Which glidecam is good for sony v1 - Glidecam 4000 or Merlin?

[barneybaby]

Hi All

Anyone can recommend which glidecam is good for Sony v1? Glidecam 4000 or Merlin? Any currrent user who can give some feedback? I saw that the Merlin demo footage on the web and find that it's not so smooth compared to Glidecam 4000. However Glidecam 4000 is heavier compared to Merlin.. so worried that it might be quite tiring to carry around.

Anybody can help?

Thanks so much.

 

[samvision]

i have the glidecam 2000 and the merlin, for a long day shoot, you will definitely want the merlin, as it so much lighter.
For glidecam, you might want to consider the arm brace or the smooth shooter. For cost, merlin cost a lot more than glidecam as well.

 

[DXNMedia]

If you are using V1, I vote for Steadicam Merlin anytime.
If you want a better comfort, you can always choose to add the vest & arm system

With a Z1, I'm always on my weight limit and my camera tends to get easily off balanced.

 

[barneybaby]

Hi Samvision & DXNmedia

Thanks so much for your feedback.. I just bought my merlin steadicam.


Hi DXNmedia, are you using sony V1 too? I can't find the right setting to balance V1 on the steadicam. Can you advise the right setting? Thanks so much...now still trying the fix v1 onto the merlin.. hee...

Appreciate your great help.

 

[barneybaby]

Hi

Umm.. i oso discovered that my camcorder keep sway left to right/right to left on the merlin... any advises?

Thanks so much.

 

[engr]

u need to balance it properly from scratch. Find out the CG before u start balancing. The info is on the webby.

 

[barneybaby]

Hi Engr

Actually i have tried all ways and Merlin's website don't have the exact settings for V1... So trying to check out here whether anyone has experience using V1 with ?Merlin's steadicam? Hope can get some clues here...:embrass:

My camcorder keep sway top and bottom, left and right...... still can't balance it.. haizzzz..

Thanks so much!

 

[DXNMedia]

patience, patience & patience...
practise, practise & practise....

I have used DVX102, Sony HVR-A1p, HVR-V1, HVR-Z1 and even the heavier HVX200 successfully without any additional vest & arm brace. Heavier cameras like the Z1 & HVX tend to induce some bounce, vibrations & swaying.

You should not have any issues with V1.
Here's a short sample video that I put up, mainly POV shots & running shots.
http://www.dxnmedia.net/DXNMediaSteadicam.mov

Check out the Merlin Cookbook for your V1 settings and watch thru the DVD religiously over and over again.

if you still can't get your horizontal balance right, you need to lower the CG point by adjusting your gimbal's position. Give it about 3 turns out.

 

[barneybaby]

Hi DXNMedia

Thanks so much...I am still trying to balance it... actually i saw other videos online that there tend to be some swaying and bouncing...so if i use sony V1, it will oso have little swaying or bouncing? Or it can be adjusted until no swaying and bouncing?

There's a lot of V1 setting on the merlin cookbook setting.. and i choose the one that is 1.9kg setting... but still couldn't balance it. Mine has lots of swaying and bouncing... So thinking if my setting is it wrong? That's why no matter how... it sway lots. :what:

Have to try to read more and practise more... Thanks so much.

 

[engr]

i would definately suggest not to use the cookbook settings. To be safe, you should measure the weight and the CG. There is a DVD that comes with the merlin, have u watched that? Garett Brown explains how to measure the CG. After u get those measurements, key in the data into the spreadsheet found on the webby. You will get the recommended positions.