Steadicam Merlin Camera Stabilizing System - with Arm and Vest

Comments about Steadicam Merlin Camera Stabilizing System - with Arm and Vest:

First off I got the unit for at the current price which is a steal, considering what the Merlin costs without the vest and arm.

I mostly shoot weddings and commercials and needed something that was very light and compact, this was the only answer out there, I previously flew a competitors rig which supports 10LBS, but man its like heaven and earth, the Merlin is smoother in almost every way, its lighter, build quality is unmatchable.

Right off the bat you can tell the arm was built to support a much heavier rig and it was the Pilot, the vest is so much smaller and easier to put on then any of the competitors out there.

I'm currently flying a DVX and an HVX with ease. The DVX is fully rigged with a Sennheiser Lav and the 416 shotgun, as well as a Formatt matte box and a Hoodman LCD hood, no problems with balancing, excellent rig.

The only thing you have to watch out for are the accessories they tend to shake making the entire camera shake and that's not acceptable, make sure you have everything screwed in and tightened down. If your thinking about it, GET IT!

Comments about Steadicam Merlin Camera Stabilizing System - with Arm and Vest:

I'm not a pro Steadicam operator, but I've tried numerous units on this level in this price range, (and lower). This is, by far, the best unit for the money. It's robustly built, and a lot of design and quality was put into it. Most impressive is that the gimbal works much better than comparable units.

The one caution I have, and this is the same on all units: Expect to spend a while balancing your camera just right. This can take numerous micro adjustments, and then testing, and then more adjustments. Be patient.

Of note: This unit works great with everything from a tiny Canon HV20, up through a Panasonic HVX200 or Sony EX-1, including battery and microphone. This includes the Panasonic HMC-150, HPX 170, Sony V1, Z1, Canon A1, G1, etc. A step up in camera size to something like the Sony EX-3, Canon XL-H1, and JVC HD200 and you are probably pushing Merlin's weight limit too far, look into the Steadicam Pilot to handle those.

Comments about Steadicam Merlin Camera Stabilizing System - with Arm and Vest:

I have to say. This system is a steal for the price. I was skeptical of all the glorious claims which this product made. My first shoot (paid gig) after only 4 days of practicing was down a mountain trail after a fresh fall of snow. I was walking backwards down (snow covered) uneven terrain shooting someone talking as they walked towards me. The footage looked amazing. It looked like I had been using it for years. Granted, I don't have the finesse down yet, but I'm halfway there.After I watched the DVD, I was walking around my house balancing plates on my fingertip, and picking up just about anything and trying to determine where the center of gravity was on it. Only my wife objected when I picked her up and tried to balance her...just kidding.I used the Sony Z1U on the merlin, and it just about maxed the rig out (with big battery and wireless UHF mic reciever) but it still worked great. I shortly ordered the accessory plate to try and distribute the weight better with the mic. I would DEFFO recommend the vest and arm for heavier cameras like the Z1U. If I didn't have the vest and arm, my body would have been a wreck after 15 mins of use (however, I am quite wimpy). On heavier cameras, get the vest and arm.The DVD was also great. Just give yourself a day to watch the DVD and practice just to get a good start. It's like learning to ride a bike. You can't just strap this thing on and [*] the setup. You'll be fighting it and injuring your body!Oh, I also like letting go of the arm when it's balanced nicely and seeing it float around me like Doctor Octopus. I'd like to get another and wear it backwards so that I look even more villain-like. Or maybe more like a Hindu god type-thing! Peace!