Steadicam Merlin & Canon 7D - Test (HD Video)

[xtremetramp]

I use a steady tracker, only $200 no weights and it works great for those who are concerned about the cost.

[TylerGallion]

HI, nice video...it's actually what inspired me to get mine. Could I bother you for the settings? There's a lot to take into account!!! What slot are you using, and how many weights are you using? I have the same lens and camera! Any help would be awesome! Thank you!

[AndyKWilkinson]

@TylerGallion see end of video for settings...

[Aice2313]

... i've been trying to set mine up with the 7D 2.8f 24-70 at 24mm for so long... i can't do it, any tips or advice? please! thanks!

[Patryk737]

How big is it? I just want to know if I could easily take it with me on a plane in hand bag.

[AndyKWilkinson]

@Patryk737 Its actually pretty small and folds up very cleverly. This is one of the reasons why I bought it over a CMR Blackbird as the Steadicam Merlin, when folded, will go in a rucksack with my 7D and a few lenses (just!). If you want to do steadicam work out in remote places this is a very big advantage. Some other demo videos on YouTube should give you a good idea of its size.

[es30381]

is it really worth the money? it is just so expensive...

[AndyKWilkinson]

@es30381 Can't answer that for you - only you can. For me it was worth the money but be prepared to spend a LOT of time practising with the Merlin to get good results. I've read that Blackbird is cheaper and easier to fly if the cost worries you.

[lakestatefishing]

@AndyKWilkinson I've done my research. It's the best you can buy under $1000. All the other ones seem to be a pain to balance or don't work all together. I wish there was a cheaper solution than spending $700...

[porsche7379]

Wow it is really great shot.

But I recommend moving the gimal little bit to the ground.

[Raabamillo]

Arghhh I want one so bad but I can't decide if it's worth the money or not!!

[oasotam]

perfect, very good! and nice soundtrack too! only one thing: for been so simple, these steadicams are too expensive

[ianthecosmonaut]

Beautiful. Where was this shot?

[AndyKWilkinson]

@ianthecosmonaut Ely, just 12 miles north of Cambridge in the UK.

[eladbari]

@AndyKWilkinson is it true, sir, if you use other lenses which are Not wide angle-then your footage [even on the steadicam merlin]-will come out shaky?!

Thing is...I LOVE shallow DOF. and if you use these wide angle lenses=youll probably lose that DOF. so..what to do?

[youonchannel]

F aperture? all seems in focus.... thanks

[AndyKWilkinson]

@youonchannel Shoot at about F8 area (which at 100 ISO and a shutter speed of 1/50th - or 1/60th second depending on region you're in - will need Neutral Density filter and/or a circular polarizer). This will give you a HUGE depth of field, and the wider the lens setting the greater the DOF. Most of the shots here were shot at 10 to 14mm. Also, make sure you set your focus manually to e.g. 4-5 feet (AF switched off) and it'll be OK.  Have fun!

[LordAverage]

@AndyKWilkinson

Thats really helpful technical advice.

Cheers

[AndyKWilkinson]

@LordAverage Thanks. Glad you found it useful. Have fun with your Steadicam.

[ricardoriosgondim]

This is very beautiful movie!

[AndyKWilkinson]

@ricardoriosgondim Thank you! Be well!

[DonQPhotography]

Hello,

Did u use a vest with the Steadicam?

Thx,

Don

[AndyKWilkinson]

@DonQPhotography Nope, no vest!

[iheartme00]

this is amazing !!!!!!!

i could die to get this camera its the best of the best "canon 7D" !!

[doommic]

Your house and your country are fantastically beautiful and also when that girl appear i got a sad feeling T^T its touching , just telling you what viewer are thinking and by the way this video is beautiful :D make more , or try to make short film !

[2005cbc]

when i saw those birds fly around 0:14 in the video..thatgot me sold im gonna buy one..excellent choice of music

[AndyKWilkinson]

@2005cbc Thanks!

Music is often a key part of what I'm trying to do so glad you feel it "worked". I'm much better at steadicam work now ( than what's seen here) and I hope to post some new stuff as soon!

[B2LPhoto]

@AndyKWilkinson Where can I find music like this???? It's so cool!

[AndyKWilkinson]

@B2LPhoto Thanks! Music is 'African Hero', a royalty/copyright free purchase from AKM Music, a UK company Just Google it and you'll find it. They are one of the better companies providing royalty/copyright free music for purchase for video production work and I use them a lot in my corporate video work.

[kw0s]

Very nice. It is like floating in a dream world.

[nizarq99]

Hi and thank you for the video,

What you mean spare 12.5 inch?

[AndyKWilkinson]

@nizarq99 I think you mean the Spar. This is the 'V' shaped metal bar with it's adjustable hinge at the elbow. You can adjust (and then lock) the angle at the elbow to raise or lower the distance between the Merlin Plate (with the camera on it) and the weights at the bottom. Each camera/lens combination will need a different setting to balance. In this case I found about 12.5 inches (32cm) worked pretty well. Hope this helps.

[hgamer]

can i ask a question... was this just hand held merlin, with no vest?... thanks

[AndyKWilkinson]

@hgamer Yep, all hand held, no vest. You can do it for about 10 mins at a time, no probs.

[BoBGAD]

2:06 love the shot !

[TheCutClub]

Nice video and thanks for the info at the end.

I purchased my Merlin a long time ago and have been trying to use it with Sony Z1. It has been a nightmare! I'm not sure why there is only one screw holding the base plate the the first arm - it acts like a pivot and swings out. Anyone else have this problem?

Getting 5D soon so hopefully it'll be a thing of the past!

Cheers,

[AndyKWilkinson]

@TheCutClub Z1 is a pretty heavy camera for the Merlin I imagine. Maybe there are some Cookbook settings on the Tiffen website to help you?  Merlin should work well with the 5DMkII.

[dzulfadzli]

yes, it is crucial to remove the strap as it would tangle with merlin, I have received my merlin for the past 4 months, still my main problem is the pendulum effect. just notice that i havent reduce the arm angle..

im using 7d + 11-16 2.8 Tokina. WIth 1 start weight + 1 finish weight for upper spar, and 2 weight + 1 finish weight for lower spar.

it is hard at first to master the art of merlin...it takes a lot of training.

[kh3naz]

i finally received my merlin , its very difficult to set up , now that i understand the thing a bit better , i still have swaying problems , there are so many setup possibilities with this thing , i will watch the dvd again and again , did you remove the strap ? all i did was tuck it under the lens so it does not hang , but the thing sways way too much from all directions , i need to figure out the perfect setup .

[AndyKWilkinson]

@kh3naz Yep, I remove the strap on the 7D before attempting to fly. Pendulum effect suggests too much weight at the bottom so consider reducing the weight and/or moving the weight up nearer the camera (reducing the angle at the elbow). I'm still learning the Steadicam but - with LOTS of practice I'm starting to see improvements!

[KidAeon]

@kh3naz you MUST remove the strap. Sheesh, even a lens cap or memory card can make the difference in balance. You should be able to have the camera rest perfectly balanced with the handle supporting it on the endge of a table. If it doesn't balance perfectly you need to mess with the settings.

[kh3naz]

incredible footage .. i was thinking about buying a portable dolly or jib for my 7D to get different type of shots , but this video made me want to spend on a merlin.

i need to do more investigation but i am pretty impressed so far , how does it reduce the up and down motion and shakiness of the arm ?

[AndyKWilkinson]

@kh3naz Thanks! Well, as you've seen I'm still learning (!) but some of the first shots (e.g. around 2 mins in and onwards) of me running alongside my girl show how well even a "Steadicam Novice" can get smoothing of hand shake. What I'm learning to try and control now is all the yaw (pendulum swinging stuff). Busy editing corporate stuff (shot on my EX3) but hope to post improved video clips in the next few weeks with 7D and Merlin when my schedule frees up!

[apapics]

Very Nice Video! I am looking into a Stedicam Merlin or the Glidecam HD2000 for my 7D, I can't decide which to get. Any ideas?

[AndyKWilkinson]

@apapics Yep, that's more or less the choice I narrowed it down to! I wanted something that was light and packed away as small as possible as then I'm more likely to have it in my backpack/with me! So went with the Merlin. I've heard pretty good reports/seen nice footage with Glidecam 2000 too. The CMR Blackbird looked a possible contender too - easier to fly I think but has an awkward long pendulum bit with a T bar that is just going to limit me. Ton of info on all this on DVinfo Forum.