Steadicam Merlin Setup And Operation Manual page 7

Requirements for setup
Set aside an hour or so for your first session with the Merlin. Set up a comfortable work chair and table in front of
your TV and near a bright light. Put the following items within easy reach:
•
The Merlin packing case. Don't unpack yet.
•
Your camcorder, with a fully charged battery.
•
Check for your camcorder listing at:
explain):
• Number and size of forward weights
• Number and size of lower weights
• Arc size
• Mounting hole letter (A-O) on dovetail plate
• Stage position
• 'Guide': number of turns.
•
Large and small flat-head screwdrivers.
•
A pencil.
•
A tape measure.
•
A white grease pencil or china marker (optional).
•
A shallow cereal bowl or glass pie plate (optional).
•
The DVD remote. It can help to perform the setup as a team effort. One person reads the manual, checks
off each item and plays the sections of the DVD as appropriate; the other performs the setup of the Merlin.
You will perform these basic operations
•
Unpacking and identifying each part.
•
Learning to safely unfold the Merlin into "flying mode" and to re-fold it into "travel mode."
Don't attempt to unfold the Merlin until you reach this section.
•
Presetting Merlin balance for your camera.
•
Preparing and mounting your camera.
•
Trimming (fine-tuning) Merlin balance.
Once the camera is properly balanced on the Merlin, we recommend that you leave it attached to the Merlin's
quick-release dovetail plate. By itself, your camera can be hand-held or instantly attached to your tripod with the
included Tripod Adaptor Plate, and when mounted on your Merlin it can be tucked against your shoulder for extra
stability if shooting conventionally, or quickly folded for traveling or storage.
Merlin setup takes a little time, but if you do it right you'll only have to do it once. Even if you remove the dovetail
plate from your camera the locating pin will insure that it can be remounted in the correct, balanced position with
just a single screw.
Now, you're ready to start.
View the first two sections of the DVD, including Section 1:
Introduction
Follow up by reading
www.merlincookbook.com
A Tour of the Merlin
and Section 2:
A Tour of the Merlin
and write down the settings here (we'll
.
in this manual.
Basic Set-up