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Attention Cycle: sequential check of framing,
level, navigating, etc., that helps Steadicam
operators get tough shots.
Basher: self-powered fill light, aka “Obie”,
“Eye-Light” – which is optional with Merlin.
Boom: to smoothly raise or lower the entire
Merlin and camera unit.
Boom Height: height at which you choose to
carry the Merlin.
Bottom Heaviness: strength of camera’s
tendency to hang upright – calibrated by drop
time.
Center-of-Gravity: balance point of
masses—used interchangeably on the DVD
video to mean “Center of Balance”.
c.g.: center of gravity.
Don Juan: Colloquial term for the Reverse
Shooting Position—lens aimed in roughly
opposite direction of operating forearm.
Drop Time: defines pendular ‘period” of
Merlin spar. Held out horizontally and let go,
should ideally pass through vertical in about one
full second.
Flying Mode: fully unfolded balanced mode
which permits isolated, stable moving shots.
Fore-and-Aft: front-to-rear.
Gimbal: mechanism to provide angular
isolation.
Grip: portion of handle below gimbal for
supporting and positioning camera.
Guide: portion of handle above gimbal, for
aiming the camera.
Headroom: space in frame above top of
subject’s head. Allow less or none in close-ups.
High-Angle Shot: camera held high, looking
downward.
Iris: The lens aperture which controls the
amount of light and/or brightness of shot.
Locating Pin: supplied pin to prevent camera
rotation on stage.
Low-Angle Shot: camera held low, looking
upward.
Missionary: colloquial term for the basic
Forward Shooting Position—lens aimed in
similar direction as your forearm.
Obie Light: fill light—aka “basher” or ‘eye-
light’—named for actress Merle Oberon.
Oil-Canning: flexibility of bottom of
camcorder resulting in less adherence to stage,
potentially causing vertical vibration.
Pan: pivoting the camera horizontally, “looking
around”.
Roll: pinvoting the camera around the lens
axis—“seasick” horizon, i.e. aileron trim for
pilots.
Shoulder-Mode: semi-folded position for
comfortable static shooting, as from audience.
Stage: platform for mounting the camera,
includes micrometer trim adjustments.
Telephoto: Long focal-length (or magnified),
end of zoom lens.
Tilt: pivoting the camera vertically—looking up
or down.
Tongue: additional surface on front of guide,
helps tilting.
Trim: fine adjustment of Merlin balance fore-
and-aft and side-to-side.
Vehicle Shot: use of Steadicam while being
transported instead of walking.
“Z” adjustment: Guide Ring adjustment
of gimbal position on “Z” axis alters bottom
heaviness.
“Z” axis: vertical axis through center of
gimbal carrier.
18. Glossary of Steadicam Terms
Glossary
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