Questions on Merlin and Glidecam 2000 pro stabilizing systems

M

maniero

Well-known member
Hi,
I'm looking for a steadycam for my DVX100A. After researching the internet and this forum I found two systems that seem to work quite well with the DVX.
1. Merlin Stabilizing System
2. Glidecam 2000 pro

I had a look at the demo videos shot with the Glidecam on their homepage and the results impressed me (for a system in this price level...)
Does anybody know where I could find some demo footage shot with the Merlin?

And now my Questions:
Which system is the best to be used with the DVX100A?
The Merlin`s price is more than twice as high as the Glidecam 2000 pro. Is it really better? Is the price difference justified?
Does anybody use one of the two systems (or has used both) and could let me know his or her impressions?
Are there any other good steadicam systems within that pricerange that should be mentioned?

Thanks a lot for all ansers and for your help to make me chose the right one.
 
right off the bat i can tell you the advantages of the merlin

1) its easier to balance
2) its lighter
3) its smaller ( for tight situations )

however i asked myself this same quesiton before i purchased my glidecam 2000 pro for 150, used. compared to the 750 dollar price tag on the merlin.

if its a question of quality?

They are both built to provide the same quality

where the differences lies is the ability of the user to achieve smooth motion after extensive practice. Both rigs will require practice and patience. The Merlin will be slightly easier on that section as it balances much faster, since its lighter, yadda yadda, i have heard that it is a bit easier for first time users to achieve smoother footage with that as opposed to the glidecam2000 pro.

But i will say without a doubt that the glidecam is able to achieve the same beautiful smooth movement that the merlin can achieve, just at a lower price tag.

i have made many threads ( i find myself saying this ALOT these days ) on the use of the gildecam, its balancing, and so on.

Here are two video links, the first is some random footage of me running through my upstairs, and the second is its balancing act.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owlx13xCjCg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuIluBJD4L0


If you have the money for the merlin, go for it, otherwise, you're not selling yourself shot by getting a glidecam. Just a bit heavier, but youll build your glidemuscle.
 
Yeah, this topic has been discussed before. Search for existing threads on the topic and if necesarry discuss in them.

Both rigs work for basic walking shots. PaPa, our resident Glidecam showoff :) has posed many a times about it and does a good job of outlining many of the differences.
However I'll eleborate on them a little. Again.

It is generally agreed that the Merlin is a better system.
- It is easier to balance and has a much better support system to help you get started (online cookbook of settings, great manual and setup-DVD, etc..)
- It's much lighter, which is of course a critical feature for a rig that you have to hold in your hand. With a light camera the whole Merlin system [including the camera] ready to fly can weigh less than the bare glidecam alone. So there is a definate benefit.
- Merlin is also better designed to fly above your hand, not out at the side. This makes Merlin a little more comfterble and doens't strain your wrist with torque.

The're some more features to the Merlin that the GC dones't have too..
- Merlin folds down to a *very* compact system for storage/travel.
- Merlin has a built in quick-release system and a tripod adapter is included. it's more money and weight to get one for the GC if that's important to you.
- The rig is built with space for wiring to a Accessory plate that's available if you so wish. (Handy for radio mics, etc..)
- There's a monitor and a lightwight arm/vest system in the works for Merlin if you want to upgrade later.


However there is a notable price difference too. PaPa scored a nice deal on his used rig for $150. Even with a Quick release plate kit, he's under $300. Of course a new unit will cost you more.
Used Merlins are very rare... I guess people must be happy with them. :)


If you are on a tight budget and you want to do short shots that you don't mind balancing for a litlte bit or buying a quick release plate for, then the GC does a good job. If you want a top notch piece of gear that is more convenient and faster, lighter, etc. Then the Merlin is well worth the difference in price.

I own a Merlin and have flown the Glidecam range at tradeshows on multiple occasions.

- Mikko ... resident Steadicam showoff. :)
 
Okay, everyone so far is in favor in of Merlin, but before I decide to that I need to know: Does Merlin have some sort of vest/arm accessory you can purchase later? If anything, that is why I am still leaning on getting the Glidecam, so I can purchase the Smooth Shooter attachment later.
 
As I noted in my above post; It's not available yet, but there is a Vest & Arm in development for the Merlin.

Going by Steadicam's recent track record with arms, I expect it'll ba a fantastic scaled down version of the Flyer arm. Garrett hasn't told me much, but he's said that it will be very good. :)

- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
As I noted in my above post; It's not available yet, but there is a Vest & Arm in development for the Merlin.
Click to expand...

Duh! You did note that. My bad. Thanks, Mikko.

Damn, looks like I need to save up more money! I have about 400 US saved up, and was soooooooo close to purchasing a GC4000, like tomorrow--but, I'm patient enough to save more for a Merlin. I'll be praying to find a good deal on a decent used one, though.
 
Oh, Mikko, new question: While reading the specs for the Merlin, its max weight capacity is 5 lbs. Now, the DVX, for example, is 4 lbs., right? Would the Merlin still be good to use with a DVX outfitted with a 7 in. LCD, on-camera light, 35mm adapter, etc., provided we can't exceed 5 lbs? Or am I counting the overall weight distribution wrong?
 
The limit is 5.5lb on the stage.

You can replace the metal counterweights of the usefull system down below if you wish. That accessorry plate I mentioned does just that. So Radio mics for example are not a problem at all.

35mm adapters with lenses will be too heavy for the Merlin, just I just commented in depth on why that's not a good idea a couple of hours ago in a thread in the HVX200 hardware section.

On camera lights are cool if they are light and low-profile. If possible, move the batteries down below again as counterweight.

I can't imagine why you'd want a 7"monitor on a Merlin though. the HVX monitor is perfectly fine for framing, and as shallow DoF isnt' a good Idea, you hardly need anythgin special for focussing. The only reason would be if you needed to operate in a way that obscured ther camera's own LCD. - But there may be a special LCD monitor coming for the Merlin too from Tiffen.

- Mikko
 
mikkowilson said:
I can't imagine why you'd want a 7"monitor on a Merlin though. the HVX monitor is perfectly fine for framing, and as shallow DoF isnt' a good Idea, you hardly need anythgin special for focussing. The only reason would be if you needed to operate in a way that obscured ther camera's own LCD. - But there may be a special LCD monitor coming for the Merlin too from Tiffen.
- Mikko
Click to expand...

Quite true, there really is no practical need for shallow DOF on moving shots requiring precise stabilization. I was concerned about adding more weight in general.

Good to know about counterweight replacement and the accessory plate!

I love this site!!
 
hey man.

the only advice i can say is if you shoot normally with a 35mm adapter, such as the ifocus like i use, i generally use the ifocus for all my shots except glidecam shots, where i use the stock lens, lower the detail to -4, color gamma to -1.

Then do some CC to match the two images together, with and without the adapter.

Alsol, as suggested, you dotn want a shallow depth of field with a merlin, cause it would be very difficult to keep consistant, but i would recommend shooting with the stock dvx zoomed in around 25-35, just to provide with a slight shallower depth than the completely zoomed out dvx. Just my take on it though, seems to be able to blend in nicely with adapter footage.
 
Does anyone know of anyone actually using a Merlin with a vest such as the Glidecam, Varizoom...?
Seems to me I read that Merlin can be used with a vest although I've yet to find a thread with anyone doing that.
If Steadicam comes out with one, thats great. However, I would expect it to be consistent with their pricing so it would be nice know whether or not other vests can be used in the event theirs is out of my budget.
 
Thanks to all who replied to my question. I decided to buy a Glidecam 2000 pro and I recieved it some days ago. Especially I want to say thank you to Papa (btw am I right if I suppose you live in Switzerland? I just thought so and want to say a special "Grüzi" to you as I live in Germany...) Your reply and you footage convinced me of buying a 2000 pro, because the video you shot looked really great and I hope I will be able to shoot similar stuff sometime...
But there is one more question I have. The balanzing of the glidecam was not easy and it cost me a lot of time and some tears (not really, but I wanted to throw the Glidecam out of the window sometime) but finally I think I have it balanced quite well. I did some tryouts and the footage is ok for me as long as I walk straight on and don't move the Glidecam to the left or right. But if I try to turn the Glidecam (e.g. to do a circle walk around an object, I loose the stability...
Is there a trick to get these shots (I tried my best to touch the glidecam as smooth and light as I can) or is it just a training and practise issue?
Does this indicate that my unit isn't balanced right or do I only have to do some more training with it and will get good results as time goes by...
I hope anybody can give my a good advise.
Thanks and best regards,
Manfred
 
so you have to buy one of these QR kits to attach camera to glidecam? Why doesn't it mention this at all on the glidecam website? I'm so confused! It's like being a teenager again!
 
You don't have to buy a Quick Release plate. The cam can also be connectet to the Glidecam directly by a srew. But those QR plates are useful if you want to use the cam on the Glidecam and a tripod at the same shooting location. You can take it your cam of the Glidecam, put it on the tripod and after you have finished the tripod scene you can put it back to the Glidecam without having to screw on/off it all the time. You also don't have to do the balanzing again for the Glidecam then.

BTW: Does anybody have an anser to my "turning problem" ? Moving the Glidecam from front to back or from left to right is no problem. But if I try to walk around an object or turn the cam to an object on the left or right while walking straight on, I loose the stability of my Glidecam. What am I doing wrong?
 
If you loose stability when you turn, chances are your Glidecam is not balanced properly. Can you describe exactly what happen when you "loose stability".
 
Hi somewhereinLA,
thanks for your reply. My problem is that I want walk straight through a hall of my university and while walking along I want to turn the Glidecam to some sculptures that are on the left side and then turn the cam back to the front (to the direction I'm walking). This turning to the left and back should happen while still walking straight on.
But if I turn the cam to the sculptures the Glidecam begins to swing a little bit and I don't get smooth pictures of the sculptures.
Does this indicate that I didn't balance the Glidecam correctly or is it a matter of the force I use to turn the the Glidecam.
I carefully turn the Glidecam by touching it ~ an inch beyond the point where the gimbal is connected with the handle.
Do you think I should try to balance it again (but I thought it would be ok, because as long as I walk straight on with the cam facing to the front it is balanced and even if I push it front to back or left to right when the cam is facing to the front, it stays balanced). Or do I only have to do more training with the Glidecam to find the right technique for turning it while walking?
Thanks!
 
mikkowilson said:
As I noted in my above post; It's not available yet, but there is a Vest & Arm in development for the Merlin.

Going by Steadicam's recent track record with arms, I expect it'll ba a fantastic scaled down version of the Flyer arm. Garrett hasn't told me much, but he's said that it will be very good. :)

- Mikko
Click to expand...

OMG Mikko when can I see some shots? Prices? etc. You know me I love to be the guinea pig. I assume that its not going to take the skill level of the flyer though? I can put in the effort to learn something to boost production value for myself, but you know I dont want to be a steadicam op as I dont have the years to master it.
 
Haha, I wish I knew more about it, but alas I don't.

Knowing Tiffen, my guess is that they may release something at NAB. Again, that's a guess, I know nothing for sure.

- Mikko
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top