merlin...

SplitVision

SplitVision

Well-known member
is the merlin out yet?

has anyone tried it?

is it any good?


...or should i just get a glidecam 4000 w/ body pod?


thanks! :thumbsup:
 
The [Steadicam] Merlin is not shipping yet, but is will (apparently) be available very soon.
I've played with it for some time at IBC, and it's a FANTASATIC little rig. - so so light, and yet very ridged. - Held a *almost* perfectly steady frame on a tiny little camera.. at full (like 200 something..) zoom! Rock solid at any zoom you'd actually use.
Super easy to ballance too, just dop in the included quick release plate for aproximate position, then use the rollers to fine tune the trim and youre done. (no opening 8 nuts to adjust the trim!)

The GC is really heavy.. of course the bodypod helps, but you woulnd't actually use the bodypod while shooting (it has no springs, it's basically a place to rest beween shots.)

But before I (or Pookie if he beats me to it) sugest furthur, here's the key question: what camera and accesories do you want to put on it?

- Mikko
 
i'm looking at flying a dvx-a with a CE W/A lens and a mounted shotgun (at-897).

would that be pushing the merlins limits?

thanks again

also - is there anything else i should be considering in the under $1000 range? or do you think the merlin would be my best bet?
 
hmm.. how mcuh does the whole lot weigh?
you are etting close.. but no matbox so you should be ok. .. mic don't weigh much.. and really a W/V lens isn't too bad either.
Now if you wanted a matbox on rods with a bunch of filters, follow focus etc.. then you'd be over.
One of the Merlins i used had a DVX on it and it worked really well.
If you really want to deck out the camera (or even run it bare if you want.. there's a bit of range overlap there) the'n I'd of course sugest the Flyer.. but that's prolly out of your price range.

Either way, if you put a lot of extras on it woudl be too heavy for most handhelds anyway.
- I'm personally of the oppinion that if it won't fit on the Merlin (or GC 2k) then it's too heavy to handhold sensibly anyway.. i think the GC4k is bult for cameras that should never ahve been handheld in teh first place.

Under a grand the best you can get is definatly the Merlin.

- Mikko
 
Hi Mikko,

Do you know any video shot by merlin or its predecesor on the web for free download for walking shot, camera face forward, walking forward and slow camera moving?

TIA

Regards
Leigh
 
As Mikko has already mentioned, the Merlin is a very nice little handheld stabilizer.

The Merlin is not a good choice for any camera in the DVX range. It can handle the DVX, but you're going to be fighting it all the way. The Merlin is meant more for the smaller consumer cameras ie: Canon ZV series. When you put the DVX on it, because of the length, and the weight spread, the mass is spread over a greater area, and it's going to want to keep moving in a pan etc.

The GC2000 does work with a DVX quite well, even when fairly loaded, you just need to flip the bottom plate upside down to lower the weights, and add one or two extra weights to it.
 
I got me a GC2K, very nice, but it's hard to work with it for more than a few minutes at a time. I'm sure that will be the case with any hand held.

I'm considering getting the new vest for 1500$, it's either that or going for a 3000-4000$ stabilizer like the Mini or the Flier. I'd have to play with it before I buy (I'm gonna be in LA beginning of January, so I'll do that)

as for the Merlin, The biggest advantage is the size, it looks very small (didn't get a change to check one out yet) so if you're running aroung doing ENG type work, it's very comfortable.
however, I think it's over priced a bit. It should've been around 500$, for 800$ I won't buy it.
 
Hello,

I'm the owner of a glidecam 2000 and I owned an Handyman by ABC product few years ago, that was very similar to the Merlin.
The most important difference between those rigs is that on the GC, you hold the system far from the gravity center and the half of the job is to fight against the weight that force your wrist to turn.
I really do not like that rig it's for me the worst hand held system.
Systems like Merlin, Handyman, Steadicam Jr, Sachtler Artemis or Varizoom are much better because the grip is positionned just under the gravity center and they are much easier to carry.
If I had to buy a new hand held flying rig it would be the Sachtler Artemis DV.

Cordially
AK
 
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