Tiffen Steadicam Merlin 2 Specifications download pdf (Page 31)

9. Body Positions

Forward mode (aka ‘Missionary’)

Missionary is what Steadicam operators have

called the basic Forward Position since the

earliest operating workshops in Rockport,

Maine in 1980. It is dened as operating with

the camera aimed roughly in the same direction

as the forearm of your guide hand. Try it two-

handed.

Hold the Grip with one hand (your choice), the

Guide with the other.

Stand with the camera facing ahead but don’t

hold it way out in front of you.

Shift camera to either left or right, so the spar

settles in beside your body. Either your “grip” or

your “guide” hand will now cross in front of your

body. Practice on both sides. Be sure not to bump

yourself with the lower spar.

Trim the camera to hang level and try a walking

shot. The fastest way to get the “trick” of

isolating your Merlin 2 from all unwanted

movements, is to walk rapidly for a city block

REMINDER: Correct Trim is

essential for both one- and

two-handed operating. (See

Section 6.)

re-setting its angle relative to the guide, as you

intermittently hold and let go the Guide with

nger and thumb. (This is esoteric stuff – check

the DVD for this one!)

One-handed operating is not as precise as

two-handed, but it can be extremely useful

when you need a free hand to open doors, move

extras out of the way or hold a sandwich. It is

Body Positions

or so. Steady it once you are in motion and then

virtually let go with the “guide” hand, even if the

framing wanders a bit, even if it ends up looking

sideways.

As you walk, gradually touch the Guide more

frequently, so it begins to point where you want,

and then continuously, but ultra-lightly.

Learn to avoid that over-controlling death-grip

on the Guide (the symptom is unwanted lurching

of the frame side-to-side).

Forward Position is for easy straight-ahead

shots and shots looking to either side. This is

your standard, everyday, meat & potatoes shot

and it’s how you’ll operate Merlin 2 90% of the

time,

You can approach or follow somebody, and even

when you’re backing up, it’s still the ‘Forward

Position’ if the camera and your guiding forearm

are pointed mostly the same way.

Forward Position ranges from the camera pointing forward to the operator’s right side, as he

walks forward or backwards.

invaluable for extending your reach, particularly

for shots high over your head, moving through a

crowd, or for shooting way out to one side, so it

is denitely worth practicing.

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Tiffen Steadicam Merlin 2 Specifications Page 31

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