Merlin 2 Manual - Tiffen

10. Extreme Trimming
Extreme Trim
Trimming for Shots
Steadicam operating is radically different from
almost every other human activity—including
normal camera operating! It requires a number
of unusual moves and techniques such as
trimming, so the desired headroom can be
effortlessly maintained.
Side-to-side trim should be checked every few
minutes to confirm that the Merlin 2 is hanging
approximately level (check the bubble). The
balance required is so fine that it can never be set
permanently. In addition the Merlin 2’s multiple
joints and articulated moving parts may cause
folding and unfolding operations to affect trim
and require a slight touch-up.
Professional operators tweak fore-and-aft trim
between almost every take so the camera’s exact
attitude can help get the shot, rather than hinder
the framing.
Remember that trimming is approximate, never
perfect, so don’t fuss with it. Get it roughly
correct and try a take. You may want to trim
differently make some other part of the shot
easier to get.
Note: Don’t try to tilt or pan the Merlin
2 by grabbing the spars. It ‘re-connects’
you to the camera, and will not be much
more stable than ordinary hand-held
shooting.
Extreme Trimming for Extreme
Angles
If your entire shot requires an extreme angle of
tilt (like up to a cathedral ceiling or down from a
high balcony):
• trim up slightly to maintain headroom
for tall people
• trim down slightly for shorter people
Use quick full turns of the trim rollers—
it’s a fine micrometer adjustment, and
otherwise would take forever.
The Merlin 2 stabilizes best when trimmed so
you could let go with the guiding hand and the
camera would stay where you want it. If not, the
camera must be continually forced up or down
to hold your shot and would tilt the moment
you let go. It is axiomatic that human beings
cannot exert a constant force – but they can
exert no force – constantly! Your shots are much
more stable when you don’t have to walk along
holding the camera above or below the tilt angle
it’s trimmed for.
• Don’t be afraid of radical fore-and-aft
trimming, so the camera holds the desired
position for you. It may take a dozen or
more quick turns of the Trim Roller –
it’s a very fine micrometer adjustment
–to achieve this. If many turns is not
sufficient, it suggests that your Merlin 2
may be too bottom heavy. Counter-clock
the Guide Ring several turns and try
again.
32
Make Tilting Easier
For shots that may tilt both up and down, we
suggest reducing bottom-heaviness by counter
clocking the Guide Ring and increase the droptime
– which will make it easier to aim up or
down with just finger pressure – and just trim
fore-and-aft for the most difficult part of the shot.
• Don’t forget to re-trim afterward for
normal shooting! It’s like keeping a guitar
in tune. It will get to be second nature!