Art White Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Good Morning, I just purchased my Merlin (don't know much about it) and I plan to use it with my Canon 60D and Panasonic HPX 170. Takes more practice than I thought but I'm patient and I have plenty of time to learn. Haven't had much luck with the 60D so I moved to the 170 which seems to work better. I can balance it fine on the table. When I get up to walk, the camera shakes it's head "Yes" Real slight and slow. Never any side to side action. This is the sign of a bottom heavy camera right? Seems like when I turn the guide counter clockwise it seems to help. What type of body action do I need to learn to stop this? Thanks Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Wymer Posted December 9, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 You're saying that when you move your Merlin forward or backward, you are getting camera tilt? If this is the case, then yes, you are bottom heavy and need to redo your drop time. 3 seconds is a pretty golden number that you can eventually branch from as you gain more experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinThwaites Posted December 9, 2011 Report Share Posted December 9, 2011 Hi Guys Recommendation for the Merlin is generally 1 second and with practice would go to nearly 1.5 but 3 is seriously long on a handheld rig. The problem is often that many people count seconds too quickly so make sure they are one elephant, two elephant etc... The symptoms indicate that it is definitely too fast at the moment. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Amando Crespo Posted December 10, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 Hi Guys Recommendation for the Merlin is generally 1 second and with practice would go to nearly 1.5 but 3 is seriously long on a handheld rig. The problem is often that many people count seconds too quickly so make sure they are one elephant, two elephant etc... The symptoms indicate that it is definitely too fast at the moment. Robin I can remember an old trick: ..."one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi"... Is a correct count, it works for me. ;) ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art White Posted December 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 Helps a little bit. I'm thinking it's more of a learning curve and body motion. It balances on the table, no problem. I can balance the camera while standing if I'm motionless. The moment I move is when I get the tilting action. As a complete novice, I can describe it as the camera catching the wind. I have plenty of time to practice so I remain patient! Thanks for getting back with me. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Stephen Wymer Posted December 24, 2011 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 If you're unsure whether it's the wind or not, try balancing inside where there's a controlled environment. If you're balanced when standing still, then it sounds like you have the rig in static balance. Next step is to get that drop time figured out. Check out this video. Garrett describes a good drop time for the merlin as about a full second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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