Installing Dovetail Plate - Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual

This adjustment fine-tunes the location of the center of mass to the optimum point just below the pivot
point of the Gimbal. We call this the 'Z' axis, or vertical balance. Note that your Merlin was shipped
from the factory with the Guide unscrewed (counterclockwise) three full turns. (You'll need to push the
Latch again and rotate the Ring around a full turn each time as the Latch button detents facing forward).
WARNING:
all the way in. Also, tightening the Guide all the way can make
the latch difficult to release.
The Gimbal contains delicate bearings. Excessive force will
cause the Gimbal Ring to break.
DO NOT
use the Grip as a lever for turning the Guide. Also,
DO NOT
use the tongue as a lever for turning the Guide.
Now depress the latch and gently rotate the
the latch each time it comes to the front of the unit. It should rotate easily. You may be
able to rotate it part of a third turn but DO NOT ATTEMPT to force or tighten it.
After determining that the
the first detent position (latch forward). Then rotate it counterclockwise the number of
turns specified in the "Cookbook" for your camera.
Guide Ring
Always leave the
locked into place. If the Guide Ring is left with the tongue at the rear, the handle will
strike it and may snap off the tongue when the unit is folded into travel mode.
You have now preset the rough vertical balance of the Z (vertical) axis. After
the camera is mounted, this balance will be further adjusted.
Now watch Section 5 of the DVD,
Then continue with the Manual.
The Guide can be difficult to rotate if screwed
Guide
Guide is screwed all the way in clockwise, back it off to
with the latch and tongue in the forward position,

Installing Dovetail Plate.

two turns clockwise, pressing in
Basic Set-up
more bottom heavy
less bottom heavy
1