Merlin info from Garrett Brown!

P

powerdog

Veteran
Just had a few emails from Garrett Brown, inventor of Steadicams and the new Merlin. We discussed the problem of adding a wireless mic system to a Merlin-mounted camera. (To see problem, look at PDF Merlin brochure on Steadicam website, and ask yourself how the model is getting decent sound.)

Here's a summary of Garrett's response:

1. He recognized the importance of the issue, and told Frank Rush of Tiffen/Steadicam that they could probably design and offer a shelf for a wireless receiver that would replace the front weights. XLR cable would then be wound around the spar to camera.
2. Some owners have already solved this themselves by having a shelf and connector fabricated by a machinist.
3. He has a friend who's considering offering a line of Merlin accessories, and he might be interested in offering this kind of thing.
4. Shelf would not be attached to side of spar, but to end using appropriate nut. The caution is that shelf must be completely rigid.
5. The nut is of an odd size, not commonly available. Garrett thinks Tiffen could at least offer the nut as a partial solution for DIY.
6. Because few Merlins have actually been sold, there hasn't been much opportunity for owners to raise this issue.

So the good news is that Garrett and Steadicam are very responsive and approachable. The bad news is that right now there's a huge usability issue for potential Merlin buyers. I really want to buy one, but...wow!
 
Pdog,
Thanks for the info.

Though I'm not sure it's a "huge usability issue" - any mic mount would probably be an accesory, not an change in the design of the Merlin.

Good stuff from Garrett as normal, I know that he really values customer input and reviews.

- Mikko
 
Mikko, I don't mean it's a design problem. I'm sure something will be worked out.

I just mean that if you buy a Merlin now, what do you do about sound? It's hard to see how you can use it for most projects. Silent footage? On-camera mic?
 
I agree with you.

I was just saying that you can buy now and get a "revicer kit" later. - Not having the audio kit doesn't make the Merlin unusable.

Remeber that you can still put a wireless reciver on most MiniDV cams normally on the Merlin without trouble too!
- as well as on-camera mic and external audio recording.
EDIT: the heaviest Wireless reciver I could find on B&H was a Lectrosonics at 14oz, which added to the DVX100B is exactly 5lb. - Most wireless recivers are well under 10oz, putting the full kit at about 4.5lb - perfect for the Merlin.

For music vids it's MOS anyway, event coverage will often have other cams that can get the audio, and narative work will often have the option of a seperate audio recorder.

And don't foget the HVX's special sound issues during variable framerates that we get to learn too.

Lot's of options for eveyone. And the more tools the better!

- Mikko
 
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mikkowilson said:
Remeber that you can still put a wireless reciver on most MiniDV cams normally on the Merlin without trouble too!
EDIT: the heaviest Wireless reciver I could find on B&H was a Lectrosonics at 14oz, which added to the DVX100B is exactly 5lb. - Most wireless recivers are well under 10oz, putting the full kit at about 4.5lb - perfect for the Merlin.


- Mikko
Click to expand...

So what would you actually do, Mikko. I give you a 100a, Merlin, and wireless receiver. No separate recorder or other cameras. How do you put the 3 pieces together? This is what I'm struggling with. Or would you just wait for Steadicam to release an accessory?
 
Most wireless receivers will attach to the hotshoe of the camera. I will get a Merlin this week on its way: Bullet Into Foreign Customs, February 13, 2006, 11:06 pm, JAPAN so maybe even tomorrow?? I hope. Anyway am going to order the G2 evolution from Sennheiser which can attach to camera.
 
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I would mount the reciver to the camera as normal, on a DVX100 a reciver will ballance fine.
It's the bigger HD cams that have limeted accessory capacity up top.

If there is no camera mount (like hotshoe) on the reciver I'd pull out the big guns: Velcro, zip-ties and gaffer's tape.

Just make sure noting is loose or wobbles. And try to keep the reciver lower rather than higher.

- Mikko
 
The DVX100 does have a hotshoe -- I mounted my shotgun there before I got a boom. Now I'll have to see if the receiver has a hotshoe accessory.

Would you tape or Velcro the cable to the camera so it doesn't shift and change the balance?
 
I was reffering to if the reciver had a shoe mount.

I'd make the cables as snug as possible. - I would use as short cables as possible and wrap them around the camera to take out all the slack. I'd finish up with a bit of Gaffer's Tape or a cable tie if necesary.

- Mikko
 
I gotta say, Mikko, I've been looking at lots of stabilizer posts...and it sure gets confusing!
For one thing, you have people saying how much better a $7000 rig works than an $800 or $1200 rig. That's like me planning to buy a Honda, but...hey, maybe a BMW 5 series would give a nicer ride. Maybe if you're weathy or work for a studio, but for an independent shooter...?
Then you have lots of strong pro/con opinions about particular rigs from people who haven't used them.
Next, lots of assumptions that you're going to be running. I don't think I'll ever run with the sorts of videos I do.
Finally, the weight limits and accessory limits. Can I really be sure, with a 4.4 lb. DVX100a, that I'll never want more than .6 lb of stuff attached to a Merlin? And will I be able to attach it? And are these concerns enough to look at something else?

Makes buying a tripod look almost foolproof!

Fortunately, there's always the option of selling the thing on eBay.
 
I agree. Tripods are a snap!

Remember the main deciding factor on what type of stabilizer you are lookign for is how mcuh you want to carry.
The DVX is lucky beacuse it fits well either onto the handheld rigs (like Merlin) and the lightweight full rigs (like the Flyer)

IF you are doign run-n-gun with maybe a radio mic of a obie light, then i'd sugest teh merlin for the DVX, but if you plan on long shoots carying lots of gear - event coverage or maybe feture scale production, then I'd sugest the Flyer.

Of course then you hit other questions, like "Is the added capacity of the Smooth Shooter worth the drop in quality and huge drop in portability (along with notable increase in price) over the Merlin?"
or
"Is it cheaper to get a Flyer to carry all my stuff, or get a Merlin and buy a good radio mic or other accesories to make it work that way?"

So many questions. Hopefully my answers are of some use too, even when it's not clear cut obvious and I just give you more questions!

- Mikko
 
Yes, your answers and others are helpful. But it's more like Zen, where you have to find "the way" for yourself, than reading the one best solution in a book.

One thing I realize: I'm doing a bunch of short videos (about 3 minutes each) in university labs. They're to demonstrate new inventions. I have very little time to set up, shoot, and take down. So for me, a vest is not a good thing. I need to be able to do a quick stablizer shot, some tripod shots, etc. and move fast between them. And holding a handheld isn't a big issue, because I don't have that much to shoot.

The thing that's bothering me now: I have a quick release for my tripod. If I have another for the stabilizer, what do I do? I can't use them both, can I?

I just heard from Jim Farrell, who's working on a wireless receiver holder for the Merlin. He says he hopes to have something available by the end of this month. That would be nice! He'll tell me more next week.
 
powerdog said:
The thing that's bothering me now: I have a quick release for my tripod. If I have another for the stabilizer, what do I do? I can't use them both, can I?
Click to expand...


Ready for it?... YES you can! :)

To mount your camera to the Merlin you use the Merlin's dovetail plate on the camera. (Just like a quick release)

Now here's the clever bit: Included with the Merlin you also get a "tripod adaptor" that you mount to your tripod (using you tripod's quick release plate - it screws to the adapter just like to a camera.)

Result: you just slap the camera, with the Merlin dovetail, onto the Merlin OR the adapter on your tripod. No switching plates; just one lever open, move, close. I can do it in under 5 sec without rushing.

MerlinTripodAdapt.jpg

Page 41 of the Steadicam Melin manual

With any other system, Eg: Glidecam 4k, you would have to purchase a mounting plate system that matches your tripod (so you'd better have a manfrotto) and add that to the stage of the stabilizer (adding weight [fatigue] to the system).

- Mikko
 
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Wow! A problem I can take off my list! Thanks, Mikko.

Let me just ask you this: given the shooting situation I've described, definitely the Merlin instead of a Flowpod?
 
powerdog said:
Let me just ask you this: given the shooting situation I've described, definitely the Merlin instead of a Flowpod?
Click to expand...

Hah, you stumped me on this one. I've never used a Flowpod so I can't give a honest oppinion. :rolleyes:

However I can make a couple of observations to think about: :cool:
- A flowpod will do 2 tasks, so you can (I presume) even take flight from a static shot without *any* changeover time.
- The Flowpod won't replace a tripod however. If a monopod is enough for your shoot then you are set, otherwise you'll still need to carry a tripod and you are back to square one with the quick release problem.


- Mikko
 
Very unscientific, but I"m going to try some static shots with one leg of my tripod. If that works OK, a real monopod should be better.

Of course, I don't see any more of an answer to the wireless receiver problem with the Flowpod...less, in fact, because I don't think they're working on one.
 
For what it is worth: I've purchased a Merlin here in belgium and have been playing with it for two days or so so these are very initial reflections

I do like the form factor and the tripod adaptor, they work like a snap. The DVX on the Merlin is not lightweight, you will need to train those muscles a little bit but then again I am not the most sporty guy in town and so far had no troubles with it. So it sure is usable! :)

The first day I went through the manual and had severe problems of stabilizing the unit, the problem was a loose screw which connected the upper spar and the stage, frankly a bit dissapointing for a product of this price range

But after tightening the screws things went better. the Merlin cookbook suggested 4 weights and a finishing weight for the dvx100 but I encountered top-heaviness with this setup and wasn't able to balance the dvx100, thew problem being the bigger battery I suppose.

Having only one big battery at the moment I had to add a start weight at the lower spar. Then the DVX100 balanced although I still have problems sometimes with the DVX100 drigitng circulararly, no vertical or horizontal tilt. So it seems stable but sometimes it tends the camera drifts circularly around its vertical axis, suggestions in tweaking this woould be nice.

But I don't need to fight it. So balance is allmost OK I guess, corrections and suggestions are more than welcome of course :)

My configuration:
- bottom weights: 1 start - 4 weighs - 1 end
- mid-weight: 1 end
- Z: -4 or -5 (it's hard to see what state it is in ;)
- Stage: at point zero
- dovetail: hole G

Garreth adds in the demo a weight to the mid section when he plays with the dvx although the cookbook advised using only one end weight...

Well, I have allready shot some nice stuff and if I would be to eliminate the drifting problem I am sure it will be up to some great results

All in all, it's too early to draw general conclusions today...need more time to play around :D

hendrik
 
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