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Vehicle Shots
13. Vehicle Shots
Steadicams in general and the Merlin
in particular can provide superb camera
stabilization in moving vehicles — riding in a
car or hanging out the back
of an ATV or a pickup
truck. You’ll see the world
smoothly from virtually any
non-violent conveyance
(including our new
‘HandsFree” version of the
Segway Transporter), or
you can include your fellow
passengers and reveal the
true motions of the vehicle
in the foreground.
Vehicle technique is similar to normal
Steadicam shooting except that long periods
of vehicular acceleration will make even a
slightly bottom-heavy Merlin try to go off-level.
(Humans on foot rarely get up to 50 mph!) The
solution is to reduce bottom-heaviness even
further by counter-clocking “Z” trim ( the Guide
Ring) one or more turns so that the camera acts
less like a pendulum, and diligently control level
with your operating hand.
Two-handed shooting with a light touch on
the guide works best. Support the Merlin with
one hand, pan and tilt with the other and let the
Gimbal take out the angular shakes. Be sure you
are securely seated and/or belted in, or:
Hold on with one hand and operate one-handed
if there is any chance of falling off or hurting
yourself, such as on boats, on bicycles, on
horseback, etc.
One-handed operation is also recommended
for ‘vehicle’ shots that require personal agility
and balance, such as skiing, skating, riding
horseback, running-with-the-bulls, etc.
WARNING: We do not
recommend using the
Merlin on risky stunt shots.
The concentration required
for operating increases the
likelihood of accidents involving
yourself and your equipment as
well as the people around you.
In stunt-type shooting situations,
operate at your own risk.
Do not subject anyone else
to danger, and be prepared
to lose both camera and
Merlin, in case of a mishap.
WHEN IN DOUBT, TOSS
AWAY THE GEAR AND SAVE
YOURSELF!
Rehearse vehicle shots whenever possible:
Have a trial run without the Merlin and make
sure you can remain in contact with your
driver, drover, pilot or mahout. Make sure these
persons will not exceed the speeds you arranged
beforehand, no matter what, and immediately
slow or stop the vehicle if asked. Cornering
and braking can generate a lot of force. Don’t
exceed 1.5 “g’s” of force on the Gimbal in order
to avoid damage to either the Merlin or your
camera.
Clear space around you, so there is room for the
Merlin to avoid bumping anything as the vehicle
moves up, down and around you! Even a minor
collision with the Merlin’s spars could subject
the Gimbal to many ‘g’s’ of force.
Relax your arm to make as flexible a ‘spring”
as possible. Don’t be alarmed if the Merlin
mysteriously moves up and down. It is just
obeying Newton and trying to stay at the same
height above the center of the Earth as the
vehicle rises and falls!
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