Setup and Operation Manual
LIT-812000
Страница 1: ...Setup and Operation Manual LIT 812000...
Страница 2: ...tiffen com Tiffen Steadicam 818 843 4600 www steadicam com Cookbook Merlin 2 help www merlin2cookbook com merlintechsupport Steadicam com US Patents 4 946 272 5 098 182 and 5 229 798 Other US Foreign...
Страница 3: ...late 16 18 6 Balancing and Mounting the Camera 19 21 7 Horizontal and Vertical Trim 22 26 Part Two Operating 8 Hand Positions 28 9 Body Positions 29 31 10 Extreme Trimming 32 11 Stairs 33 12 Shooting...
Страница 4: ...started and a bit later as your skills develop you may find it worthwhile to have a second look through the Operating section for info and tips you may have missed The Steadicam Merlin2 with its secon...
Страница 5: ...hree position lock Quick release tripod adaptor Tough modular construction Flies cameras weighing from 0 5 to 5 0lbs 0 23 2 27kg Ergonomic three axis inter gimballed handle Camcorder video quality is...
Страница 6: ...and watch the DVD at the same time At the end of Section 2 the DVD will pause and you can turn to Section 2 of the manual Perform each step as requested and check them off as you go If you determine...
Страница 7: ...ations Unpacking and identifying each part Learning to safely unfold the Merlin 2 into flying mode and to re fold it into travel mode Don t attempt to unfold the Merlin 2 until you reach this section...
Страница 8: ...e Steadicam rig works by disconnecting the camera support from the camera and allowing you just enough angular influence to aim it In addition to being a great stabilizer it is also an elegant way of...
Страница 9: ...the arc between them The combination of these elements works astonishingly well and we hope you will enjoy the Merlin 2 as much as we do With practice you can move easily through almost any shooting o...
Страница 10: ...please contact Tiffen for a replacement You should have Steadicam Merlin2 DVD The Art of Steadicam Merlin 2 Nine threaded stainless steel weights One Start and two Finish weights Six Mid weights Plas...
Страница 11: ...to the habit of locking the Caliper Hinge Release when the Merlin 2 is unfolded into Flying Mode The Steadicam Merlin 2 is now in Flying Mode When a camera is properly mounted on the Stage you will be...
Страница 12: ...it s held backward movement of the Gimbal will be impeded and under some circumstances the Gimbal could be damaged Try gently moving the Grip and Gimbal around to compare its range of motion in the c...
Страница 13: ...inger c g is below finger Slight bottom heaviness is the key to Steadicam stabilization That s what the compact stage and the weights on the Lower Spar are for to provide just enough mass well below t...
Страница 14: ...very additional pound 45kg add at least one more Mid weight below Note some of the heavier HDV cameras suggested for use with Merlin 2 such as the Sony Z have higher than normal centers of mass and ma...
Страница 15: ...clockwise contracts If weights have already been added support the lower spar rest on the surface of the table to make the Caliper Adjusting Knob easier to turn Turn the knob clockwise to increase bot...
Страница 16: ...side of the Stage Identify the Guide Ring for vertical Z axis balance adjustment The X axis is fore and aft and the Y axis is side to side Don t adjust the Guide Ring until directed to do so Rotating...
Страница 17: ...rotate the Guide two turns clockwise pressing in the latch each time it comes to the front of the unit It should rotate easily You may be able to rotate it part of a third turn but DO NOT ATTEMPT to...
Страница 18: ...ide of the threaded insert mounting hole on the underside of the camera Since camcorder mounting surfaces can be small irregular and often somewhat weak this increases the friction between camera and...
Страница 19: ...suggested hole with a grease pencil or other marker Be sure the Dovetail Plate is oriented so that the long flat side will be toward the lens of your camera Identify the Locating Pin and the small scr...
Страница 20: ...hat s why we provided 15 mounting holes Hold the Dovetail Plate inverted over the underside of your camera so the true center of the plate roughly hole H is located over your mark and therefore over t...
Страница 21: ...will be used to help balance the Merlin 2 to stay level Mounting your camera By now your camera should be attached in the correct location on the Dovetail Plate Your Merlin 2 should have the correct w...
Страница 22: ...and carefully adjust the lens saddle upward until it just touches the underside of the camera body Stiffening the connection between camera and Merlin 2 dampens any relative motion between them and yo...
Страница 23: ...Vertical Trim Then continue with the Manual Practice opening and locking the Caliper Hinge Release Ring Note how it prevents the Merlin 2 from folding inadvertently Practice folding the Merlin 2 with...
Страница 24: ...f the monitor is too high pull down Remember to hold it level each time before you release Repeat as necessary Alternate trying to trim fore and aft and side to side It is easier if you don t try to b...
Страница 25: ...e slight top heaviness by loosening both Locking Knobs and expanding the Arc Size with the Caliper Hinge Adjusting Knob if you have not already opened it fully Cure moderate top heaviness by adding we...
Страница 26: ...s best with a Drop Time of about one full second The Merlin 2 Gimbal is like the pivot point on a see saw There are three ways to change the balance of a see saw you can change a weight you can move a...
Страница 27: ...he Guide Ring clockwise If your Merlin 2 is very slightly bottom heavy falls too quickly Lower the Gimbal by pushing in the Latch and rotating the Guide Ring counter clockwise Note The total Z travel...
Страница 28: ...adjustments in a single session you may want to take a break and continue when you are fresh and rested As soon as you are ready watch Section 8 of the DVD Hand Positions Then begin reading Part II O...
Страница 29: ...w to pace yourself and operate in ways that avoid fatigue The Merlin 2 is versatile durable and precise and once you become expert in all its uses you may never want to shoot without it Please read th...
Страница 30: ...ook the pinkie of your guiding hand in between the fingers of your gripping hand like a modified golf grip and help support it with the operating hand while still maintaining that light and isolated f...
Страница 31: ...stuff check the DVD for this one One handed operating is not as precise as two handed but it can be extremely useful when you need a free hand to open doors move extras out of the way or hold a sandwi...
Страница 32: ...easier to control headroom on your subject by adjusting camera height rather than tilting Remember your camera is not connected to you so it no longer has to point the way you re headed Reverse Mode i...
Страница 33: ...er so they can move in sync Combo Tilt Boom Shots Working with rather than against the unique nature of any Steadicam rig large or small will make your shots as easier to obtain Booming is easy Tiltin...
Страница 34: ...les If your entire shot requires an extreme angle of tilt like up to a cathedral ceiling or down from a high balcony 10 Extreme Trimming Trimming for Shots Steadicam operating is radically different f...
Страница 35: ...so don t try it in earnest until you have enlisted a stand in and gotten lots of practice 12 Shooting and Resting Positions The Steadicam Merlin 2 plus camcorder weighs a few pounds It acts weightles...
Страница 36: ...inge Release Fold it into Traveling mode and simply hold the camera s hand strap with the lens facing forward and off you go Another version of Shoulder Mode is even handier Press the fully open Merli...
Страница 37: ...ecommended for vehicle shots that require personal agility and balance such as skiing skating riding horseback running with the bulls etc WARNING We do not recommend using the Merlin 2 on risky stunt...
Страница 38: ...knee figure mid calf to above head to a full figure including the feet to a wide shot with your subject small in the frame but don t stop on an in between framing it s a convention of movie compositio...
Страница 39: ...mber verticals may not appear vertical at the sides of the screen if you are tilted it all up or down Shooting Opportunities Experiment with longer focal lengths Shoot mid telephoto With a little care...
Страница 40: ...hem I m serious and master the technique at each speed before going faster and faster and faster Whip Pans are extremely difficult even on a tripod but are particularly satisfying and useful on the Me...
Страница 41: ...LY TRAVEL Family travel becomes a group activity again for the whole family when the person with the camcorder isn t left behind You can keep up shooting what everybody sees as they see it holding bac...
Страница 42: ...on the lights let the camera auto color balance but pre set manual focus for at least ten feet Practice extensively shoot several houses and examine your playbacks before attempting this professionall...
Страница 43: ...rebalancing and re trimming Don t worry it s easy to do Here s a reminder 1 Restore rough X Y balance by adjusting the side to side and fore and aft Trim Rollers If you added a wide angle adapter to t...
Страница 44: ...p time Note trim is not a cure all nor is it necessarily permanent after folding and unfolding your guide hand must ultimately keep your camera level Inadvertent pan tilt shake or drag 1 Check that Up...
Страница 45: ...close ups High Angle Shot camera held high looking downward Iris The lens aperture which controls the amount of light and or brightness of shot Locating Pin supplied pin to prevent camera rotation on...
Страница 46: ...44 Notes...
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Страница 48: ...com Cookbook Merlin 2 help www merlin2cookbook com merlintechsupport Steadicam com Inventor Garrett Brown US Patents 4 946 272 5 098 182 and 5 229 798 Other US Foreign Patents applied for Industrial...