Steadicam Merlin X-RAYs

[Stew Clyde]

does anyone have a steadicam merlin? if so, could you take some close up pictures of the gimbal handle?

im in the process of completing a DIY steadicam. I've been using a manfrotto 484rc2 tripod head, however, I'm concerned with the friction present as it's a simple ball and socket. I know the merlin uses a 6-bearing gimbal (does that mean one ring with six balls inside?), but I'm not sure how it's constructed.

from the pictures I can find on the web, it looks like the gimbal is simple a ball and socket joint, however, I doubt this is so.

so I'm not sure if the gimbal is detachable and someone could take "xray" pictures that way. if not, even just some close up pictures from underneath and beside the gimbal with light pointed into it would be great.

thanks guys

[Tom Wills]

The gimbal is detachable, and even orderable as a standalone part (in case you break one). You might look into buying it, it's around $160 if I remember correctly, which isn't a lot considering that it's a pretty cool and well-made piece.

While I have one, I'm not really comfortable with posting a whole bunch of pictures of its insides on the web, because of possible commercial copying issues, but I will try to give you some good explanations on how it works. Basically, it works in a similar manner to a universal joint, in that it has a "yoke" - a circular hoop, which has pins through it to allow it to pivot in two directions, each on 2 small bearings (really, really tiny ones!) That mechanism is then mounted on 2 slightly larger bearings above it which create the pan axis of the gimbal.

Does that make it clearer? Good luck.