Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual page 29

Part Two — Operating
Please read this manual carefully and keep it as a
reference. It includes a number of useful operating
tips that are not shown in the DVD.
Operating!
The Merlin is not just a stabilizer, it's a uniquely elegant way to hold a camera at the center of balance,
with the full freedom of your extended arms, and none of the awkward jerks and lurches of handheld
shooting.
With this finely tuned instrument in your hands, trimmed for your shot, moving and booming and
changing positions at your will, genuine moving-camera artistry is within your reach.
And here's the good news: It's like riding a bicycle—you'll never forget the "trick" of how to operate
Steadicam. Once you get it, you have it for life. We'll show you the same hand and body positions that
allow professional Steadicam operators to make those magically smooth moving shots on Movie and TV
sets worldwide. And we'll teach you the nuts-and-bolts tricks of the trade – techniques of shot design
and preparation – that help make them possible. We'll teach you how the professionals setup and trim for
every shot until it becomes second nature, and we'll show you how to pace yourself and operate in ways
that avoid fatigue.
The Merlin is versatile, durable and precise, and once you become expert in all its uses, you may never
want to shoot without it.
Cautions
•
Handle only works one way. Hold it with your fingers on the
velcro side. Holding the handle backwards can cause damage.
•
Avoid pinching your finger between the moving gimbal yoke and
the bottom of the Guide. Keep fingertips either on the Grip or on
the outer surface of the guide.
•
Avoid violent camera moves. It is possible for a strong operator
to move a Merlin and camcorder at many times the acceleration
of gravity but mounting attachments on some camcorders are
not strong enough and might pull loose. We recommend not
exceeding roughly 1. g's of vertical or horizontal accelerations.
(That's somewhat faster than the speed of an object falling from
your hand.)
•
Avoid shooting in windy conditions as the Merlin's stability
requires isolation from all external influences and its
performance will degrade proportionately. Attempt to shield the
camera with bodies or find the "lee" of a nearby structure.
This is the fun part!
Part Two