If you have to choose: crane or steadicam Merlin ?

It depends on how much money you have now. A crane (kessler) is going to set you back about $700 plus the cost of a dedicated tripod and head. A steddiepod is going to set you back about $500 total.
I have both, but the more versatile of the two is the Kessler crane on a 3 wheel tripod dolly, and even better with the remote head. And again, the steddiepod is "hands down" better than the Glidecam which I owned for 3 years.
 
Rubop said:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=62388&page=2
Lets not get into the merlin vs. steddiepod shoot down again.
Click to expand...

I wasnt getting into anything, Im simply offering solutions to the guys questions, I own the Steddiepod and like it for its versatility, I shoot weddings with it and its the only thing I bring for stabilization.

I wasnt comparing it to the Merlin, but if I would be, it wouldnt be for stabilization it would be for versatility, I wonder how you would set the Merlin down if you needed to, or pan, etc. The Steddiepod isnt for cinematic controlled environments, its for run and gun situations.
 
I have a merlin, love it. I havee a need for a crane in my next project so I am renting one for two seperate days.

My point is, what you get first probably should be based on what you have a greater need for. Think about that and the answer will come. I love crane shots, but I cant see that I will ever actually own one, based on the few I have used I find I get better results using the more expensiive ones I could never afford thus I just rent.
 
True, we have beaten this one to death, however one thing to consider: all of these things (merlin, crane etc...) take a while to get used to operating and you shouldn't buy it the day before you shoot. It has taken me countless hours to get the Merlin down, and now it's amazing, and cranes are the same way, there's a reason there are 3-5 people simultaneously running a crane on a feature shoot...
 
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