Steadicam Merlin Arm and Vest for Merlin Advanced
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Steadicam Merlin Arm & Vest for Merlin Advanced Hand Held Stabilizer System

SKU: VDSCAVM

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Review Summary

2012-08-19T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Well Thought-out, Excellent Workmanship

Shooting with the lightweight Panasonic GH2, I was looking for an arm and vest to allow for extended use of my Glidecam HD-1000 stabilizer. Having looked at other (actually more expensive and less well-made) products from various manufacturers, I finally settled on SteadiCam's Merlin Arm & Vest. Although the Glidecam HD-1000 does not fit the Merlin Arm per sé, I prefer it to the Merlin stabilizer as it can be used in "low mode" if needed. However, there are videos on youtube that show how the Merlin Arm can be adapted for use with the Glidecam HD-1000. The procedure is quite simple and the material needed for the adaptation costs less than 10 USD. The Merlin Arm & Vest's workmanship is excellent, the product is well thought-out and easy to use without additional help from other persons. Operating is very smooth, and adjustments can be done easily (no tools necessary!) and within a good range. For my uses, the Glidecam HD-1000 and the (adapted) Merlin Arm & Vest are a perfect match! The only thing I would like to see is a little lower price, but then again one really gets a product of professional build quality which, compared to the other products I've tested, is worth every cent.

Acrobat

2011-10-10T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Not enough product for the price

The product works great; after you figure out the directions. You are paying to much for the name;

bdbtraveler

Steadicam Arm Specifications

  • Arm: Total Payload

    Knob-adjustable from 4 to 15 lbs (1.8 to 6.8 kg).

  • Arm Lifting Range

    28 vertical inches (71 cm)

  • Arm Mounting

    Two axis adjustment of arm-to body angle, with quick-release right-hand/ left-hand changeover

  • Arm Weight

    5.1 lbs (2.3 kg)

  • Vest: Size Range

    Fits the widest variety of human shapes and sizes of any Steadicam vest (from 23 kg 8-year-olds to 150 kg linebackers!)

  • Vest: Fasteners

    Thin, all-hook and loop fasteners

  • Vest Weight

    2.6 lbs (1.179 kg)

  • UPC Code

    049383060218

About Steadicam Arm

FEATURED REVIEWS

Well Thought-out, Excellent Workmanship

By Acrobat

Shooting with the lightweight Panasonic GH2, I was looking for an arm and vest to allow for extended use of my Glidecam HD-1000 stabilizer. Having looked at other (actually more expensive and less well-made) products from various manufacturers, I finally settled on SteadiCam's Merlin Arm & Vest. Although the Glidecam HD-1000 does not fit the Merlin Arm per sé, I prefer it to the Merlin stabilizer as it can be used in "low mode" if needed. However, there are videos on youtube that show how th...

View full Review

The New Merlin Arm and Vest makes extended shooting nearly effortless. Now Tiffen introduces the worlds most advanced ultra-light Arm and Vest. Even with heavy cameras, up to seven pounds (3.2kg) with the optional Metal Gimbal your Merlin can now fly for hours without undue fatigue, and preserve all the flexibility and reach of your own arms.

The Merlin Vest is the lightest and thinnest ever made. It can even be worn under a tuxedo jacket and it's designed to fit the entire gamut of human sizes and shapes. For 23 kg eight-year-olds or 150 kg linebackers, the Merlin Vest provides complete comfort and functionality for extended productions and long continuous shots. All adjustments are 'no-tools', including the right-arm/left-arm.

The Merlin Arm is ultra-light and extremely capable. It's a 7/8 scale version of its big brothers, the Flyer, G-50 and G-70 arms. It provides the same legendary performance and flexibility including instant, knob-adjustable control of lifting power for camera payloads between 2.5 and 7 lbs. (1.1 to 3.2 kg) The Merlin Arm also provides enormous vertical lifting range (28" or 71cm) and full iso-elasticity, so you'll need only ounces of force to maintain the highest or lowest lens heights (way above the head to below the waist).

Like its big brothers, the Merlin Arm includes two-axis adjustment of the arm-to-body angle so that people of differing shapes can adjust the lifting angle to their most comfortable posture. Together The Merlin Arm and Vest actually increase your shooting options. You can ease the Merlin back against your body and shoot 'handheld', with both hands on the camera, and fly seamlessly back off the shoulder and continue moving.

Steadicam Arm Features

  • The New Merlin Arm and Vest makes extended shooting nearly effortless
  • The Merlin Vest is the lightest and thinnest ever made
  • Merlin Vest provides complete comfort and functionality for extended productions and long continuous shots
  • The Merlin Arm also provides enormous vertical lifting range
  • Together the Merlin Arm and Vest actually increase your shooting options