T2i steadicam merlin locating pin

C

cyclonebill

Active member
I'm trying right now to mount my T2i to the steadicam merlin.

The problem I'm having is that I can't use the included locating pin to attach to the t2i because there's no hole for the locating pin on the bottom of the T2i body or on the bottom of the generic battery grip I'm using. This is causing the camera to move around the mounting plate even though the mounting screw is in pretty tight.

I've come across many people who have made the T2i work well on the merlin, anybody here tried it? What did you do about the locating pin?
 
i've got the same thing with my 7d. have to readjust constantly. every time i set it down, the camera shifts slightly and throws the weight off. even just with regular use, it still finds a way to twist slightly and throw off the balance. there's got to be a better way--i just don't know it.
 
Cameras moving can be a real pain. Don't you wish more companies would just put a second screw hole somewhere?

Until that magical day comes though, the easiest way is to put a few (2 layers?) strips of gaff tape on either side of the hole on your dovetail. Then, when you crank down the screw, the gaff tape will compress and hold tension on the screw. It works similarly to the rubber or cork on quick release plates. And, as a matter of fact, if you find some rubber or cork sheets, those would work just fine too. The biggest thing is that it will compress and then rebound.
 
interesting, thanks for the info. I'll try some stuff out tomorrow, spent too many hours trying to get this damn thing balanced for one day.
 
Don't use the grip with the Merlin, it is not necessary, and can make set up harder.

More weight only makes the rig heavier, not balance better.
 
I gave up on trying to get the T2i balanced with the 24-70mm 2.8 canon lens. Tried it with and without the battery grip.

I have a 5d Mark II as well and was planning on putting that on a tripod and having the t2i on the merlin (shooting a wedding) but decided to switch things up and try the 5d on the merlin instead. I think it was the heavy lens causing the difficulties, so I've improvised and put the 50mm 1.8 lens on the 5d instead and have more or less got it balanced. Will do some fine-tuning tomorrow but it should be do-able.

Will just use the 5d with 50mm lens on the merlin for select shots and use the T2i with battery grip and 24-70mm lens on a tripod as my A camera.

The 5d is also moving around the plate a lot less than the T2i was.
 
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