Accessories - Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual

15.Accessories

The Tripod Adaptor Plate
screws onto your tripod and accepts the Merlin
dovetail plate; so you can switch your camera
instantaneously back and forth between tripod
and Merlin. Simply unlock the Dovetail Plate
and remount it onto the Tripod Adaptor. Then be
sure to return it back onto the same mark on the
Merlin stage so your fore-and-aft trim will be
retained.
The Obie Light
(optional), otherwise known
in the movie biz as a "basher" or "eye light", was
invented by the cameraman, Lucien Ballard and
named for actress Merle Oberon. It is a highly
useful accessory for Merlin shooting. Since
Steadicam tends to cruise in close proximity
to people, the "Obie" gives you just enough
beautiful illumination to properly expose eyes
and faces without blowing out the true ambient
lighting in the room.
Try it at parties to "fill" people in the middle
of typically lit rooms It is useless outdoors
or in bright environments, but it perfectly
complements the excellent low-light
(included)
performance of today's camcorders. The Merlin
Obie Light contains a 3 watt halogen bulb and is
powered by two re-chargeable lithium-ion AAA
batteries (included), and an included AC charger.
Adding & Subtracting Accessories
the camera involves some rebalancing and re-
trimming. Don't worry, it's easy to do.
Here's a reminder:
1. Restore rough X-Y balance by adjusting
2. Depending on the amount of weight added
3. Touch up the fore-aft and side-to-side trim
CAUTION:
bring the weight of the
camera over five pounds you
will exceed the recommended
capacity of the Merlin and risk
stress to the Gimbal and the
Caliper Hinge.
DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK.
the side-to-side and fore-and-aft Trim
Rollers. (If you added a wide-angle
adapter to the lens, push the Trim Roller
up. If you added a larger camcorder
battery to the back of the camera, pull the
Trim Roller down. Adding both at the
same time, may compensate for trim, but
you must still correct bottom-heaviness:
(in order of magnitude):
•
Screw in the Guide Ring,
•
Decrease the Arc Size by adjusting the
Caliper Hinge, or
•
Add a small weight to the lower spar.
(the Z-axis adjustment of the Guide is
the easiest and requires no additional
trimming, so try that first.)
for level and the fore-and-aft trim for your
intended shot.
If accessories
Accessories
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