Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual page 18

Dovetail Plate
1
5. Installing the Dovetail Plate
Before mounting your camera, let's preview docking the Dovetail Plate
on the stage.
Swing the Locking Lever
that the plate is held on loosely, but can still be slid fore and aft.
LOOK CLOSELY at how the shape of the Lever allows the Plate
to drop past it when the lever is forward, and to be held against the
Stage when the lever is swung toward the rear.
Swing the Locking Lever
in position. Note that the Stage Position markings can show you
the correct position, and help you return to it when the camera has
been removed from the Merlin.
Refer to your list of Cookbook settings for your camera and note
the suggested Stage Position
Prepare your camera
Accessories have a big influence on the center of balance, so leave them off for now. Eventually you
may want to balance the Merlin with your preferred combination of accessories in place, including a
wide-angle adaptor, but to get started, the Cookbook settings are for a fairly stripped down camera.
Make sure the tape, disc or memory card is installed in your camera. Tuck your lens cap away so it
stays put while you're shooting, and remove the shoulder strap or anything else that might dangle.
We recommend that you put a narrow strip of thick Gaffer's Tape (fancy duct tape!) running fore
and aft at either side of the threaded insert (mounting hole) on the underside of the camera.
Since camcorder mounting surfaces can be small, irregular and often somewhat weak, this increases the
friction between camera and Dovetail Plate and improves the tightness of the fit.
Note: If your camera weighs more than four pounds, we recommend that you plan
on using the lightest, rather than the heaviest batteries you own, and cameras
approaching 5 lbs (2.2kg) may be overweight for Merlin with a wide-angle adapter.
Remember that once the Caliper Hinge is fully open, each object added to the camera
will require additional counterweight below.
Hook the folded metal edge of the
Plate
your camera's fold-out monitor), and the long
flat surface will be toward the front.
The three-position
goes to the other side.
Hold the
lower the
straight out away from the Stage. Notice
to the rear to tighten the Dovetail Plate
here:
Dovetail
over the left side of the Stage
Dovetail Locking Lever
Locking Lever
straight forward and
Dovetail Plate gently onto the Stage.
(toward