Steadicam Merlin

Videos and Articles related to the Steadicam Merlin flying camera stabilizer

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kaydawgy snatched up a Flycam Nano DSLR stabilizer for approx. $120 dollars and threw up an awesome video demo for us to see the results. Using a Canon 550D / T2i and Tokina 11-16mm lens, the Flycam Nano performed pretty well. Of course, for more people we wanted to see more more more about the gear itself, so kaydawgy was kind enough to shoot this excellent gear review.

Here you'll see what the Flycam Nano looks like and it's relative size to the camera. A quick release adapter was added, and if i'm not mistaken it looks like a Bogen RC-2 quick release adapter. With this setup, the Flycam Nano looks like it's just about at it's limit, in fact kaydawgy purchased two additional washers to get things fine tuned. This is a good video showing the size of the Nano sized handle. I'm wondering if at least a foam bike grip can slip over somehow to add a bit more comfort. I guess if it were any longer, it would just be banging against the lower sled. Thanks kaydawgy for taking time out for the review. Check out the video for more about the $120.00 Cheap Flycam Nano DSLR camera stabilizer.

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find-price-button Flycam Nano DSLR Video Camera Stabilizer

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Tokina 11-16MM F/2.8 ATX 116 Lens for Canon EOS AF Digital – Tokina ATX116PRODXC

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Manfrotto RC-2 Quick Release adapter system

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Lensse Camera Stabilizers

Not long ago I posted the Gizmo Camera stabilizer that was shipping from Turkey found in this article http://cheesycam.com/diy-steadicam-gizmo-merlin-design/. Just browsing for something else, I happened to run into the Lensse Camera Stabilizer, also coming from Turkey. Not to say it's anything super different in design compared to the Hague or IndieHardware Stabilizer, but normally i'm documenting different options on this website. How did I miss this? Appears sales have been going on for at least four months, the handle appears to be the same design that don't have the same range as a Tiffen Steadicam Merlin. There's two models available from Lensse, a MidX and a MidPro. The difference in the MidPro is a small clamp knob that allows the handle to be moved forward or back.

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Above: The MidPro has a handle that slides forward or back to fine tune weight distribution.

Looks well built, price depends on the model but comes in between the Hague MMC and Indiehardware Stabilizer. This one comes in black unlike the Indiehardware, but who knows how much weight it's 'really' going to balance. The handle looks much more comfortable though. Nothing more to say, i'm sure it works the same as the other similar designs. Scratch another camera stabilizer off the list. Here's the link to the Lensse Camera Stabilizers.

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Indiehardware Stabilizer

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Hague MMC

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Thanks to Motegi for sharing a DIY handle upgrade to the IndieHardware Stabilizer. You can catch more of the DIY photos over at the Flickr found here. I did a brief overview of this stabilizer found at this article: http://cheesycam.com/first-attempt-indiehardware-stabilizer/, and like most others, wasn't happy about the stock short handle. The shorter handle actually felt like it had limited range of motion compared to the Hague MMC, but really the range is about the same. Motegi took a simple Jump Rope handle, and added this to the IndieHardware. Since the jump rope handle already has an included bearing, this actually helps improve stabilizing some additional axis movements. This looks like a nice OEM fit that would improve the handling quite a bit. Great job on the upgrade, thanks for sharing Motegi.

Funny how jump rope handles are used in DIY camera gear, as I've used a set in this DIY $20 dollar shoulder mount found here: http://cheesycam.com/20-00-dollar-should-mount-rig-camera-support/ .

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Flycam Nano test run from kaydawgy on Vimeo.

There's quite a few things I find that can be useful with the DSLR community, but haven't had the chance to test it out myself. Vimeo member kayDawgy checked out the FlyCam Nano stabilizer article I posted and decided to test it out. The design looks pretty familiar copying the Glidecam setup, and with the right experience looks like it can pull off some really nice stabilizer footage. Unfortunately, there was little information and even less 'good' video samples of the unit's ability. I think things worked out quite well, and personally this is the best video so far done with the Flycam Nano. It might not be perfect, but from my own experience, it's quite difficult to shoot with a stabilizer chasing a running subject around 2-3 ft. tall. LOL

From the tags of the video, looks like kaydawgy used a Canon 550D / T2i and Tokina 11-16mm lens, which is a killer combination on any stabilizer. I especially love how wide this lens is on the Canon 550D / T2i without having much barrel distortion around the edges. Sometimes that barrel distortion is not so flattering with people. If you have any further questions, you may want to give kaydawgy a comment at the video link here. https://vimeo.com/14534884

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find-price-button The Flycam Nano

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find-price-button Tokina 11-16MM F/2.8 ATX 116 Lens for Canon EOS AF Digital - Tokina ATX116PRODXC

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click image to jump to Flickr

An iPhone is a small device, and so far many of the stabilizers have been short handles. Earlier this week Tate Nations showed us his version of the DSLR Cage Fig Rig painted Red. Tate probably had a lot of left over strut rail to come up with this other use. This has to be the first Fig Rig i've seen for use with the iPhone. Some might think it's overkill, but remember there is an iPhone Cinema Kit out there that will run you about $900 bucks.....now that's 'overkill'. Overkill or not, it's DIY, pure fun, and i'm sure it provides excellent stabilization. Very cool DIY which would be interesting to see people's reactions when this hits those events.

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An image of a Z96 LED light on a Glidecam HD4000 + Steadicam Vest + Rode VideoMic + Canon 5D Mark II + Battery Grip + Zoom H4n shows up in the wild. Well it wasn't really that wild. Somehow an image of just a small part of my rig showed up on the BayCitizen.org website, as I was part of the video team covering the Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp event over at UC Berkely. I was the only one roaming with any type of Steadicam, let alone a Steadicam Vest and sure did get lots of attention and questions about the rig. It's smooth to fly, gets good audio from the Rode VideoMic shotgun + Zoom h4n (on the lower sled - not seen), and when cruising indoors I have the ability to switch on some extra LED lighting. It's a versatile setup that works for me, and I use this same setup consistently for many types of event coverage. It's change a little bit, but you can see more of the Steadicam + Glidecam rig I've assembled in this article.

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A while back I did a demo using a Glidecam HD4000, and my most recent video the Glidecam HD1000. I found that if I wanted to fly a bit more weight than the HD1000 and less weight than the HD4000, my next stabilizer review would be the in between Glidecam HD2000 (right smack in between). I did do a short video on the Glidecam 2000 Pro which totally misses the mark on the fine tuning knobs available on the HD series.

Michael Sato over at DSLRUniversity.com beat me to an official Glidecam HD2000 review. He's got a sample BTS video out on the Raley Field - Sacramento Rivercats where he flexes his 'strumph' flying without a vest. I think my knees would have given out on me if I tried that for very long. To follow up, he's got a full page article written up with more detailed information about the Glidecam HD2000. So between the few reviews i've shown for the HD4000 & HD1000, and the DSLRUniversity.com review on the HD2000, you should have enough resources to find out what might work best for you.

Here is the Glidecam HD 1000
Here is the Glidecam HD 2000
Here is the Glidecam HD 4000

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One of the most passionate DIY'ers tackling the Steadicam Merlin design and Gimbal handle with full rotation that I know about is WSCLATER. If you check out his website over at https://www.diycamera.com/stabiliser, you'll find years of logs refining a single Steadicam project. Yeah I think I would have given up by then. There's seems to be a very similar version showing up on eBay called the 'Steadicam Gizmo'. Personally there's some things I would clean up to finish up the little detail work, but looks really close to what WSCLATER has been working on. Four items sold just today for this Steadicam Gizmo, and parts can be purchased seperately. If you're not the DIY type, you might to check out the handle which uses the same design as wsclater, which might be a good improvement for that IndieHardware stabilizer as an upgrade. Check out the Steadicam Gizmo DIY stabilizer found on eBay auctions.

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(Note Video Error: I kept saying the arm mounts dead center in the 'Chest' What I meant was in the Stomach area.)

In this video i'm referencing the Varizoom DV Sportster Vest for some Steadicams, Flycams, and Glidecams. It's a cheap vest, and have heard slightly negative feedbacks about this particular item. Part of the fun in finding useful affordable tools is to get hands on and see what the true limitations are. Since there wasn't much information on the web about this product, I thought I would at least be a reference point for others who might be searching for information on this. I know, I know, I gave it a shot, but it's ok to leave comments saying 'Emm - I Told You So. What were you thinking? Why didn't you listen to us all...."

The problem isn't the build quality. It's very light weight and sturdy. The arm feels plenty strong to carry the Glidecam HD1000 DSLR Stabilizer that I did a video about. The problems I had with the vest was the ergonomics. Everything just felt like it was in the wrong place. Just after a few minutes of wearing it, I felt like grabbing some steel and fixing the design with my own. Just by relocating the arm to the side instead of dead center would have already been a huge improvement. A simple steel plate is all that it would take to get that situated. The back support is just straps, so it doesn't provide good relief from the weight. Everything just loads up on the back of your neck. So, it's lightweight, strong, fairly priced, but needs redesign in the Ergo department. Hey Varizoom..if you ever want guys like me to test and suggest for product design...Holla!

By the way - You can catch a bit of the studio i've been working on. Thanks to some local Photographer friends, they all pitched in to (literally) scrub the floors, lay down epoxy, tile the bathroom, change out the toilet, and move in some gear, but it's still a long way to go. Just brought in some couches and chairs, and there's still a whole lot of equipment not yet there. I can only pass by for an hour before I head home, and all my weekends have been booked with camera work. Someday this thing will have it's use....