what evan said...eventually you will get tired holding something for a while. and honestly the merlin is going to be no different. you are still supporting the weight of your camera and accessories with one arm anyway. and i have seen and messed with the merlin a little bit, it is a bitch to try and control, and if its not balanced perfectly, good luck getting smooth shots. doesn't compare to my glidecam at all imo. much more control and possibilities with the gc