Hi Geoffrey,

Yes - with some slider.
Yes-except during the processional. I'm on the monopod then.
I'm on a tripod during the toasts and dances with those.
I use the steadicam vest and arm made for the merlin but prefer the glidecam on it.
Yes - but its the older version.
No problem!

Yo Steve-O... the Canon 17-55 IS USM is one of a kind. Right now there is no similar lens that works as well. The Tamron and Sigma both have very short focus throws making focus a much bigger challenge than on the Canon. The canon also has full time manual meaning in a pinch you can hit the shutter half down and the lens will auto focus. Not ideal but has been useful on occasion.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. While we don't use a totally flat profile like many of the evangelist suggest, we do turn down contrast and saturation to pretty flat and turn down sharpening a click or 2 to take the edge off the aliasing and moire. I would much rather have control over the contrast of my image in post than have it baked in. Example having dark circles under a brides eyes due to harsh mid day sun can at least somewhat be corrected for when your image is recorded flat but certainly not with the cameras standard ultra high contrast settings. Considering that these cameras have no zebras exposure is somewhat of a crap shoot anyway compared to using a video camera. Just my 2 cents.