2009Steadi-Newbies forum
Balancing a Canon HF100 or HF10/HF11 camera on a Steadicam Merlin rig
17 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The Magic Formula calculation tool on the Merlin cookbook website provides a valuable starting point for balance settings when camera weight and center of gravity measurements are entered.
- Balancing should begin by weighing the complete camera setup including accessories and measuring the vertical distance from the lens center to the camera bottom, then using calculated settings as a baseline for manual fine-tuning.
- Light cameras like the HF100 series benefit from using at least one front weight and bottom weights, with reported successful configurations varying in weight placement and arc measurements.
- Static balance where the camera stabilizes horizontally does not guarantee dynamic balance during movement, as the rig may continue to sway and require additional trimmer adjustments.
- Fine-tuning involves adjusting fore and aft rollers based on unwanted camera tilt direction and side-to-side rollers for lateral drift, with reported completion times ranging from one to several hours.
- Some operators report the HF100 and related models remain inherently difficult to achieve perfect stability with, even after proper balancing procedures are followed.
Depends on
- Different mount hole positions (C hole versus G or H hole) were tested but no clear consensus on best choice was reached.
- Exact weight and center of gravity measurements prove difficult to determine accurately, affecting calculation reliability.
- User experience level significantly impacts perceived balance quality, making it unclear whether poor results indicate wrong settings or operator inexperience.
- Settings shared were based on limited testing and described as starting points rather than final solutions.
- The lightweight nature of the HF100 compared to heavier camera models may fundamentally limit achievable stability levels.