dependableproductions

Hi There. I too just got the vest and arm and was a little apprehensive as I've had a merlin for a while but was worried that I may be over facing myself with the arm and vest. But not at all. What a great addition. And with no training, I'm up and running and seem to have got the principles much more quickly than I expected. I'd be keen on your thoughts on a few questions though: 1. Is there an ideal position for the waist straps? 2. Is there an ideal body position for the mounting plate. I've got it to a point where I can reach all the way down and up but wondered if there is a more scientific approach. 3. Any top tips for stopping the pendulum effect when panning the camera. I've always found this a problem both with and without the vest. It's fine in a straight line but I find panning hard. I have the weighting as equal as I dare - roughly 1.5 seconds for the weights to drop from horizontal. All I can so though is, if your considering getting one, think no more, it's fantastic Regards Richard

Hi All, Robin Thwaites has just called me in his new role at Tiffen Europe. Thankfully he is able to supply directly which is a great relief. Thanks very much for the help and suggestions. Regards Richard

Hi Joe, Thanks for the speedy reply. I'll call you tomorrow as you suggest. I'm a little nervous about time, weight and the amount of kit that may be involved in a Flyer. I am the Producer/Director and use my Z1 as a second unit camera to my crew's "propper" camera. Part of the shoot requires product cutaways to be filmed which, having done that with the main camera, I would then mop up bits and pieces with the steadicam. It was a system that worked well when I had a PD150 and a JR. It gives me a few more options and a bit more class come the edit - but they are very much secondary shots. I'm a strong advocate of leaving craft skills to those with experience and, while very happy with a handheld steadicam, I think the prospect of operating a bigger rig I takes me beyond that and would divert my attention away from what I should really be doing??? - retrospectively booking a steadicam op for the whole shoot would have been good but ordinarily, I could not justify it for what are predominantly sit down interviews. I'll call you tomorrow, Thanks again Regards Richard p.s. A camerman friend of mine is currently in New York but is returning in time for my shoot. Anybody know any suppliers out there he could get one from to bring back to the UK?

Hi All, I am based in London and had a Merlin on order with Optex for 4 shoots I'm doing next week in Europe. I called OpTex today to find out why I hadn't heard anything and was told about them going into receivership which is a great shame. Does anybody have any idea how I might source one within a week? (I'm going to Italy on Tuesday evening) I think they are too new for hire companies and I don't know of any decent alternative solutions for stabilising a Sony Z1. (Without spending considerably more on a Flyer or mini of course, which wouldn't help as I couldn't learn how to use it between now and then!) I know the smaller Glidecams aren't up to the job but are the Artemis or ABC products really sub-standard? If so I may have to scrap the stadicam elements but it will be rather embarrasing to have to go to my client with this news! Any help greatfully appreciated, Regards Richard