Steadicam Merlin Arm & Vest Quick Start Card

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Before mounting the Merlin on the arm, we suggest turning the bottom wheel until the rod end (14) is all the way in. Then turn the top most wheel in the opposite direction (out) until about 3 threads are showing. That will lean the arm slightly away from the operator, allowing for proper use.

When switching the arm mounting to the opposite side for left or right-handed operation, be sure to re-adjust these wheels so the ‘top’ attachment is out and be sure the ‘bottom’ one is always in.

To operate the Merlin on the right side of the body, remove the pin from arm as shown in the photo detail- ing wheels (13). Turn the socket block upside down, insert pin again. Then, lay the vest down on a table. Loosen and remove all four thumb screws holding the arm bridge (9) to the vest and turn the bridge around 180 degrees so it rests on the left side of the vest center. (right of center as you look at it) Lock it in place again using thumb screws.

Insert the arm. Tighten the bottom wheel all the way and loosen the top one a few turns and you are set. This mode frequently offers an easier view of the camera’s ﬂip-out viewﬁnder that’s used when operating the Merlin system.

There is an arm restraint strap (15) on your Merlin vest. To capture the arm from moving about while

the Merlin is not mounted, open the strap. Draw it away from the vest. Tuck the Steadicam arm up against the left vest spar area near the strap. Wrap the strap around the arm and capture it against itself. Now the arm cannot move, but can quickly be freed.

DON’T OVEREXTEND EITHER ATTACHMENT SCREW

AS THE ARM WILL EVENTUALLY COME APART

FROM THE MOUNTING BLOCK.

Your Steadicam Merlin Vest/ Arm system comes with an all-metal gimbal (16). As per instructions in the Merlin for adjusting your gimbal, remove your Merlin gimbal and replace it with this new one. There is no need to go back and forth. Using this new all-metal gimbal, you can use the Merlin on or off the Arm/Vest system.

To mount the Merlin onto the arm, hold the arm still with your right hand. Grasp the Merlin gimbal/ handle (16) with your left hand and lift off of the optional docking bracket. Line up the hole in the bottom of the Merlin handle with the arm post (17) in the Steadicam arm. Rest the Merlin onto the arm post.

The Tiffen Company, 90 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788 • 631-273-2500 • 1-800-645-2522 • www.tiffen.com Tiffen Steadicam Operations, Glendale, CA • 818-843-4600 • 1-800-593-3331

Tiffen, Steadicam and Steadicam Merlin are registered trademarks of The Tiffen Company.

Covered by U. S. patents 5,435,515 and 5,360,196 and pending foreign patents. Steadicam reserves the right to change specications without prior notice. 0707

To adjust the lift delivered by your Steadicam Merlin arm, lower the arm by pushing down with the left hand until the arm section closer to your body is just above horizontal. This is the “sweet spot” for turning the lift adjust knob (18). Turn to the right to increase lift. Turn to the left to decrease lift. When that section appears to feel as though it is ﬂoating ﬂat – parallel to the groundmake the identical adjustment to the other section.

When the Merlin Vest/ Arm system is properly adjusted, both arm sections are parallel to the ground. The Merlin Handle is held in the right hand. The left hand operates the Merlin gimbal as usual. Practice proper standing, walking and hand position. See the Merlin DVD for further operating tips.

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Arm and Vest Quick Start Card

LIT-801001

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We thank you for investing the time and resources in our Steadicam Merlin Vest and Arm system. Step by step you will

build the components into a compete system and begin to create the Steadicam shots of which you have always dreamed.

Remove the straps from the bag. There are two that are 12” long. These are the shoulder straps. Attach to both shoulder areas as shown in the photos, using the keeper near the end.

Two straps are 22” long. One is 18” long. Attach one of the 22” straps to the right side of the waist panel of the vest. Overlap the sec- ond 22” strap on top of it. Pass the open end of that second 22” strap through the keeper, and fold it back on itself. This is your waist strap length adjustment. Then take the 18” strap and pass it through the keeper. Follow directions to afﬁx to waist panel.

After you put the straps in place, the vest will look like this.

Draw the (7) strap across the chest bridge (6), while at the same time holding ﬁrmly onto the waist panel (8). Make sure chest spar is vertical to your body as you do this, not crooked. Press the left chest strap on top of the right chest

strap on the chest bridge.The vest is

now 2/3 ﬁtted to your body.

left chest

The waist strap should look like this as you reach behind with your left hand to grasp it. The long smooth part is pressed into the right side of the waist panel. The adjustable part is grasped in the left hand.

Hold the waist strap ﬁrmly around your back and press it down onto the left side of the waist panel.

Fold back the right shoulder strap (1), so that the right-hand pad clasp (2) is able to line up with the

right top of the chest spar (3). Press the spar end against the hook area on the pad clasp. Close the shoulder strap over onto the top of the chest spar. This insures a very tight grasp. Do not repeat this step on the left hand side-it is left open until you put the vest on.

waist panel with the right hand. Draw the

From the back the are symmetrical, insuring an even ﬁt with good distribution of the weight.

straps

Insert the connecting pin through the sections as shown. Insert it so that the ring is on the top of the arm.

Insert the arm into the vest socket block (12). Holding the section shown in your right hand, guide the arm socket into the vest socket block. Line up the pin to the hole.

Using the left hand, gently guide the socket into place.

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Merlin Arm & Vest

Pull the right chest strap (4) through the keeper (5) and afﬁx to the back of the vest. This will take a few tries back and forth. The goal is to have both chest straps symmetrical, and to have the upper part of the vest held ﬁrmly against the torso.

From the front, the chest spar is straight. The straps snugly ﬁt along the chest and waist. The shoulder pads of the vest are resting on your shoulders.

Take the portion of the hold the right side of the vest and press it against the chest bridge (6). Slip your right arm through the armhole and pull the vest on until it is resting on your shoulders.

To move the arm bridge along the vest spar when the vest is made shorter, lay the vest down. Loosen all four thumb screws until they come out. Remove the arm bridge and move it lower on the vest spar, lining up the holes in the bridge with holes in the spar. Re-attach using the four thumb screws.

right chest strap (4) that will

The length of your vest can be adjusted. Loosen the thumb screws located on the bottom area of the arm

bridge (9). They hold the bridge on the vest spar

and also permit for vertical adjustment. All four screws should be loosened no more than three turns. This is enough to allow the spar to be moved. Once the thumb

screws are loose, grasp the chest bridge in the right

hand and the waist panel in the left hand. Gently tug them apart and the two parts will slide easily.

Repeat the shoulder clasp maneuver on the left side, pressing the left shoulder strap onto the left top of the chest spar. Line up the left chest strap with the chest spar. Attach it.

Hold the lower section of the Steadicam

arm (10) in the right hand and pull the connecting pin (11). It is the steel pin with

the ring attached. Line up the two sections of the Steadicam Merlin arm. One section nests just inside the other. Some ﬁnd this easier if the sections are held as shown, others prefer to lay the sections on a table.

The arm is not properly inserted in this view. Note the shiny steel back plate pressed against the bolts. The thumb screws must be turned out far enough to allow the socket to insert fully.

The arm is properly inserted in this view, with the thumb screw bolts nested in the slight groove

in the steel back plate. Now the screws can be adjusted for each operator.

Wheels (13) on arm mount are used to ﬁt the side-to-side angle of the Steadicam Merlin arm to the individual user.

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