Can't get HVX200a balanced on a Merlin

texvanwinkle

texvanwinkle

Well-known member
I've read the archived posts and I can't find anyone who's running into this. I've watched the video and I've read through the instruction manual. I've checked the settings for the 200a in the Cookbook and applied them. I've had my wife double-check what I've done to see if I'm missing anything and she doesn't see it.

Yet the best I can do is to get the camera to balance sitting still. As soon as I start to move it, it swings a little then rolls on over. The drop test doesn't work at all. If I pull the lower spar out sideways more than 45 degrees, the camera just rolls over.

I'm using a bare HVX—the camera and a battery, with the side screen out since Garrett says to do it that way in the video. (Don't know how you could use the thing with just the viewfinder anyway.)

Does the 200a simply require more weight than what's shipped with the Merlin to balance? It seems like it would, but I found no posts with a Google site search indicating that anyone had had to use more than the stock weights when using an HVX.

Thanks in advance.

Clint
 
I got a Merlin for my HPX170 and I could never get it steady, I was constantly fighting it. I finally decided the HPX170 was simply too heavy for the Merlin.
 
the hpx 170 is within the weight capacity. i have one and it works fine. but the 200/200a is really heavier than the merlin can effectively manage. it can work, but just barely and not well in my experience...
 
I had a little more success today. I moved the stage back 1/8" from the mark supplied in the Cookbook and it seems close. It still wants to shift around once I begin moving it around the way I would on a shoot, but the drop test actually works out to 45 degrees or so. Any more than that and it just wants to stay put. So I'm going to add some washers, a la another post about the HVX, and see what that does.

Anyone with further info is still more than welcome to contribute his experience.

Thanks again.

Clint
 
Okay, another few tries at balancing *with* the washers added and I'm still no joy with this 200A on a Merlin. Again, it's a bare 200A--camera, lightweight non-Panny battery, with the side monitor open--and I set everything exactly according to the Cookbook. I had a second set of eyes double-check it. It would sit still but then just roll over when I moved it.

I moved the stage back two hash marks behind the "1" mark that the Cookbook says to use and had better luck, but it would still start drifting when I moved it.

I've now added ten 1.5" washers between the weights, putting a pair between all but the last pair of weights. It sits great at rest, but still--as soon as I start moving it laterally, it begins doing a great impression of Galloping Gertie.

What on Earth am I doing wrong? What do I need to be adjusting to fix this? Do I need to post some video of what it does?

Thanks to all in advance.

Clint
 
i'll restate what i said earlier. you camera is really too heavy for the merlin. if you ever get it balanced, its going to be a very thin line...
 
Perhaps so. I bought it based on the fact that it's in the Cookbook, others in this and other forums have said they've been able to use it with the 200A, and I've seen video of it being used with the 200A. I suppose at this point I may just need to call Tiffen. Or put the bat signal up for Mikko. MikkoWilson, please report to the front desk.
 
I have a Bat Signal? Sweet!

The HVX200 is right at the limit of the classic Merlin (with one with the part plastic gimbal and the signature on the upper spar. But it does work.

Do you have the shotgun mic on the camera? I can't remember if that makes it too heavy or not.


- Mikko ... searches for "mikko" on 'user daily, it's like a backwards Bat signal, but not nearly as cool.
 
mikkowilson said:
I have a Bat Signal? Sweet!
Click to expand...

Yeah, it looks a lot like the Tiffen logo.

The HVX200 is right at the limit of the classic Merlin (with one with the part plastic gimbal and the signature on the upper spar. But it does work.

Do you have the shotgun mic on the camera? I can't remember if that makes it too heavy or not.
Click to expand...

No mic. No nothin'. Just the camera with a battery and the LCD monitor open. And it's the new Merlin with the metal gimbal.
 
I would just add a little more weight to the bottom of the merlin. Tape some quarters to it or something and see if that helps. It will probably kill your arm though.
 
Never could get the CG figured on the Merlin with the HVX200. always stalling. "Old Bold Pilots never fly with CG not Balanced" :Drogar-Happy(DBG):
Sold it on EBay and purchased a Jib and Molly Dolly, :violin: Me Happy
Mule
 
Extra weights are available from Steadicam and their dealers. Might not be a bad idea to pick one up.

I assume you have Z all the way up, and the spar all the way open?

Once you have the spar open and tightened, once you pick up the rig; pull down a little on the lower spar while holding the rig by the upper spar - this ensures it's all the way open.

- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
I assume you have Z all the way up, and the spar all the way open?
Click to expand...

I've set Z to -2, per the Cookbook. The only change from Cookbook settings I've made is to set the stage to 2 hash marks back of "1." I had better luck there than on "1."

The spar is wide open.

UPDATE: Okay, I've been playing with this thing more. I realized that according to the drop test, I was apparently now bottom heavy. So I took off some of the washers I'd added to it. I'm now down to just one pair between the first and second full weights closest to the bottom of the spar.

It seems really, really close. The Galloping Gertie effect is almost completely gone. I can move it up and down and side to side fairly quickly and it barely moves.

But I still find myself having to hold the guide ring firmly to keep the camera from swimming slightly, even if I'm just walking through a room trying to keep the camera directed at a particular spot the whole time.. From the demo videos, it sure appears I shouldn't have to be doing that. It sorta defeats the point. It's just not rock solid like it should be.
 
mikkowilson said:
There we go! Don't be afraid to keep playing with it!

Try to get your drop-time to about 1-second.
Click to expand...

I've got it at about one second already. But (a) it doesn't drop straight like it does in the Merlin training video--it rolls some while it drops--and (b) it's still swimming when I move with it. I've been playing with it off and on for a few hours now and can't get work out that last bug. It just won't quite sit still, despite being balanced at rest.
 
Try sliding the camera on the stage a bit in one direction (say 1 full "mark" worth), and then counter-adjusting with the fore-aft trim roller. That changes the Dynamic balance of the rig, which affects how it behave when you spin it. On the Merlin, it also affects how it falls during a drop test.

And the simple case with all Steadicam adjustments: Try it one way; if it gets better, keep going till you get there. If it get's worse, then try the other way! :)

- Mikko
 
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