Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual page 36

Shoulder Modes
The Merlin can also rest on your shoulder and
still act as a brace for conventional hand-held
shooting:
Positions
Open
Upper Spar up into the travel mode underneath
the stage
Set
(make sure the Gimbal is out of the way so it
doesn't get damaged).
Adjust
lens as usual. The mass and braced position of
the Merlin will provide extra stability for hand-
held type telephoto shooting.
Another version of Shoulder Mode is
even handier:
Press
by holding the Caliper Hinge with your left hand

the caliper hinge release and swing the
the end of the weights on your shoulder
your viewfinder screen and control the
the fully-open Merlin against your torso
Insert
your right hand
through the camera strap
to secure the camera
and operate the lens
conventionally.
You may be able to have
your eye on the viewfinder in
this mode, yet, with practice,
you can learn to reposition
your right hand onto the
Grip and 'fly' away from this
position to continue shooting
Merlin-style.
Rest
by docking the Gimbal
and placing the Merlin on
your shoulder.
Docking and Carrying
Merlin can be quickly set-down between shots as
follows:
Stow
the Gimbal underneath your Stage and set
the unit down on a table (or other flat surface)
that has room underneath for the Lower Spar to
dangle.
Cushion
the Tongue (the hard extension below
the Guide Ring) to avoid damaging the furniture;
and be sure that it is in a safe area and will not be
bumped by passers-by.
The Merlin can be conveniently carried for long
distances between shots as follows:
Unlock
the Caliper Hinge Release
Fold
it into Traveling mode and simply hold the
camera's hand strap with the lens facing forward,
and off you go.
This is also the smallest configuration for
temporarily stowing your camera and Merlin in
a case. However, we recommend removing the
camera by unlocking the Dovetail Plate, for
long-term storage or shipment.