So what's so special about the Merlin?
- Thread starter dbarak
- Start date
Robert Eldon
Well-known member
dbarak,
I had a chance to try out the Merlin at NAB. I also had a chance to try out a Glidecam (I think it was a 2000 or 4000?). Anyway, the Merlin just felt more intuitive. I remember that the Glidecam had an offset grip, so maybe that was the reason. I don't know how to explain the 'feel' exactly, but the Merlin felt natural, balanced and fluid.
I'm looking for a stabilizer also. I think the best thing to do is try them out with your camera or similiar weight camera.
I had a chance to try out the Merlin at NAB. I also had a chance to try out a Glidecam (I think it was a 2000 or 4000?). Anyway, the Merlin just felt more intuitive. I remember that the Glidecam had an offset grip, so maybe that was the reason. I don't know how to explain the 'feel' exactly, but the Merlin felt natural, balanced and fluid.
I'm looking for a stabilizer also. I think the best thing to do is try them out with your camera or similiar weight camera.
OregonDank
Well-known member
Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikko!!!!
mikkowilson
Steadi-Guru
Meh.
<lazy>
Run a search for "Merlin" and you'll find lots of discussions, others and myself have discussed this many times before.
</lazy>
Simply put: The Merlin is better.
It's designed from the ground up by the person who invented Steadicam and he has a genuine passion for it, and it shows. It's mught lighter than the knockoffs - who are in it for the money - much more precise, easier to adjust, more compact, etc etc. It is designed to put the weight of the system over your hand, not out at the side (Glidecams for example are hell on your wrist, I mean serious risk of injury due to the tourque) Not only does the Merlin work fantasticaly as a stabilizer, it folds into a compact travel mode that also works as a shoulder type brace, the handle has velcro on it so that you can tuck it out of the way (little details that count) it also has a built in quick realease and tripod adapter included so you don't need a seperate (pricy and heavy) QR plate. Lots of little things that over all make it a 'better' system.
Now which will give you steadier footage? (cuz that's what count's, right?) That depends entirly on the operator, but eventaully an operator will reach limits of systems too.
In my oppinion the Merlin offers the most (and highest quality) bang for the buck of stabilizers in it's class.
- Mikko
<lazy>
Run a search for "Merlin" and you'll find lots of discussions, others and myself have discussed this many times before.
</lazy>
Simply put: The Merlin is better.
It's designed from the ground up by the person who invented Steadicam and he has a genuine passion for it, and it shows. It's mught lighter than the knockoffs - who are in it for the money - much more precise, easier to adjust, more compact, etc etc. It is designed to put the weight of the system over your hand, not out at the side (Glidecams for example are hell on your wrist, I mean serious risk of injury due to the tourque) Not only does the Merlin work fantasticaly as a stabilizer, it folds into a compact travel mode that also works as a shoulder type brace, the handle has velcro on it so that you can tuck it out of the way (little details that count) it also has a built in quick realease and tripod adapter included so you don't need a seperate (pricy and heavy) QR plate. Lots of little things that over all make it a 'better' system.
Now which will give you steadier footage? (cuz that's what count's, right?) That depends entirly on the operator, but eventaully an operator will reach limits of systems too.
In my oppinion the Merlin offers the most (and highest quality) bang for the buck of stabilizers in it's class.
- Mikko
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