The Steadicam Merlin and the HVX200

[thefilmaddict]

I purchased the Steadicam Merlin after finding out that it would work with the HVX200. Like many of you, I am still waiting for my HVX200 to arrive. I hope that it comes soon!
Here's my question: I played around with the Merlin and it seems like a great little steadicam. One of the keys to using it is to carry the weight of the unit with one hand and gently control the direction of the camera/framing with your other hand. Adjusting focus while using the camera on the Merlin doesn't seem possible (especially on quick moving shots). Will the lens on the HVX 200 be wide enough so that I can just set the focus once and everything will still seem in focus as I move around or with my subjects?

[bgundu]

LOL... the biggest complaint about digital video is DOF. Yes the lens is wide and you can everything in focus.

[slohd]

http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/showthread.php?t=3637

You may want to read the above articles. I have a Sony HC1 and was very interested in getting the Merlin. Now I'm not so sure. A plastic gimbal and all the loose screw problems are not very encouraging. I plan to purchase an HVX200 in the next couple months. I am concrned the HVX200 will not work well with the Merlin. After all the HVX weighs 3.5 lbs more than the HC1 and the HC1 is having problems with the screws on the Merlin.

Quoting one of the reviews.


"I have noticed a LOT of loose screws on the Merlin. First the screws to that hold the gimbal to the stage were loose allowing the entire stage to be able to slide side to side about 1/8 of an inch.

Then the screws holding the quick release locking mechenism came loose.

Then the screws holding the stage to camcorder will not keep tight."




After you receive your camera please post your experiences with the HVX and the Merlin.

Do you have another camera you can try on the Merlin for now? I would like to hear as many Merlin reviews as possible.

[mikkowilson]

Congratulations on your Merlin, keep us posted how well it works for you ..especially of course with the HVX

Focus on Steadicam has always been an issue. And the wireless Follow Focus systems have been developed mostly with Steadicam in mind.

Unfortunaly the Merlin can't carry a HVX *and* a FF system - and to be honest, a decent FF will run a few grand anyway, so not really in the Merlin's leauge.

So as far as controling focus manually and dooing pulls during shots, you are out of luck.

But keeping the subject in focus will not be a problem at all. This chipsize alone atests to a nice deep DOF ([too] often considered a curse). As long as you have some light on your scene and your distances arn't ridiculous, you will have no problems with keeping in focus. - In fact under normal circumstances even Auto focus should be able to easily handle standard framing.
Either way, you will have no wories keeping in focus as long as you plan your shots. :)

However.. it may very well be possible to use a wired focus controler with the HVX thanks to it's focus port. You would need to replace or extend the cable with a *really really* thin and flexible one to minimize it's effect on the Merlin, but with a camera as heavy as the HVX it should be possible. - If you (or someone else) chooses to try this route, post here and I can give some pointers on how to deal with the cable.

Good luck, have fun, and fly safe!

- Mikko

[Benton]

Interesting,
As far as DOP, I am thinking that I will get a 35mm adaptor with the HVX
The reason I mention this is that I will Like/Need a manual Follow Focus/rod system
Although it may be a bit precarious,
I think this solution will work with a stabilizing system
provided it offers extra support. (an arm & vest)
and I think there are some that may work with the Merlin
I recently purchased a Glidecam Smoothshooter and think that this configuation can work

[dosborn]

Interesting,
As far as DOP, I am thinking that I will get a 35mm adaptor with the HVX
The reason I mention this is that I will Like/Need a manual Follow Focus/rod system
Although it may be a bit precarious,
I think this solution will work with a stabilizing system
provided it offers extra support. (an arm & vest)
and I think there are some that may work with the Merlin
I recently purchased a Glidecam Smoothshooter and think that this configuation can work
please keep in mind that i'm a fresh-out-of-college newb... so an HVX with a 35mm adapter, follow focus, and rail system wouldn't be too heavy for a glidecam system? that was a big worry of mine. :thumbsup:

[Benton]

Depends - Smooth shooter goes up to 10 pounds -
HVX = 5.5 pounds
35mm = 1 pound
rail & follow focus = 2?
(something like that)
I think that I will be using the 35mm adaptor & follow focus with a tripod mostly but I want the ability to use it on a steadicam so I got the smoothshooter + glidecam 4000.

[mikkowilson]

Sorry guys, but forget anything but a remote controlled follow focus on a Steadicam it just won't work.

A manual (where you touch it) follow focus will NOT work with ANY stabilizer.

You can only touch the system at the gimble, and there only very lightly.

Sorry, but the ONLY way to control focus on a stabilizer is with a remote controlled system, preferably wireless as any cables will effect the rig.

The weight of the system is a seperate factor that will have an effect on the system you get. The Merlin will only carry an HVX bare, it won't carry one with any accesories.
If you want to fly the HVX with accosories, you will need a bigger Stabilizer like the Flyer or SS.

- Mikko

[Benton]

Mikko,
You are the Steadymaster, so I trust you about this.

So the onlyway to use a 35mm Adaptor with a steadicam is to use it with the lenses fixed focus in mind
Vero?

[mikkowilson]

You can put any lens, with an adaptor or not, on a Steadicam, but you will need a remote controlled (motorized) - prefereably wireless - follow focus to control focus changes. One of these systems will cost a few grand, and will be too heavy for any sensible set-up on a Merlin. That would put you in the Flyer class and upwards of Steadicams anyway.

For the budget for most peope here, buying an proper FF system for Steadicam work is out of the question. But that's just one of the hurdles with the world of Steadicam - Most pro operators have somewhere between $30,000 and $50,000 in accesories alone (FF, cables, video transmitters, brackets, etc..) in adition to their $40,000 - $60,000 system.

Realistically, if you are dooing Steadicam shots with DV, most of the time it will not matter about having a slightly deeper DoF, or letting AF handle it.

- Mikko

[skettalee]

I have a Sony HC1 and was very interested in getting the Merlin.


So hey, i just got the HC1 and I love it so far, i want to get a steadicam system. Got anything better and cheaper in mind then?

[mikkowilson]

Better (or even near as good), for cheaper? [or for more even] Not likley.
The Merlin is simply the best stabilizer for a palmcorder like the HC1.

But I'll step aside here, and let those who own one have their say :)

- Mikko

[kevinM]

I own an HVX and a Steadicam Merlin and I love the two together. Although the HVX is a little on the upper end of what the Merlin is able to handle weight wise, I have had good luck with it. It gives nice smooth movement even at jogging speeds once you get used to it. The one thing I did was to add two metal washers between two of the weights to make it slightly more bottom heavy - not much but it helped counter the top-heavy feeling of the HVX on the Merlin.

I also wrestled with the focus control issue. The HVX Auto focus is easily able to handle the movement of most steadicam shots as long as there is enough light for it to work well.

For (rare) times when I wanted to manually pull focus from a close subject to far away I have used the VZ - RockPZFI from VariZoom. It is very tricky because the cable is heavy enough to cause the camera to drift if you aren't careful.

Mikko, I would love your input on making this work better.

The thing I like about the VariZoom is that the focus control is very responsive and quick.

[Leigh Wanstead]

Is that red eyes intended to be shown in the photo, or just a mistake?
:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)


http://wilson.pp.fi/mikko/photos/legosteadi/images/1st_version_flying_high_left.jpg

[Jarek Zabczynski]

I'm pretty sure I could take one of the Bebob foxi controllers and make it work wirelessly from using the parts from just about any remote controlled car. Now am I willing to do that to my own? Nope. :D

[mikkowilson]

I'm really looking forward to hearing more about making the focus controllers for the HVX/DVX-B wireless. I Mentioned this in the FOXI thread to Bebob.

As for dealing with cables:
You want as flexible (most important) and light and thin as possible.
I haven't seen the Varizoom PZFI controlers in person yet, but I'm going to guess it has a nice thick cable to make it stronger and longer lasting. However for Steadicam use, you will want that thinner.
I'm not sure how long it is, but I'd sugest this: Tape up the cable from the PZFI into a ball somewhere on or under the handle of the Merlin (out of the way), then find the thinnest most flexible cable you can with only the conductors you need (2 for focus I belive - Probably all you need during a shot.) and make a special adapter cable for that only to use with the rig.
I find that using one of the coaxes from inside an S/video cable works well as they are prety darn thin and flexible.

- Mikko