My Steadicam Merlin/GH2/Voigtlander "recipe"

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drewski310

Active member
This is for a Merlin with a GH2 on a Manfrotto 323 Quick Change Adapter. Lens is a Voigtlander 25mm with an LCW Fader ND and the Voigtlander lens hood. Hopefully this info can be of use to some of you to get in the ballpark:

- Attach the Manfrotto Quick Change Adapter to the N hole on the plate with the latch facing rearwards

- Add one finish weight to the nose (front)
- Add two finish and two mid weights to the end of the arm
- Set the distance from the set screw to the top of stage to 9 3/4"
- Open the display monitor
- Fine tune with the adjustment screws

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Drew
 
MikeNykoruk said:
Any opinions about this: http://cgi.ebay.com/WONDLAN-ARES-2-...ltDomain_0&hash=item3cb6a4dff9#ht_5531wt_1130

I like the L/R & F/B trimming feature, shock absorber in the handle, folds up for transport.
$310 delivered, some videos on vimeo. Just got my GH2 two weeks ago!
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It's hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like it uses the Glidecam style of mount adjustment, where you loosen the thumbscrews and move the mount to make fine adjustments. That's precisely the reason why I sold my Glidecam. In practice it was very inefficient for me (loosen thumbscrew>adjust>tighten>check balance>repeat if needed). With the Merlin, once you mount your camera, the mount itself never moves...you simply flick the fine tuning weights up or down (flick the weight>check balance>repeat if needed). Since the fine tuning weights are on a screw rail, you can make very small and precise movements and it's faster and less frustrating to find the balance. 90% of your time will be spent trying to get that last, tiny bit of adjustment to perfect balance.

In my experience, the lighter the camera, the more difficult it is to balance. I used the Voigtlander lens to balance my Steadicam because it added more weight. Also, a lighter rig will make you more prone to wind affecting your outdoor shots.


Just my $0.02. Others may have a different experience.
 
drewski310 said:
It's hard to tell from the pic, but it looks like it uses the Glidecam style of mount adjustment, where you loosen the thumbscrews and move the mount to make fine adjustments. That's precisely the reason why I sold my Glidecam. In practice it was very inefficient for me (loosen thumbscrew>adjust>tighten>check balance>repeat if needed). With the Merlin, once you mount your camera, the mount itself never moves...you simply flick the fine tuning weights up or down (flick the weight>check balance>repeat if needed). Since the fine tuning weights are on a screw rail, you can make very small and precise movements and it's faster and less frustrating to find the balance. 90% of your time will be spent trying to get that last, tiny bit of adjustment to perfect balance.

In my experience, the lighter the camera, the more difficult it is to balance. I used the Voigtlander lens to balance my Steadicam because it added more weight. Also, a lighter rig will make you more prone to wind affecting your outdoor shots.


Just my $0.02. Others may have a different experience.
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Thanks for your insights.
 
MikeNykoruk said:
Thanks for your insights.
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Glad to help. IMHO, if you can find a stabilizer that locks the camera and mount into place (instead of moving them to achieve final balance) and has very fine balancing weight adjustment, that would be the way to go.

Good luck...
 
Thanks for your Steadicam Merlin/GH2/Voigtlander "recipe", it only took a few turns of the adjustment screws to fine tune the balance since I had the exact same setup.


5595633824_d898777113_b.jpg
 
joe1946 said:
Thanks for your Steadicam Merlin/GH2/Voigtlander "recipe", it only took a few turns of the adjustment screws to fine tune the balance since I had the exact same setup.


5595633824_d898777113_b.jpg
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Awesome, love it :thumbup: I had to figure this "recipe" out myself because the spreadsheet wasn't giving me any results (probably because I didn't have the vert. CG figured out accurately). I'd love to see some sample footage once you get it going.
 
If you guys are looking to lighten up the rig a little; you could remove the quick-release adapter; saving both it's weight, and the effects of the vertical displacement of the camera.

The Merlin's top-stage is a quick-release; and there's the appropriate piece available for your tripod/other mount that matches the Merlin's stage, so you can swap back and forth.

- Mikko
 
drewski310 said:
Awesome, love it :thumbup: I had to figure this "recipe" out myself because the spreadsheet wasn't giving me any results (probably because I didn't have the vert. CG figured out accurately). I'd love to see some sample footage once you get it going.
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The weather here is windy almost every day so as soon as we get some calm days I will shoot some test videos. BTW did you try it without the quick-release adapter at all ?
 
mikkowilson said:
If you guys are looking to lighten up the rig a little; you could remove the quick-release adapter; saving both it's weight, and the effects of the vertical displacement of the camera.

The Merlin's top-stage is a quick-release; and there's the appropriate piece available for your tripod/other mount that matches the Merlin's stage, so you can swap back and forth.

- Mikko
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, oh I see you are using the Steadicam Archer that is a larger version of the Pilot and the Merlin.
 
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I have an original signature series Steadicam Merlin, and a Steadicam Archer (also original model).

I don't personally own a video camera. Our main house camera at work is a HPX370 (which obviously doesn't fly on the Merlin); but I use a variety of cameras regularly.


- Mikko
 
joe1946 said:
The weather here is windy almost every day so as soon as we get some calm days I will shoot some test videos. BTW did you try it without the quick-release adapter at all ?
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I did try it without the adapter and using the 20mm pancake, but since I need to be able to switch back and forth with a Manfrotto monopod, the QR is more practical for me.
 
I tried it without the Manfrotto QR adapter and my GH2 would shift on the dovetail plate but not on the Manfrotto QR plate because it has the soft material that keeps it snug. I will just stick with the QR adapter since it feels more secure to me.
 
Hey.

Just a quick question; how did you attach the manfrotto 323-quick release with only the one tiny screw supplied with the SM? Also, I had to place it in the hole which is at the very edge of the dovetail, so there isn't really much else to attach it to. So, I wonder how you did.

Thanks,

Bottar
 
bottar said:
Hey.

Just a quick question; how did you attach the manfrotto 323-quick release with only the one tiny screw supplied with the SM? Also, I had to place it in the hole which is at the very edge of the dovetail, so there isn't really much else to attach it to. So, I wonder how you did.

Thanks,

Bottar
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Bottar,
Hope this pic helps.

1zb9g5e.jpg

Drew
 
i just picked up one of those WONDLAN ARES on feebay, just didn't have the cash for the MERLIN :smile: in the UK the MERLIN is 3 times the price of the WONDLAN.

i'm going to do a WONDLAN ARES post when it arrives and review if its any good, get a bit more info out there about it.

i dont like the GH2, THE MERLIN or the VOIGTLANDER.... (said the poor lonely GH1'er) :smile: just kidding nice combo!
 
Thanks man. I will have to put a piece of plastic as a distance between the mini-screw and the manfrotto QR, or else it will come loose very easily sideways.

Now I'm going to initiate my balancing education! :)
 
bottar said:
Thanks man. I will have to put a piece of plastic as a distance between the mini-screw and the manfrotto QR, or else it will come loose very easily sideways.

Now I'm going to initiate my balancing education! :)
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I used a piece of duct tape in between to add some friction. It holds it pretty tight, but ideally I would drill a small hole in the bottom of the QR that is lined up with one of the smaller holes for the locating pin (the 2nd, smaller screw), that way I can also use the locating pin to prevent the QR from sliding around the larger screw.
 
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