What options (besides homemade) do I have for an HVX-200 Steadicam?

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filmguy123

Veteran
I love shooting handheld, dynamic shots. I don't like setting up dolly's and cranes. I don't like tripod shots. Unless the style of a shot calls for that.

I'd like to be able to shoot all day on a steadicam. Wear the vest, hook the camera up, and have flexibility for all kinds of shots.

I also don't have a lot of money (that might be a problem?)

What options do I have for a steadicam system? I thought I've heard of stuff for $500-$800 for an HVX200, or no? And, what is the difference between something I'll get for that price and something that costs thousands?

What are perhaps my top options in different price ranges and what would I miss/gain by going with one of those options?
 
The Steadicam Merlin is the top contender at your price range at $800. There's a vest and arm package for it for $2600. The basic difference is ease of setup and use. In the hand of a good operator, you can't tell the difference.
 
I read up on this, and I see that the HVX200's weight is pushing it. Looks like this is THE perfect solution for low profile and low budget. I just wish if officially supported a little more weight. Anyone know when the merlin was released, and if a new, updated version that officially supports more weight in the same design is coming anytime soon?

 
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The Merlin now comes with a metal gimble, which gives it a higher max. weight capacity of 7 lbs.

I have a Merlin, and love it... but without the arm and vest, I can't operate it for more than 10 minutes before fatigue sets in big time. Takes practice to use it well, but it can get shots that really look the same as a $50,000. steadicam.
 
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...Really?? Awesome! Where can I buy this new and updated Merlin? BHPhoto still has the one that lists max capacticty of 5lbs, and even Tiffen's site I didn't see this...?
 
filmguy123 said:
I'd like to be able to shoot all day on a steadicam. Wear the vest, hook the camera up, and have flexibility for all kinds of shots.
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Filmguy, no matter how good you get with the merlin, you won't be able to shoot for a long period of time (over 20 minutes or so depending on your strength)

R Gale said:
I have a Merlin, and love it... but without the arm and vest, I can't operate it for more than 10 minutes before fatigue sets in big time. Takes practice to use it well, but it can get shots that really look the same as a $50,000. steadicam.
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filmguy123 said:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._MERLIN_Merlin_Camera_Stabilizing_System.html

This says "with metal gimble" but the specs still read max load capacity of 5lbs.
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The B&H guys need to update their info. If you read this page on the Tiffen site,
it explains that the new metal, ball-bearing gimbal supports 7.5 lbs.

One way to cope with Merlin fatigue without investing in the vest...
would be to become proficient at operating the merlin with either the left or right hand...
then you can switch when one arm gets too tired and trembly. It is do-able with practice. Worked for me.

I am, however, getting the arm & vest, as I plan to use it a lot on my next project.
 
R Gale said:
The B&H guys need to update their info. If you read this page on the Tiffen site,
it explains that the new metal, ball-bearing gimbal supports 7.5 lbs.
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Here is what I found:

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The original Merlin used two-ball-bearings for the vertical axis, and low-friction bushings for the remaining two horizontal axes. The results were excellent but the maximum payload was limited to 5.5 lbs.

The new Merlin Six-Ball-Bearing Gimbal employs aluminum and stainless-steel construction and precision, flanged, extended-race ball bearings in all three axes, which yields higher payloads and superb angular isolation. This robust new, all-metal gimbal, together with the Merlin Arm and Vest, now permits your Merlin to fly cameras weighing up to 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg).

The new MERLIN Six-Ball-Bearing Gimbal is available separately as a plug-and-play replacement for existing MERLINS, or as part of the new MERLIN Arm & Vest Package, consisting of the new Metal Gimbal, the brilliant new MERLIN Arm & Vest and two additional stainless-steel 'mid-weights' to counterbalance cameras weighing up to 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg).

--------------------------------

Sounds like it it is still 5 (or 5.5lbs?) max payload or 7.5lbs WITH THE VEST...?
 
filmguy123 said:
Sounds like it it is still 5 (or 5.5lbs?) max payload or 7.5lbs WITH THE VEST...?
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Hmmm, I'd want to ask steadiguru Mikko about this one.
I had thought the gimbal is what added the higher capacity, with or without the vest, because the gimbal is where the center of gravity lies, and why else would they sell the gimbal upgrade seperately for $125.? Then I saw this:

"With the new Six-Ball-Bearing Gimbal your Steadicam MERLIN can deliver superb results at twice the focal length as with the standard non-metallic gimbal."

So perhaps, even without the vest, you get smoother, steadier shots with the new more rigid, metal gimbal, but maybe not the greater weight capacity without the vest? It's unclear.

Even with a max. capacity of 5.5 lbs., it is workable. I have used the HVX on the merlin with the old gimbal, but you have to use
a smaller battery than the large size that comes with the HVX, and you can't have any accessories (no lens adapters, mattebox, etc.).

There is an accessory plate you can get, which attaches where the counterweights go at the bottom, that allows you to velcro wireless mic receivers, so you use those as counterweights.

Besides, a Merlin with 7.5 lbs. on it would wear you out really, really fast without an arm/vest.

I tried it out at NAB last year, Garrett Brown put me in the vest himself. The vest is awesome, makes the merlin feel like it's weightless. I flew it for over an hour with no fatigue whatsoever.
 
OK, what do people think of the Glidecam 4000 with Body Support:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/241312-REG/Glidecam__Glidecam_4000_PRO_Camcorder.html

And actually, that kit has a battery and LCD which I don't need. I could get the body pod & 4000 pro unit for just under $700 - I know the body pod isn't the same as an arm vest, but it might be a good place to start for someone poor like myself? Or not so much?

Supports 4lbs-10lbs, perfect weight for HVX + has weight distribution. Does this pale in comparison to the Merlin with Arm/Vest? Why or why not?

Also, does a glidecam that supports "4lbs-10lbs" work with cameras under 4lbs ok?
 
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Having never flown the Smooth Shooter, I can't comment on the arm, but I do know that the Glidecam sled isn't on par with the Merlin. (truly my opinion though, to each his own)

The stage alone (the place where you mount the camera) is worth the difference in price. On the Glidecam, you have to loosen 4 thumbscrews and then very, very carefully slide the whole camera and stage forwards or backwards, then lock down all 4 nuts, pick the rig up, and see how it's going, then repeat, until the rig is in balance. On the Merlin, you can slide the camera front to back while it's on your hand, getting the balance roughly correct, and then use the micrometer trim rollers to move the camera minute amounts to get it balanced. You also have a trim roller to control side-to-side balancing. Another issue I see is that on the Glidecam, you use washers to adjust the counterbalance. These washers can slide front to back and left to right, and therefore need to be carefully positioned. On the Merlin, you screw on a weight, which is an incredibly easy job, thanks to some cool tricks, and then adjust the caliper length, which is done precisely. Also, on the Merlin, the gimbal is directly below the camera, putting a force down on your hand, versus torquing your wrist.

The Merlin is a sweet little rig. The Glidecam is a fine rig, and I'm sure that a good operator could make either rig look equally good, but the Glidecam removes a lot of the finesse, at least in my opinion.

Oh, and about the body pod, all it does is reconnect the rig right back to your body, removing a lot of the isolation that your arm or a rig's arm provides. It might work fine for resting between takes, but I can't see much of a purpose for it.
 
it's not ideal but we use a HVX with an attached jimmy box, and a custom weight to get it up to the specs for an old Steadicam Sk we have on campus. It works well enough, I've heard mixed things about the glidecam but haven't played with it so no pros or cons there.

Where is Mikko? This is his kind of thread.
 
Thanks Tom :)

I have already responded to some PM's from Filmguy on this subject, but I'll touch briefly on the topics mentioned here for the benefit of all.


Tiffen, and dealers, really need to update their websites.

A Merlin with a plastic gimbal can support cameras up to ~5.5lbs.
A Merlin with a metal gimbal can support cameras up to ~7.5lbs.

How you then support the Merlin is your choice.
The "Merlin Arm & Vest" can support up to 15lbs of weight on the arm - which is where the Pilot comes in as the larger sled allows you to utilize that capacity. Even a loaded metal-gimbal Merlin won't come close to the limit of the Merlin Arm. .. but at that point, you could fly it on a Flyer arm without trouble.

As already mentioned, heavier cameras on the Merlin will get heavy to hold quickly. Loading past the original limit of 5.5lbs of the plastic gimbal really does take you into vest territory for longer takes anyway. But there is no reason why you can't hand carry a loaded metal gimbal Merlin with a 7lbs camera; it would work just fine for shorter takes after a bit of practice. I wouldn't use it for a wedding, but for a quick dynamic shot here or there in a narrative piece it would be ok.


I have personally flown the HVX200, and the EX1 (in addition to many other cameras [DVX100, Z1, A1 (Canon), A1 (Sony), TRV900, GL2, and many more..] on the plastic gimbal Merlin (which I own). I found removing the lens shade from the HVX200 and the EX1 greatly helped in their balancing. But you are very limited for on-camera accessories at that point. Using a metal gimbal, these cameras are no problem. And having the arm to help carry them is wonderful.

The aforementioned Merlin Accessory Plate is great for adding gear to the sled without adding weight. I find a radio-mic receiver much more handy than a lump of metal.


I do find the metal gimbal to have less friction than the plastic one, and therefore I do believe it is *even* smoother to operate too. I'll probably upgrade at some point.



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As to the Glidecam body pod; as Tom says, it's basically a portable "dock" that you carry around. It has zero shock-absorbing capabilities - it's useless if you are moving. Basically it turns your handheld glidecam, and you, into a human bi-pod (they don't call it the "body pod" for nothing). It's no alternative to a spring arm & vest solution.

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You will be pressed to find any vest & arm supported stabilizer of any quality for less than about $2000. At that point you have the Ind!cam, Glidecam, & Steadicam - all within a few hundred dollars of each other. At that point I do recommend going for the real thing, as the Merlin is by far the best rig in handheld mode, and the other arms can't hold a candle to the Steadicam arm in vest supported mode.



- Mikko
 
Thanks Mikko! That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Made me more confident in my purchase of the new Merlin. At some point this summer, I'll upgrade to the arm/vest addition (I can purchase it separately right?) because I do intend to fly it for a longer period of time.

I guess getting back in shape will help carrying this for a longer time until I can afford to purchase the arm/vest.

Thanks again,

Kegan
 
I've got a Glidecam 4000 and arm support couldn't be happier. I was suprised how very well it works.
 
What about the Steadicam Pilot? I know it's $4000-$4500, but wouldn't that be the ideal setup for an HVX? I'm asking because this is what I'm seriously looking at purchasing with my tax refund and I don't see too many people talking about it.
 
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