Steadicam Merlin Problems

thefilmaddict

thefilmaddict

Veteran
I've heard a lot of great things about using the Merlin with the HVX200 on this site. I purchased one a few months ago and have finally had time to try and balance it with the HVX200.

I've spent many hours trying to get the balance right but no luck. I've read the instructions and watched the DVD. I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I can get it level, but once I start moving it around, it wants to tip big time. It is not stable.

I would be willing to pay someone to balance it for me. I just want someone with Merlin knowledge/experience to make sure that it is working properly and show me what I am doing wrong. Any advice? This is very frustrating. It's sort of like putting together furniture that comes in a box filled with a million pieces!
 
Thanks DC!

It sounds like if I want to balance the camera I need the smaller battery or more weights.

I can't help but think I have a bigger problem because it is super unbalanced and unstable.

I know that there are others on this site who have the Merlin and have balanced it with the stock battery that comes with the HVX200. I would love to get their thoughts on my situation.

I would also love to go to a Merlin training session. Does Steadicam offer such classes?
 
addict,
what soft of tipping? when you stop, does it return to level again, or stay tilted at an off angle?
If it stays at an off angle, then it's out of balance, and we can help you through that.
If it does return to level, then how fast? It should be around 2 seconds to swign to level if you tilt it 90* and let go. (called "drop time") If it's aroudn this, then it's jsut a case of practice. The rig shodul be a little bottom heavy so it hangs vertical, but this sill make it want to sway or "pendulum" when you accelerate (ro change direction, etc) and that's somethign that you as an operator need to learn to take control of.

Let us know what symptoms you have and we'll get you sorted out. so: does it always retrn to level when you ahve stopeed, or does it stay tiltaed?

- Mikko
 
Mikko,
When i get it balanced and tip it or move, it immediately goes out of balance and does not return to level. It's no where near the 2 second to swing to level. It moves fast. Thanks for the help!

NOTES:

The arm is opened all the way

I have one weight in the front

All of the other weights are on the bottom

I use hole H

+1 stage mark

The camera with the stock battery and LCD screen open
 
it seems to be very back heavy. I use the little tension wheels to try to balance it, but it's very hard to stable. Maybe I am missing something. I would love to see photos of this thing set up properly (where the camera sits, where the weights are, how wide is the arm, where are the tension wheels set, etc...).
 
ok, I have to drop offline for abotu an hour or so, but in the meantime theres' a few thigns for you to try.

when ballancing, you always want to move the mass "uphill", so if it's back heavy, move the camera forward. (this is likly if you have a large battery - wich is heavyer back compared to the cookbook settings with medium battery).

If it tends to drift around to almost any position, that means the rig is "neautrally" balanced, alowing it to sit at any angle.

Take 2 or 3 quarters and tape them to the top of the weights on the bottom of the rig. This should make it bottom heavy enoguh to allow you to ballance it properly.


Excellent point about the pictures BTW, I'll mention that to Tiffen at NAB.
...but first I'll call you out on it... any chance at a picture of how you have it set up up? or better yet, a little video clip of how it's acting?


- Mikko
 
thefilmaddict said:
Thanks DC!

It sounds like if I want to balance the camera I need the smaller battery or more weights.

I can't help but think I have a bigger problem because it is super unbalanced and unstable.

I know that there are others on this site who have the Merlin and have balanced it with the stock battery that comes with the HVX200. I would love to get their thoughts on my situation.

I would also love to go to a Merlin training session. Does Steadicam offer such classes?
Click to expand...

I just wish I could be of more help. I don't have a Merlin, nor have I ever used one. Richard Gale would be the guy I'd advise you to converse with. Or if anyone else can help, then right on.

Good luck!
 
Hey Filmaddict,

Sounds like you're having the same challenge I did using the heavy battery. (that's the 5400 mAh).

From what you describe, your rig is top-heavy. When it's top heavy, it's impossible to get balanced, it just wants to flip over upside-down.

Even if your camera is slightly top-heavy, it will be horribly out of whack when you try to balance it.

Here are some tips that may help:

Make sure you review the DVD and Manual thoroughly. The dvd is actually really good. It's important to know the difference between top-heavy and bottom-heavy, and the different ways to determine which is which.

Even trying to balance with the lens cap on will make it too heavy. And make sure you extend the side lcd display. That'll throw it off, too.

Only have 1 P2 card in the camera.

If you put a UV filter on your lens for protection, hopefully it is not a B + W brand which has a heavy brass ring. I ordered a Hoya Pro1 UV which is light, and only 3mm in thickness, (and is super multi-coated to prevent ghosting.)

Make sure the guide ring (above the gimbal) is screwed to the top position, closest indent to the top, so it clicks in place. (Don't try to force it too far.)

Make sure the caliper knob (in the middle of the curved bar) is adjusted to Maximum length.

I recommend getting a lighter battery... That's what Garrett Brown told me to do, and, well... he's the Man.

edit: here's a link to the battery I got.

I got a third-party brand battery made by American Power Supplies that's a 2200mAh battery. Now I can balance the Merlin with no extra weights. (until you get a lighter battery, the only way to get it balanced will be to add weight to the weights at the bottom, as per Mikko's suggestion. But I wasn't comfortable with the idea of putting extra strain on this already heavy mother.)

FYI those knobs near the stage are not tension, they adjust the trim, which actually moves the gimbal/handle underneath the stage either forward or backwards, or side-to-side, in tiny amounts, to make subtle adjustments to the balance. It is normal to have to adjust these regularly as you use it, even between each shot you get, you may need to adjust the trim a little. Again, this is normal for steadicam operation.

It takes a lot of patience and practice to learn this device, but it's worth it.

Let me know how it's going!

Richard
 
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R Gale said:
I recommend getting a lighter battery... That's what Garrett Brown told me to do, and, well... he's the Man.

I got a third-party brand battery made by American Power Supplies that's a 2200mAh battery.
Click to expand...

I cannot locate the web site for purchasing this lighter battery.

Could you help us out Richard?

thanks
 
Here's the link for the 2200 mAh battery. It's a bargain! :)

Despite this seller's cheesy name, they are fine IMO. I looked them up on resellerratings.com and they checked out ok. The battery I bought works fine.

Richard
 
R Gale said:
Here's the link for the 2200 mAh battery. It's a bargain! :)

Despite this seller's cheesy name, they are fine IMO. I looked them up on resellerratings.com and they checked out ok. The battery I bought works fine.

Richard
Click to expand...

thank you.

I don't see the HVX200 listed there.

This does work, and works with the charger?
 
Yes, it works. I learned from these boards that the HVX can use the same batteries that work on the DVX100.

Do you have a Merlin, David?
 
R Gale said:
Yes, it works. I learned from these boards that the HVX can use the same batteries that work on the DVX100.

Do you have a Merlin, David?
Click to expand...

Yes, I do. And I am trying to write a review of the Merlin, have been in contact with Mr. Brown about balancing it with the HVX200, Z1U and A1U.

Needless to say, I've experienced some issues with getting it balanced.

Garrett has been great, and we returned an initial unit and it was replaced.

That's why I'm fishing for more info here.
 
David S. said:
Yes, I do. And I am trying to write a review of the Merlin...

Garrett has been great, and we returned an initial unit and it was replaced.

That's why I'm fishing for more info here.
Click to expand...
Cool... Out of curiosity, what was wrong with the initial unit?

Also, worth mentioning, someone in an earlier thread talked about trying to create a way to replace some of the Merlin's weights with a wireless mic receiver. Would be very useful if it worked...
 
I'm not sure if I have a defective unit or if I am just doing something wrong. I can tell you that I have the autographed unit (if that helps).

I posted some rough test footage at www.morrisbrothersfilms.net. I'm only allowed a certain number of downloads, so please only look at the footage if you own a Merlin and want to help me (the footage is very bad as I am having balancing issues).

For all of you that want to see good merlin/HVX200 footage, I will post it later when I get the thing working and learn how to use it properly.

As you can see with my first couple of takes, there is a lot of bouncing going on in the shot. I think that is because I did not have the front screw/tension knob raised (it pushes the front of the camera up to make the camera sit tighter on the Merlin). My later takes look smoother after raising the knob, right?

Also, you will notice that I have a hard time leveling the shot. I spend a lot of time adjusting the finger wheels and the slightest movement throws everything out of balance. Is that normal (it looks more stable in the training DVD)?

My biggest complaints (other than my balancing trouble):

1. The screw/plastic part that holds the camera plate to the Merlin occasionally gets loose. I'm afraid that the camera will fall off of the Merlin one day. The plate connected to the Merlin also slides on occasion throwing everything out of balance. How do I make this thing safer/more secure?

2. Overall, much of the top part of the Merlin is held together by small parts and screws. I wish they would go a little stronger with their hardware. Perhaps the weight of the HVX is pushing the Merlin too far? I realize this thing is not a top of the line Steadicam.

Also, what the heck is the dark rectangle part in the kit (it sort of looks like a tripod plate)? I haven't figured out what it is used for.
 
I'll start with the easy bit:
Yes that black block is in deed a tripod adapter. Screw that to your tripod (as you would yrou camera) and you will find that you can move the camera with the Merlin's dovetail plate off the Merlin and onto that tripod adapter. There's a picture on page 41 of the manual. Handy huh?


There were a couple of units shipped that has a few loose screws. Nothing needs to be super cranked down of course, but they should all be tight. Check the screw that holds the dovetail clamp, and also the ones under the stage that grip the side-to-side rods. When you have everything mounted, nothing should move (other than the gimbel of course) unless you are making an adjustment.


Now the footage (sorry I didn't get to it last night)...
First off, yes you can see the "G-platz" screw wasn't set in the first few shots - possibly some of the running ones too?
Other than that, to be brutally blunt, the footage just looks like you need some practice. Thats how a slightly out of control rig looks - smooth, but a little wobbly.
I kept hoping you'd walk past a mirror so we could see your grip on the rig.
Some things to think about when practicing:
- First off, loosen up your grip on the gimble (with yrou control hand) as much as possible, you should be barly touching it.
- Next, I know it's heavy, but try to relay yoru carrying arm a little and "ride" the bumps of your footsteps a little, the same way you do when carrying a glass of water. This will help take out the steps which were visible in a couple of shots.
- Try and break down your practice shots at first. work on walking straight, then seperatly figure out starts and stops, then cornering, paning, etc. Slowly build up to more complex combination moves once you know how the various parts all work and what has what effect.

Overall that's not too shabby, unless you are really having to fight the rig (it doesn't look like it) I'd say you are balanced and just in need of some more pratice. And a few of those shots where down right fine too. :thumbsup:

- Mikko
 
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Mikko,
Thanks for all of your help and excellent advice. I will practice, practice, practice! I appreciate your time. Thanks also for being patient with me.
 
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