Center of gravity and dynamic balance?

[Phil S.]

Have a new Merlin2 and am trying to understand setting up and dynamic balance:

 

Ideally, where should the camera's center of gravity be in relation to the gimbal? Directly over the gimbal, slightly behind, lots behind, or does it matter?

 

I did watch

and think it said the CG should be a bit behind the gimbal, but if the CG is far from the gimbal, compensation could be made to the location of the bottom and front weights. Am I overthinking this?

 

thanks

Phil

 

[Panasonic LX100 and Nikon D810]

[Jerry Holway]

Check out the Merlin cookbook on the Tiffen website - it will be more helpful. The same concepts apply to big or small sleds, but the cookbook will get you closer and sooner.

[Ned McIntosh]

With my Panasonic GH4 and the 12-35mm lens and hood, the CoG of the camera is behind the gimbal by about 1/4 inch (say 6mm or so). Once the drop-time is correct, the dynamic balance is good enough. Bear in mind that due to its construction the Merlin 2 can't achieve a full-rotation whip-pan anyway. If it falls "flat" when you do your drop-time test, you're good to go.