GH1 Steadicam Merlin please help...

N

Nicholas Natteau

Veteran
I have an upcoming shoot and I'm still not able to properly balance my Steadicam Merlin. I've posted this in different forums over the internet but still no feedback.

Supposedly with the perfect setting, you should be able to move the steadicam merlin side to side, forward backward, up down rapidly with the steadicam merlin remaining perfectly center balanced.

See this video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvMS70MyI-g

Would anyone please tell me what you found to be the ideal settings for the GH1 and Steadicam Merlin.

Also, should it be center balanced with the LCD flip out screen shut or open?

Thanks very much in advance,

- Nick
 
Though I don't have a Merlin myself (can you see how green with envy I am) I do have an inexpensive alternative, and I can assure you that the balancing issue is strictly trial and error.

This web page explains what I went through to achieve proper balance on my rig: http://www.birkbinnard.com/photography/stabilizer/index.htm

The proper balance point is extremely sensitive to very small variations in camera placement and changes to the camera's CG (center of gravity.) For instance, just changing the zoom value of the lens a small amount is enough to throw off the balance because as the overall length of the lens changes, so does the overall camera CG.

What I did was to get close to a proper balance point and then move the camera around in very small increments (1/8 - 1/16".) I did find, for instance, that just flipping out the LCD screen required changing the position of the counterweight a very small amount.

You are correct when you say you should be able to move the camera in any direction and not have it sway or rock. This happens because, at the proper balance point, the overall CG of the camera and rig is exactly where your hand is. But getting it there is tricky and there is no simple way to do it.
 
I've shared in your frustration. I rented a Merlin for a shoot and spent about six hours trying to calibrate the thing with the GH1 with no luck. I got to a somewhat useable point, but the camera seems to be much more difficult than most to balance.
 
I've balanced the GH-1 with stock lens + battery pretty well with these settings:

Front: 1 x finish
Lower: 1 x mid, 1 x finish
Arc: 27cm approx.
Mount Hole: ‘M’
Stage Position: -4
‘Z’: -5

With the monitor fully extended or closed, you just need to trim a bit. Take the time to make sure it's perfectly balanced.

Also, practice, practice, practice. The user in the video is moving his wrist well to compensate for his movements. Even with it perfectly balanced, there are lots of way to move your arm and body to get undesired effects.
 
The Merlin on the video on youtube is top heavy. Drop time should be much quicker. Compare Garret Brown's demonstration of drop time on the DVD. Anyhow when you finish balancing you will also discover that Merlin is a pain because its is frictionless and without the room needed to handle. It can be mastered but so does the ability to jungle knives while tap dancing.

Also chek this out : http://www.merlincookbook.com/user.php

best off lack
Andreas
 
Nicholas Natteau said:
I have an upcoming shoot and I'm still not able to properly balance my Steadicam Merlin. I've posted this in different forums over the internet but still no feedback.

Supposedly with the perfect setting, you should be able to move the steadicam merlin side to side, forward backward, up down rapidly with the steadicam merlin remaining perfectly center balanced.

See this video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvMS70MyI-g

Would anyone please tell me what you found to be the ideal settings for the GH1 and Steadicam Merlin.

Also, should it be center balanced with the LCD flip out screen shut or open?

Thanks very much in advance,

- Nick
Click to expand...

I can't give you any specific answers but I'd highly recommend doing your final balance in front of a full height mirror........... you will then be able to "see" how the camera is reacting when you move it side-side and front-back. I used the full mirror technique to balance a cam on another hand held stabilizer.

good luck
JohnG
 
Hello everyone,

Thanks very much for all your feedback, it really helps.

Jamesc, I found your settings interesting. But putting the GH1 at -4 stage position caused mine to swing up fast. So I reset it to -2 which I believe is the recommended stage setting I've seen on different web sites, including Tiffen's.

The thing I can't understand is how in those videos, they're able to move the Merlin backward and forward and left to right without any swaying at all.

I'm able to move up/down without any swaying. But left to right fast, my camera inevitably sways. Not fast mind you, but it does.

I have a steadicam mini-stand and when motionless my GH1 is perfectly balanced. BUt if I move fast from side to side, then the camera sways. Would that not be inevitable?

I'm sure I'm still doing something wrong. Or maybe it's because I'm totally new at this and willl need a lot more practice.

Thanks anyway for everyone's help.

So far here are the settings that have given me the least problems:

Front: 1 mid, 1 finish
Lower: 2 mid, 1 finish
Arc: 13 inches I think...still not clear exactly from where to where this is measured (from the tip of the bottom finish weight to the front edge of the stage?)
Mount Hole: ‘M’
Stage Position: -2
‘Z’: not sure at all how this is measured...
 
The reason your setup sways is the CG is in the wrong place. This can be a confusing concept but I'll try to explain.

The CG is the point at which all the weight of the entire rig is appears to be located when outside forces act on it. What you want is the CG to be located at the pivot point of the handle. When this happens any outside force acting on the entire system (such as the force of acceleration when you move it) will not cause any motion because the CG is at the point of the rig's rotation and therefore there is no "moment arm" which can put a twisting force on the rig.

If the rig's CG is 6" below the handle pivot point the rig will still balance OK (because the CG is "pulling down" on the pivot point.) But if you move the rig sideways the acceleration force on the CG acts like a 6" lever hanging down from the pivot, and this cause the entire rig to sway.

My guess is the counterbalance weight you are using is the wrong weight. Any swaying when moving the rig is caused by the CG being some distance away from the pivot point. If you move the rig in one direction and notice which way the rig sways you can tell whether the CG is above or below that pivot point. If above, you need more weight. If below, you need less.

Needless to say, very small changes in weight can move the CG enough to generate sway when you move the rig.

Note: for more info on all this Google "center of gravity" or "center of mass"; the latter is the technically correct term but CG is more commonly used.
 
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