Merlin killer from Manfrotto?
 

http://enw.manfrotto.com/mnews.htm?70.n.Py.z2.BC.P.DIPV

The 585 looks interesting. It can be used as a shoulder/table support and a stabilizer as well. Wow, can't wait to see it.

Nice..does look "Merlin'ish" I wonder how much it's going to cost.

That looks *very* Merlinish....


- Mikko

"studied to obtain creative and almost professiona shooting with light cameras."

Apparently, their copy writer is "almost professiona" too! ;)

Looks nice though. I'm a big fan of passive stabilizers for small cams. They're inexpensive and they make hand held shots more tolerable.

So far...140 Euro = $US193.7 or $AU 232.4.

140?? Now that's cheap! Can't wait to read about the first reviews.

I saw it at the IBC this week-end and it looks awesome indeed. I could not test it in real conditions, but the versatility makes it a top companion, particularly for HD shooting where stability is a must. I really love the 3-in-1 feature and the fact that it can be completely folded...

I believe targeting the home users (I've been told a price of EUR120-140 too) is a very smart move by Manfrotto compared to Merlin's more professional target.

Can't wait to get hold of one :-).

Here are a few pictures from the press-kit in case you're interested...

Cute toy, too bad it is probably to light for any of my cameras, except my handy cams.

Looks nice and versatile. Wonder what the weight limit is. If it works with the HV20 w/accessories then I will get one.

That looks pretty slick.

Sorry to rain on the parade, but I tried it out in depth at IBC last week, and it's a piece of junk.

It's made of plastic (why it's cheap) and it's *really* felxible, as in parts bounce & wobble as you move it - so it adds vibration to the shot.
It also has no gimble, but just a ball socket in it's place - there is so much firction there that I was actually isntructed by the Manfrotto Rep. at the show to control it simply by moving the handle - they completly missed the idea of isolating the camera from the operator to provide stabilty - if your hand wobbles, so will the camera.

About the only usefull feature is the "table tripod" mode, but you can find a small table-tripod for a lot less than the $120 you'd waste on this thing.

- Mikko

Well, of course, if you're a professional Steadycam operator, I would be surprised if you were convinced by a 100 EUR plastic gadget :-).

This item is obviously not targeted at the pro shooter as I said, but in my case, I can't afford a 500+ EUR stabilizer so even if there is a perfect solution above that price, it's not for me.

Is it any good ? Only real-life testing will tell, and that's what I'm waiting for... If it stabilizes a great deal, even if not perfectly, I'll be happy...

Just my opinion, of course...

Vincent

From those photos, I can see situations where this thing will work nicely for small cameras.

That one mode where the unit presses against your shoulder pocket-- sort of like a UZI submachine gun with the extended stock---should add all kinds of stability.

For real super smooth high quality Hollywood steadicam shots? Hmmmmm, probably not.

Vincent; That's the problem; this thing does not stabilize much at all! It looks good in photos, but that's about it.

I have no problem with cheap if it works, I've used plenty of such gear. The probem here is isn't that it's not targetted at "professionals" but rather that the only people who will buy this are those uneducated in how a good stabilizer works and, more importantly, performs.

There are plenty of low cost stabiliers out there that work just fine. Just because this one is made by Manfrotto (who make great stuff, I've owned varios gear of theirs over the years, and work with a lot of it on a regular basis) doesn't automatically mean it will be better than a low-cost "cheapo" unit you see on e-bay.

- Mikko

Name killer from Manfrotto
 

What a disappointment. I should rename this thread to "Name killer from Manfrotto".