steadicam merlin + 35 mm adapter

[BenFarrell]

anyone used the merlin with their dvx and 35mm adapater, monitor etc. does the extra weight help for stabilizing or is the merlin best used with just the stock dvx?

Trying to figure out ways to get depth of field shots with use of the merlin, figure being zoomed all the way in while at a long distance away will enhance any unstable movements anyways. Would another operator be necessary to control the focus of the 35 mm adapaters?

What setups have other people successfully or not put into place to get stable, moving footage with depth of field.

Thanks for any advice
Ben

[mikkowilson]

Unfortunatly a 35mm adapter (and lens!) will add so much weight to the DVX that it won't fly on the Merlin. You'd need a bigger rig like the Steadicam Flyer to do this properly.

Zooming in however will work, the Merlin does a very good job stabilizing even at longer focal lengths. - And dont' forget to open that Iris!

Also, focus control on a Steadicam must be done by remote, you can't touch the lense why flying or it will upset the balance. - The focus port on the 100B and the HVX are a blessing for this. Who has the remote, the operator or a seperate focus puller is a choice. Working with 35mm lenses will add MANY complications to pulling focus on Steadicam, plus it's plain hard to do too! It is in fact considered a blessing by many Steadicam operators how much eaiser it is to work with video beacuse of it's deep DoF.

- Mikko

[mr_projects]

how about the sony hdr-fx1 + m2 + microfollowfocus, can the merlin handle all that ? if not, how about the STEDDIEPOD ?

thanks in advance

[mikkowilson]

Nope, the Merlin will not handle any 35mm adapter system.

And I would VERY strongly recomend against attempting to use a 35mm adapter system on ANY handheld rig. A camera + 35mm adapter + lens is going to weigh too mutch to be able to hold for more than just a few secconds.

In adiation to the pain (bad thing!) of holding so much weight, no handheld system is built for that sort of weight.
Non gimbled "stabilizers" like the Steddiepod will look like crap right off the bat as your hand begins to shake form teh weight.
It's over the weight limit of The Merlin
And teh 'tougher' rigs like Glidecam have an off-set handle which adds HUGE tourque on yoru wrist.. enough to risk serious injury if attempted!


For a set up with a 35mm adapter, you would need a stabilizer system with an arm.

- Mikko

[snodart]

Just a quick break in... Mikko, what remote focus control do you recommend for the DVX?

:dankk2:

[mikkowilson]

For the DVX100B I presume you mean?

Well of the 3 out there, they are all best at their specific thing,
The Varizoom is the smallest, and that's what I'd put on my Steadicam Gimble if i had to control focus myself.
The FOXI would be what I'd use on rails, as a "whip" or on a 2nd tripod handle for studio style config. - Most shooting.
And the Chrosziel DigiFox would be my first choice for Steadicam with proper remote focus pulling.

There arn't enough units out there for there to be any competition between units. Each is good for a specific application.

- Mikko

[snodart]

For the DVX100B I presume you mean?

Well of the 3 out there, they are all best at their specific thing,
The Varizoom is the smallest, and that's what I'd put on my Steadicam Gimble if i had to control focus myself.
The FOXI would be what I'd use on rails, as a "whip" or on a 2nd tripod handle for studio style config. - Most shooting.
And the Chrosziel DigiFox would be my first choice for Steadicam with proper remote focus pulling.

There arn't enough units out there for there to be any competition between units. Each is good for a specific application.

- Mikko

Thanks Mikko.... no wait.... these won't work with the 35mm adapter right? They only control the focus on the DVX (yes 100B BTW). Is there a follow focus with servo motors and a remote or something to control the focus of the 35mm lens?

[Anders Holck]

From the press release it seems that the DigiFOX can also work with analog servos, like the Hedens.

[mr_projects]

Thanks for the useful info Mikko, do you think a DV Sportster + Flowpod will do @ $1348.00 ?
http://www.varizoom.com/products/stabilizers/vzdvsport.html

Thats a very well priced stabilizer system with an arm, so what do you think ?

[mikkowilson]

Mr Projects,
The price of the Varizoom stabilisers is good. However, run a search to see what I think of the rest.


Snodart,
Yeah, those are controllers only for the internal focus. With a 35mm adapter comes all the lenses, and therefore gear (and prices!!) of stuff designed for 35mm production.
It's not cheap by any means. A good baseline system like the BFD with a Motor will run you close to $4k. And the DigiFox is about 4 grand, without the motor.
Not sure what I'd recomend, as I'm only jsut forraying into this teretory myself. I'll probably end up getting a BFD. I like them very much.

There was a thread recently about the M2 on the Steadicam Flyer where FF was also discussed.

- Mikko

[mr_projects]

I've read nearly most of the topics on wireless FF, and as you said a good sytem would cost about 4 grand, suppose i rented those, can the DV Sportster + Flowpod handle the weight of my equipment ( Sony FX1 + M2 + XLR Adapter + LCD ), that's what i meant

[mikkowilson]

There's no system in place to attach a monitor to a flowpod.

And no I don't think that would work very well.

In my oppinon the flowpod isn't worth buying as a stabilizer. - As a monopod that can stabilize once in a blue moon sure, but not with anythgin that warents a vest.

And I don't like the Sportster vest and specifically it's arm.

I've commented on the Varizoom stabilizers in depth in the past too.

- Mikko

[mr_projects]

Thanks Mikko I really appreciate your help

[Dennis Wood]

I just shot this today:

10MB wmv (http://www.fortvir.net/gallery/d/1411-1/stablelo.wmv?)
40MB wmv (http://z23.zupload.com/download.php?file=getfile&filepath=39377)

Mikko, go easy, it was my first time using the stablizer :-)

http://www.cinevate.com/images/steadi.jpg

[PaPa]

heya guskers.

just watched your video, your adapter has some nice footage, unfortnately your glidecam, as you've said its your first go, is completely off balance.

i own the glidecampro2000 with an ifocus35. I have been able to mount that on my dvx as well as a boom mic by simply extending my pole as far as it goes and taking much time putting weight on it for the verticle balance. If you can, watch the tutorial on their site for info.

[Dennis Wood]

Thanks for that Papa. It was balanced pretty well according to the instructions, but the handle yoke, yoke swivels, and handle swivel either had excessive play, or were binding. This is not a "glidecam" per se, but a glidecam 4000 wannabe. I took the yoke/handle apart to inspect, added two washers, lubed with some light lithium grease and also retensioned/lubed the handle swivel, then loctite "blued" the bolts to make sure it didn't fall apart. Needless to say, it feels a lot better now. I can do the rapid side to side movement now with the cam staying nice and calm.

With some more practice, hopefully I'll get the wobbles sorted out :-)

[Noel Evans]

guskers what cam is that? Looks a bit lighter than the DVX to start with so you may be able to get away with it. Papa mentioned the footage so I wont.

Cute kid btw.

[Dennis Wood]

It's the GS400. Being that in this setup you wouldn't need rails for the DVX, I figure it would work fine. The rig's limit is 10lbs..and the adapter lens combo is about 550 grams (a bit over 1 pound). Plenty of room for a DVX.

I burned that footage to DVD for viewing on my 51". The footage looks a bit like a drunk guy had the rig! Practice, practice, practice...

On the cute kid thing...thank goodness she took after her mom :-)

[mikkowilson]

Yup Dennis, you need a lot of practice :thumbsup:

shots where a little all over the place, but still nice video. Perhaps shooting a little wirder would help at thi stage. Though it's always hard to follow kids who have a mind of their own.

Good looking pictures from the 35 adapter, and nicely editied too.



- Mikko

[Dennis Wood]

Well Mikko, with the voices of experience like yourself helping out, I can only get better!

I figure chasing my toddler around is about as good practice as any :-)

I'll be heading back out as soon as the blood drains from my right forearm.

[when i was young]

Very nice first attempt.
Try shortening the post all the way up, you'll find it will give you better control, and help to get rid of the swaying.

[mikkowilson]

Yes shooting kids, animals, and other random particles is good practice, to a degree. It helps you get comfterble with the rig, and how to handle it. To respond quickly you must know how to use the gear instictivly.

That beeing said, once you know the gear, you have to move on to more structured practice. You need to practice precision and accuracy too, and that takes planned, repeated, shots.

- Mikko

[Dennis Wood]

I missed those responses guys.

Rather than asking dumb questions, I'll do some searching around here Mikko, as you've likely already answered plenty of questions on the structured practice recommendations.

At some point I'll need to start looking at an articulated arm/vest combo. I tried a body pod setup and it's worse than just going handheld