Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual page 22

Camera
The 'Gezornenplatz' for large, heavy camcorders:
Even on heavy camcorders, the mounting structures are often less than
rigid, and we have tried not to make the Merlin too massive, so if you're
moving violently or running and your hand is shaking there may be some
relative motion between the front of the camera and the Merlin stage.
Here's the solution: We provide the so-called 'Gezornenplatz' – the little
screw-in platform that goes into the 1/-0 threaded hole at the front of
the Merlin stage to dampen these vibrations.
If you have a large, heavy camcorder, screw in the Gezornenplatz
(from the top) all the way down into the threaded hole at the front of
the Merlin before you mount your camera.
Mount your camera at the correct Stage Position, and then look
under it from the side and carefully adjust the Gezornenplatz
upward until it just touches the underside of the camera body.
Stiffening the connection between camera and Merlin, dampens
any relative motion between them and you will be able to shoot
more telephoto without vibration in your shots.
Be careful not to over-tighten the Gezornenplatz screw against the
underside of your camera; it can make the Dovetail Plate harder to
mount or dismount from the Merlin, and may even bend it or cause
excessive strain to the camera's threaded insert.
0
CAUTION:
Be sure to keep a hand on your camera
whenever the locking lever is unlocked to keep your
camera from falling off.
Balancing from Scratch IV:
If your camera is not in the Online Cookbook, set the default stage position to "0" before
locking the lever.
Slide the Dovetail Plate until the forward
Stage Position
edge is at the correct
(according to the Cookbook as noted).
Locking Lever
Now, swing the
rear to lock the Dovetail to the Stage.
toward the