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Merlin steadicam losing trim balance when removed from docking bracket

14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

What the thread found

  • A Merlin steadicam that loses trim adjustment after being lifted off the docking bracket and moved for a few seconds, tilting significantly when returned, may indicate a defective gimbal rather than a balance or setup issue.
  • Dovetail plates on a Merlin that do not clamp tightly enough can cause trim loss and instability during operation with the vest and arm.

Depends on

  • The exact cause of trim loss was not definitively identified in this thread—a defective gimbal was suspected and replaced, but the root cause was not explicitly confirmed.
  • The gimbal tightness or play was not measured or tested before the replacement unit resolved the issue.
  • This is a specific case involving one user's equipment; individual rigs may have different contributing factors.

Parts

Dovetail Plate, Docking Bracket

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