Steadicam Merlin and Sony NEX-VG10 Dynamic Balance

[TheFudgesiclefilms]

I just purchased the merlin and I have a canon t3i witha 18-55mm lens on it and I can not balance it for the life of me I have tried everything could you please give me some tips on how to balace thanks :)

[cheesuwen]

@TheFudgesiclefilms Pls goto merlincookbook . com and click on to Merlin Static & Dynamic Balance Magic Formula. There are literature and spreadsheets there. If you do your measurement correctly, you will get very close. I would say you will get 90% with the magic formula. The 10% on final adjustments.

[cheesuwen]

@TheFudgesiclefilms One thing to note, you have to stick to one focal length when using the 18-55mm, say 18mm and balance based on that. If you change the focal length, the extension/retraction of the lens will alter the mass of the camera and hence need a different Merlin configuration. Say if you use mostly 18mm and 55mm with the Merlin, have two configurations and familiarize yourself in switching between the two configuration quickly.

[MrThomasLlama]

Excellent!! I just got my VG10 and am HIGHLY considering getting the merlin for it... Is that the 16mm Wide 'pancake' lens you have on it ?? If so, how do you like it, and could we possibly see some shots with it on? :)

[cheesuwen]

@MrThomasLlama Thanks!!! yes, the lens in my setup is the 16/2.8. It is a ok lens. Fast enough at 2.8 for some good low light shot. Hyperfocal at around 4.5m, good and bad. Good, no out of focus issue when subject beyond 4.5m. Bad, no DOF beyond that point. I will skip the technicals. I just up a video with that lens and the Merlin. Merlin, good but expensive. Possible to use the 18-200 at dovetail hole C at stage -4 beyond. You will get to the technicals when you get your Merlin, hehe.

[hpaulmoon]

There are quite a few more factors than being able to spin it around on one axis in a circle to effectuate smooth Steadicam operation. I was able to achieve the exact same result as this video with the stock 18-200mm lens, but that gross mass imbalance caused other problems. The point is, a video of that would look exactly the same as this; it has no bearing on the eventual success of stabilization.

[cheesuwen]

@hpaulmoon Yes, there is more to just dynamic stabilization, or stabilization per se in steadicam operation. The operation part is one very important part, and that is why we have certified steadicam operators.

[hpaulmoon]

@cheesuwen Your trio of responses are weirdly defensive. First of all, take a breath. So to start, obviously operation has an impact on overall stabilization. But I am critiquing your video, which -- this is important -- only shows you spinning the camcorder around in a circle (and rather endlessly at that). I trust you're aware that the far more useful index of successful balancing is Garrett Brown's so-called "1-second test," which you do not show.

[cheesuwen]

@hpaulmoon NEX10 + 18-200mm gross mass? It is not gross compared to any ENGs, which easily double the mass. Most of these ENGs are lesser than 7lbs, which is within the Merlin's limit. The issue I have with the 18-200mm is the zooming varies its mass and swifts the CG approximately 2.5cm forward from 18mm to 200mm. Hence different balancing will be required at different focal length, which will be impractical.

[hpaulmoon]

@cheesuwen I say "gross mass" meaning the stock lens is not ideal for balancing because it's so front-heavy that you need to shift the mount to the fringe of the dovetail plate, away from the gimbal. Still, not everyone has more than just the stock lens, so it's also important to develop balancing for that configuration too. (Your video is not useful to people who use the stock lens with the Merlin, like me. Notably, the 16mm lens you use in your demo is widely criticized on numerous fronts.)

[cheesuwen]

@hpaulmoon “…it has no bearing on the eventual success of stabilization.” Wow!!! I guess you have not read the Dynamic Balance Premier by Jerry Holway, which can be downloaded from Steadicam web. If you have and that is your statement, I rest my case. By the way, for those that still doubts about dynamic balance, this video was sent to Garret Brown. His reply and I quote “Suwen, yes! Perfect dynamic balance. Please post that solution on the merlincookbook site.“

[hpaulmoon]

@cheesuwen So to sum up: the video is mostly useless because it fails to show the 1-second "drop" test; it uses an inferior lens that most NEX-VG10 users do not use; it just shows a spinning around on one axis, nothing more; and...why wouldn't Garrett Brown be enthusiastic? Importantly, I see that you have not posted actual working footage. Run with this thing, post it here and if it doesn't go well, I'm sure you'll find the benefit of further advice. And visit nexvg10 dot info for more help.

[cheesuwen]

@hpaulmoon

Haha...

[radhataigrace]

@cheesuwen What are your setting sto balance the VG10 with the 16mm on the Merlin? Which battery are you using?

[cheesuwen]

@radhataigrace - My configurations will not work for you as I have LitePanels MicroPro on the NEX10, which is not shown in the video. I am using the big battery, NP-FV100. Please go to merlincookbook com and click on to Merlin Static & Dynamic Balance Magic Formula. There are literature and spreadsheets there. If you do your measurement correctly, it gets very close. I would say you will get 90% with the magic formula. The 10% on final adjustments.

[JogBird]

can you explain whats going on?

[cheesuwen]

@JogBird, just demonstrating a perfect dynamic balance with the NEX10 on the Steadicam Merlin. So when I operate, it will provide me with maximum control to acquire smooth reels.

[firecardenal]

Good, now with the 18-200 please

[cheesuwen]

@firecardenal, no point doing with 18-200 as when the focal length changes, so does the mass.