Specifications

Basic Set-up

Requirements for setup

Set aside an hour or so for your rst session with the Merlin 2. Set up a comfortable work chair and table in front of

your TV and near a bright light. Put the following items within easy reach:

• The Merlin 2 packing case. Don’t unpack yet.

• Your camcorder, with a fully charged battery.

• Check for your camcorder listing at: www.merlin2cookbook.com and write down the settings here (we’ll

explain):

• Number and size of forward weights

• Number and size of lower weights

• Arc size

• Mounting hole letter (A-O) on dovetail plate

• Stage position

• ‘Guide’: number of turns.

• Large and small at-head screwdrivers.

• A pencil.

• A tape measure.

• A white grease pencil or china marker (optional).

• A shallow cereal bowl or glass pie plate (optional).

• The DVD remote. It can help to perform the setup as a team effort. One person reads the manual, checks off

each item and plays the sections of the DVD as appropriate; the other performs the setup of the Merlin 2.

You will perform these basic operations

•

Unpacking and identifying each part.

• Learning to safely unfold the Merlin 2 into “ying mode” and to re-fold it into “travel mode.”

Don’t attempt to unfold the Merlin 2 until you reach this section.

• Presetting Merlin 2 balance for your camera.

• Preparing and mounting your camera.

• Trimming (ne-tuning) Merlin 2 balance.

Once the camera is properly balanced on the Merlin 2, we recommend that you leave it attached to the Merlin 2’s

quick-release dovetail plate. By itself, your camera can be hand-held or instantly attached to your tripod with the

included Tripod Adaptor Plate, and when mounted on your Merlin 2 it can be tucked against your shoulder for

extra stability if shooting conventionally, or quickly folded for traveling or storage.

Merlin 2 setup takes a little time, but if you do it right you’ll only have to do it once. Even if you remove the

dovetail plate from your camera the locating pin will insure that it can be remounted in the correct, balanced

position with just a single screw.

Now, you’re ready to start.

View the rst two sections of the DVD, including Section 1:

Introduction and Section 2: A Tour of the Merlin

2®

Follow up by reading A Tour of the Merlin

2®

in this manual.