Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual page 26

Trim
Again either 'cure' will require re-trimming fore-
and-aft.
Drop test
A Merlin that's in correct top-to-bottom balance can be moved rapidly back and
forth laterally and it will essentially stay upright! It is technically bottom-heavy,
but only slightly!
This
the elusive quality of slight bottom-heaviness. Some prefer as long as three or
four seconds for their full-sized rigs to fall through vertical.
Experience, however, has shown that the Merlin works best with a
about one full second.
The Merlin's Gimbal is like the pivot point on a see-saw
There are three ways to change the balance of a see-saw:
• you can change a weight
• you can move a weight
• you can change the location of the pivot point itself
Merlin
In terms:
• you can add and subtract weights at the
• you can move a weight by expanding or contracting the
• you can move the fulcrum laterally by
• remember that
or clocking the Guide Ring, which is a super-fine adjustment of bottom heaviness.
Check bottom-heaviness with a careful
sideways through vertical? Now counter-clock the Guide Ring one full turn, and note that the drop time
is just a little slower.

Cure mild bottom-heaviness by loosening the
Locking Knobs
and reducing the
with the Caliper Hinge Adjusting
Cure moderate bottom-heaviness by removing
weight from the Lower Spar.
Hold out the lower spar sideways and let it go, If it falls slowly, if it takes
a full second (say "Go...one-thousand-and-one") until it passes through
vertical, in Merlin terms that's the magic!... That's just where you want it
Drop Test
to be! This is the famous
Drop Test
is the way Steadicam Operators worldwide discuss and calibrate
Once your Drop Time is correct, touch up the
the Merlin hangs level on its gimbal.
And finally, adjust the Fore-and-Aft Trim Roller
helps maintain the headroom of your shot.
Guide Ring
– you can move the fulcrum up or down by counter-clocking,
Drop Test
Arc Size
Knob.
and your Merlin is ready to shoot!
Drop Time
Side-to-Side Trim Roller
so the Merlin's tilt angle
Lower Spar
Caliper Hinge
Trimming
fore-and-aft or side-to-side
. How long does it take for the spar to fall from
of
so