EX1, alternative to Steadicam Merlin

astute

astute

Member
Hello all,

I had a Glidecam 4000pro which worked fine with my Canon XH-A1. It was a bit heavy and clunky and it shifts a little bit but it did the job o-kay.

Now I bought a Tiffen Steadicam Merlin to see if this one would work with the EX1.
I have now been fiddling around with it for over two long afternoons and I am pretty sure I am not going to get it set up.

My Canon on the other hand found its balance in just over 15 minutes.
So, from this I kind of conclude that the EX1 just won't work with the Merlin.
(it stabilizes, but as soon as you move just a little it will choose an angle and just lean over in that direction. Maybe extra weights would help, but I am not too sure of that fixing everything).

Now the only solution that is respectable and not way out of my budget (about 1000,- euros) are the products from Varizoom.
Would a Monopod Varizoom work?

Any other suggestions in the 1k price range?

Let me know.
BR
Rik
​
 
I'm looking at stabilizers for the EX1 too... why did you give up your Glidecam 4000? I was looking at getting one and I'm curious about your experiences.
 
Hey there Buck.
I found that the Glidecam is just too light for the EX1. Adding extra weight sure did fix it but the GlideCam becomes a lot more heavy with extra weights.

If you compare a Merlin with a glidecam, for the Canon XH-A1, then the Glidecam is almost half as heavy then the Merlin. So without a vest the Glidecam is a proper workout.

I also found the Glidecam unhandy to work with because of the 2 "paddles" at the bottom. They are pretty large and easy to bump into with your knee / upper leg when hand held. I guess when using a vest, this problem doesn't occur.

In my line of work there is just not enough time for vests and cranes, I see something going on, and I have to run and shoot that. (I do a lot of live events and festivals, so everything happends unplanned around me)

I just like the Merlin better, especially for the XH-A1, but for the EX1 I couldn't get it configured with the normal amount of weights, adding extra made the whole lot just heavy and it felt not right (too much weight on the glidecam)

I found someone with a Varizoom and will check it out soon to see if the EX1 can balance on that. I just have to see when I can make time in my schedule for going there.

BR,
Rik
 
astute said:
Any other suggestions in the 1k price range?​

Let me know.
BR
Rik​
Click to expand...

It took me some time to figure that out,
get the Merlin accessory plate from B&H ($139), that will fix your problem,
I couldn't get EX1 in balance without it; hand held I could go about a minute;
after I got an arm and vest I thought I can load it with WA lens, QR adapter and light, but that is over the Merlin's capacity;
The cheapest decent sled I can find is $1300 from movcam, does anybody know any alternatives?
Thanks!
 
I guess I'm confused... you're talking about the Glidecam 4000, right? I thought that one could handle cameras up to 10 lbs. But from what I read, the Steadicam Merlin is designed for cameras only up to 5 lbs... and the EX1 (even bare) weighs more than 5 lbs. The Steadicam Pilot goes up to 10 lbs, but that puppy is outrageously expensive.

I'm finding the single most difficult thing about making my complete studio package purchase is 'flying blind'... not being able to get my hands on any of this stuff and touch and feel... it's all internet investigation and online reviews. Monitors, software, tripods, cameras, capture cards, audio, jibs, lens adaptors, stabilizers, etc. Arrrgh! Ha!
 
So ezpop, what you basically do is lengthen the arm of the Merlin so it has more leverage for the weights that connect at the end of the plate.
Or you actually put something on the plate?

I tried finding resellers for the Movcam but it seems to be near impossible. I live in Europe btw, but I cant find anything international.

Which Movcam where you talking about btw? The 350?
 
Buck, I am talking about the 4000 and about the Merlin.
The Pilot works fine btw, but it is far out of my price range.

The Glidecam 4000 supports heavier cameras because it's just one big pole going downwards and has the weights on either side. So placing the camera in the middle should already balance it out. It's less complicated then the Merlin.

But because of the EX1 being so extremely unstable, it doesn't work with the "long straight pole" method.
It becomes very sensitive in 2 directions (because of the two paddles), unless you weigh the glidecam down a lot (make it overweight by adding a lot of weights thus making it sensitive from the bottom).

The reason I think is, because the glidecam has these 2 paddles, and the Merlin has round weights is very centralized, where the paddles are a lot wider. Not sure though.

The glidecams are very hard to test anyways because they are hard to set up, even if they are fit for it. That is why a forum like this helps. I read several posts that the Merlin doesn't work with the camera, but also some people say they did get it working, by adding extra weights or for example above here with the plate.

Tripods, adaptors, monitors and etc you can test more easy in real life at local stores and etc. Especially here in The Netherlands where everything is very close.
And software is downloadable before you buy it.
 
Thanks, astute! I'm looking for something I can take hiking/backpacking with me. I wonder how much extra weight one needs to put on the Merlin to make it workable? As for the rest of the stuff, I guess there's nothing in my area that carries serious video production equipment in a retail presentation. I'm looking at getting the JVC DT-24L1DU monitor, Microdolly jib, Sticky Pod mount for my kayak, Kona 3 card, Century Optics adaptors, etc., stuff you just don't typically find displayed in typical electronics stores. I wish there was a B&H Photo retail store in the Sacramento area! But I guess it's the nature of the beast. There's a lot of individual components that go into make a high-end home studio, both audio and video, especially for post-production. So far I'm up to $50,000 and that's just based on one Sony EX1 for acquisition.
 
Thanks mik... I wish was bilingual! I can't understand the forum. The footage looks nice... any other specs, such as a photo of the stabilizer, weight, weight capacity, etc.?

It seems like the EX1 is straddling the line of being too big for the small handheld camcorder stabilizers. That's one reason I'm looking forward to the RED Scarlet... it'll be 3K rez and smaller/lighter (it appears anyway).
 
mik said:
http://www.sanda100.com/

This is a new brand of handheld stabilizer made in italy. I did not tried it, but users are pretty happy.

Here is the thread on the italian filmmaker forum where they talk about it. The price is around 360-400 € (but it can be more)

http://www.videomakers.net/index.php?option=vm_phpbbforum&Itemid=118&page=viewtopic&t=25458
Click to expand...

Ciao Mik,

Its a good thing I understand a little italian. That is a brilliant piece of equipment. Simple and easier to set up than the other stabilisers on the market and very competitive. So how do i go about getting one?

Mille Grazie.
 
I just sent the guys over at Sanda there an e-mail.
Hopefully they are good at English (not all Italians speak good English).

If I manage to buy one from them I will put an extensive review online and will test it with various cameras.

Let's see what it does.

I do like the Sanda better then the Glidecam, it has more options in tweaking and just looks a lot more solid then the Glidecam.

P.s.
Found a video here with more info:
http://www.sanda100.com/bilanciamento.html

Also it seems they use the same supplier as our trusty Manfrotto according to the Bablefish translation I got out of their forum posts.

-----

In other postings,
I also did some research into MOVCAM.
This is a very Chinese brand, but not just a simple brand. My girlfriend is Chinese, and was able to find a lot more on the Chinese brethren of this site.
Apparently this MOVCAM is going to make its uprise pretty soon, they are the number one steadycam used in Chinese movies and TV series and they are going to play a large role in the Olympic Games.

So expect MOVCAM to rise pretty soon.
But, up till now, MOVCAM has very limited resellers outside of the Chinese borders. There is a worldwide seller in Indonesia and there are a few in the US but none of them is giving up prizes. Apparently prices fluctuate pretty heavy on their products.
 
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This looks ideal! I know just enough Italian as to not understand a single word, except I think I heard "gracias" at the end. I hope they're selling them already, I'll buy one with my ridiculously cheap American dollars.
 
Luck has it i know a little italian so I sent them a query.

Enrico of Officine Made S.n.c replied,
"Following your kind request, here below please find the main features of
steadycam Sanda100 :

Sanda100 is produced by Officine Made S.n.c. - Turin, Italy

Sanda100 is the newest generation of camera stabilizers.

It is extremely easy to carry and wear resistant.

All Sanda100 components are made of alloy aluminium, extracted from solid
through a shaving removing process.
In order to guarantee the highest accuracy of the finished product, this
task is carried out by the latest computerized numeric control machines.
The finished parts are anodised to greatly increase the natural thickness of
the aluminium oxide layer, for corrosion resistance
The anodic oxidation process has been chosen among others, because of its
exceptional insulating, and wear-resistant properties.
Sanda100 has been fully tested, and it works to perfection with camcorder
weighing between 1 k and 3 k.

Sanda100 is supplied with all the components necessary to ensure the best
of its functions, including the video quick-release plate "Manfrotto 357" for the
camcorder.

Sanda100 is currently into production and available in July 2008

Accessories:
Video Kit, Low Mode, Tripod Stand for steadicam stabilization, Shockproof
Case

Officine Made is currently studying a Sanda100-suitable vest and arm

Camera-stabilizer Sanda100 price: Euro 380= plus local VAT and delivery cost.

Yours respectfully,

Enrico Marchisio

Officine Made s.n.c.
Strada Moncalvo 10
10024 Moncalieri
Torino Italy

P.S. Il tuo Italiano è perfetto, ciao"


I've asked for a set and the low mode.. no idea what the video kit is.. apparently in production now and ready by July 08. Fingers crossed.
 
davidcheok, I love you man. You rock!

I totally am going to order one, this looks perfect. Italy rocks for this kind of products.

And for you Buck, it's going to be a lot more expensive, because well, 400 euros will calculate to something around 600 dollars. AUCH! And posting fees, import costs and VAT will add up too.

Me being inside the European Union there are no extra VAT or import costs!!!

(p.s. it's probably Gracie and not gracias. (or grazi, not sure how to spell it))
 
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Also got a reply from Sanda today, but it seems they only do automated replies. Its the exact same emails as that Davidcheok received.
 
astute said:
Also got a reply from Sanda today, but it seems they only do automated replies. Its the exact same emails as that Davidcheok received.
Click to expand...

Erm.. not really..
" Hi David,
Yes, our stabilizer works perfectly with the Sony PMW-EX1. We have realized a video with this camcorder.

I don't have the price of the accessories for Sanda100 yet. Within a few weeks we will have all the prices.

The videokit adds to Sanda100 a 7" lcd monitor for the control of the shot.

We will start to collect the orders on July 2008

Enrico Marchisio
Officine Made s.n.c.
Strada Moncalvo 10
10024 Moncalieri
Torino Italy"

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