Yeah, G-50, not Flyer arm on the Clipper. Thanks Tom. :)


Yes the Metal gimble upgrade for the Merlin will be available by itself - if you want to hand hold a 7lb camera, you will be able to. (Don't plan on using it like that for very long at full load though...). The price of the metal gimble by itself has not been decided.

- Mikko

Thanks, Mikko....Not looking to hold a 7lb cam, but I'm thinking the new gimbal might add a little more muscle to supporting/balancing my XH-A1 which is very near the upper limit of the Merlin. Do you think it would help in that regard?

Well it would certainly allow you more options for balancing (like more weights and a smaller Arc-size. Or some accessories on the camera.

- Mikko

Mikko, that was really interesting finding out about the compatibility for upgrading of the steadicam systems.

Do you think that the using the various systems is the same across the range?

ie, if you can use the Merlin and get good shots with it, are you then able to step up to an archer system and then onto a big rig easily? Or is it a completely different set of skills and techniques needed to operate these well?

I'm a new steadicam user and am waiting to get home after a weekend of shooting where my merlin should be sat, ready for me to play with!!

And also thanks, as these forums were a great help and are a fantastic mine of info about these stabilisation systems.

Cheers

Rob

Mikko, Any estimated date?

The same skillset does in deed apply to all Steadicams. The bigger rigs take more "effort" to lug them around (they are heavy!) but the controls, balancing, shooting, is all the same.


Date for what?

- Mikko

Mikko,

In my case, I would like to know the scheduled availability of the Merlin vest / arm / gimbal upgrade.

Also, do you know if there will be a complete package (Merlin/Arm/Vest), at a potentially (slightly) lower price, in part because there will be only one gimble vs. two if buying the Merlin and the arm/vest separately? For reference, the "standard" gimble assembly as a spare part lists for $125.

-Fred

When the arm/vest will be available at stores?


Alexis

Dates are "early summer" for the Merlin arm & vest, and "later in the summer" for the Pilot.

I don't know about complete package options, check with Tiffen directly.

- Mikko

Just placed my order for vest and arm.

Oh you are a very very bad man, very bad (Seinfield's) LOL

C'mon, tell us where you place the order, how much, details, details......

Alexis

Down Under the vest & arm work out to $2999 - from Lemac.

BTW, if anyone is serious enough to go for the vest & arm system I highly recommend they do a Steadicam Flyer Workshop. I did one in Melbourne last October with Cinematographer Phil Balsdon - http://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/steadicam.html, and I consider it money well spent.

i am sorry if this has been brought up before as i do not seems to find any thread discussing this...
Does the varizoon DV sportster work the same as the new merlin arm and vest? Has anyone use it before with a merlin?

The sportster is a similar idea, but falls FAR short of the Merlin arm and vest in terms of performance and features.

The Merlin arm is a a scaled down version of the Flyer and G-series arms, which are regarded to be some of the best arms ever made. (There are only a very few other high-end ($20,000ish+) arms that can compare.) It's a dual-articulated iso-elastic arm with all the standard features of a Steadicam arm (Tools free adjustments, fully trimmable socket block, flippable bridge plate, etc..)
Where as in comparison the Sportster is a notably stiffer one-section arm with much less boom range and a very restrictive horizontal range of movement. Plus with the lack of a socket block it can't be trimmed to the operator so you may have to stand at an awkward angle.
There are some other finer differences too, but that's it in a nutshell.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a no-brainer as to which system is worth spending hard earned money on.

- Mikko