Richard Carter

Thank you Alec, I will get Tiffen to make make the correction - hopefully it won't be the gimbal fork!

Thanks for the info! This rig looked pristine and had very little use. I can only imagine what the repair bill will be...

Thanks for your quick response to my question! I will be sure to buy the operator handbook. You know this slow drift issue happens whether I am flying the thing or have it on the balancing stud on the C stand, so the arm is out of the equation. When I am flying, I have the socket block screws set so the arm and sled can hang next to me with my not touching the sled or arm (Obviously I won't be operating that way). This issue is making me ever so slightly fight to keep a nice steady lock off shot. Is subtle drift in the pan axis something all operators just deal with?

Hello all, I recently bought a Steadicam Pilot and am loving flying the thing. I have had no problems with getting a nice static balance, a nice 2-3 second drop time, and even FINALLY getting a pretty tight dynamic balance... Here is my dilemma: Do you experienced folks find that the Pilot will drift in the pan axis without any wind or bodily influence on it? When this thing is on it's balance stud and I very gently point it in a certain direction, when I let go the camera will always drift in a repeatable direction. If I change the angle of the gimbal to the center post I can get it change where the camera wants to drift to. When I suit up with the sled and do a hands free balance, one again the rig will ever so slowly want to (seek level?) pan to some other direction. My lockoffs are slightly more shaky since I am subtly fighing tendency of the drift. I can get a great static balance but the thing wants to drift to a different direction - if you get my drift! What am I missing here? Thanks, Rich

I just acquired a used Pilot, and one of the arm adjustment knobs feels very tight on mine as well. The other one moves freely although it doesn't look like it can drop to a lower weight load as well as the other. What causes them to seize up like that as the arm otherwise looks to be in pristine condition. What to do... oil? RC

Thanks James, for the your Insight into this. I don't have the signature edition, and the post coming out if the handle that flares into a a partial sphere does look like it's metal. Thanks again!

Hello folks, I just acquired a gently used Steadicam Merlin and vest system :-). This setup included two gimbal handles and they appear to exactly the same to me. Is there a particular "tell" that would let me know which one is the metal gimbal - then again, they could both be the standard handles or both metal ones. The previous owner didnt have an answer for me so hopefully one the the seasoned pros here can educate me? Thanks! Rich

How large is the class and how many rigs and flavors were available? Rich