now, that is *great* info - thanks, Mikko. :)

It brings into mind an interview I saw on macvideo.tv with Garret Brown - it concludes that the Meriln is a platform he created to do things he wanted to do with the bigger rigs, but with smaller cameras. There was the implied message that the Merlin platform wasn't finished yet.

Maybe the Merlin/V1 is a match made in heaven, but good to know that a Z1 can still do sound whilst being flown.

[Mikko Wilson]

Yeah, Garrett is far from done developing the extended Merlin system. The arm and vest annouced in this thread attest to that, and there's more to come I'm sure.

- Mikko

[Byron Huskey]

That was a great interview with Mr. Brown! Seeing the master use the Merlin in motion (as well as the old clips of Steadicams) was pretty awe inspiring. It certainly makes me excited to invest in one for me XH-A1. I just hope they don't come out with a Merlin 2 any time soon after that! ;)

[Charles Papert]

Byron:

I've just done some flying with the A1 on an instructional video and can report that it is a lovely combo, although be careful if you intend to load up the camera with accessories (I flew the stock camera by itself).

Great interview indeed. It's been a whopping 22 years for me since I first heard the man speak about Steadicam but it's always worth sitting down and hearing more!

[Peter Chung]

Originally Posted by Byron Huskey

That was a great interview with Mr. Brown! Seeing the master use the Merlin in motion (as well as the old clips of Steadicams) was pretty awe inspiring. It certainly makes me excited to invest in one for me XH-A1. I just hope they don't come out with a Merlin 2 any time soon after that! ;)

May I ask what interview you are talking about? Is there a link?

Thanks!
Peter

[Charles Papert]

As listed on Matt's post above, it is viewable at macvideo.tv.

[Peter Chung]

Thanks for making it clear to me, Charles ;)

[Bruce Ostrout]

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

The Smooth Shooter socket assembly on the vest can be mounted on either the right or the left...not sure if the Merlin will also have this flexibility (think so) but in any event they could likely be interchanged via the mounting points on the center spar of the vest. This would likely require drilling some new holes, so you would be doing so at your own risk!

I thought the Merlin vest was possibly underbuilt in the same way you describe (substance & lack of buckle fasteners) but Garrett assures me that he considers these to be positive attributes, and having spent only a short time in the rig I will take his word on this.

Yes the merlin socket can be left or right. I flipped mine from the left to the right. I was somewhat concerned with the buckless configuration, but the smaller size (for travel) and the comfort of the vest could make up for lak of buckles.

[Gary McClurg]

I guess we'll have to wait for NAB... but has anyone heard the cost of the vest, etc...

The Merlin is less than $800 bucks at a dvi dealer... no vest...

[Evan C. King]

Originally Posted by Mikko Wilson

Yeah, Garrett is far from done developing the extended Merlin system. The arm and vest annouced in this thread attest to that, and there's more to come I'm sure.

- Mikko

But with a vest and arm coming out, what more could they make?

[Mikko Wilson]

I could think of a few things... :)


- Mikko

[Byron Huskey]

Like a monitor (as I believe was mentioned) or perhaps a car mount! Heheh.

[Charles Papert]

I have heard about some of things being dreamed and schemed for this platform and they are very exciting and innovative.