It's that simple. I am looking for a tripod which can provide simple craning of at least a foot.

I have a consumer Sony tripod which does this, and it's a great effect, except for the bloody shaking (but the tripod is a runt to begin with.)

I need something which can support at least 6 pounds and not bounce around while craning. I'm looking for something that will offer the most bang for my buck while staying in a entry level professional price range.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Nevin

I'm not really sure what you mean by craning.... can you explain?

Crane... Crane up crane down... moving a camera up and down. vertical movement of the camera.
Craning... tuchee?
Thanks,
nevin

Your crane will weigh a lot more than 6 pounds, especially with the counterweight.

Bob Jones of Skycrane (http://skycrane.com/home.html) recommends the Bogen 3051 tripod for his Skycrane, Jr. units. Dan Selakovich's book (http://www.dvcamerarigs.com/) gives you instructions on how to modify a heavy-duty surveyor's tripod for under $100.

What crane do you have?

I think he means the movable vertical column on some tripods that allows you to raise and lower the camera height, rather than an actual crane?

I think the term we're looking at here is referred to as "pedestal". I use this quite a bit when there is not room or time to rig a crane. The Bogen/Manfrotto have nice medium priced rigs that allow for about 18" of travel down the centre column. My sticks are 028 Manfrotto.

Wow...
Ok. That got way to confussing way too quick.

I was naming the motion not the product... guess thats where the confussion arose? I dont need a crane to "crane" the camera, from my experience: "Crane" is the vertical motion of a camera. Sorry for the confussion.

Yes, Mr. Lewis i am talking about the vertical column: "the movable vertical column on some tripods that allows you to raise and lower the camera height."

That is what i am interested in. If there's confussion about what the actual motion is called, just forget about it.

Jimmy i've looked into the "Bogen/ manfrotto", and i love the name, but what exactly are they? Special kinds of tripods? Why the special name?

Hope this clears up some stuff.
Thanks,
Nevin

Hi Nevin,
You do have a refreshing way of using the language. That's a compliment.

Try here: http://www.manfrotto.com/product/itemlist.php3?manufid=1&sectionid=78

These tripods are sold in kits or you can pick 'em up by mix and match.

I've never seen a center post of a tripod that was meant to be used while tape/film is rolling. Have I missed something? The "tripods" used for TV pedestal up and down by a huge center column, but somehow I don't think this massive monster is what Nevin wants!

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Here (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34869) is vertical movement.

David: That riser looks awesome. Unfortunately i need something more travel friendly. I cant strap that to a backpack or use it very effectively in my line of work.

Dan: Maybe the center posts werent made for use during film but i work with what i have and it works for me. I'm just intrested in a tripod which is more stable than the cheap sony one i have now but not huge and cumbersome for location shoots.

Thanks,
Nevin

Mr Aragam

Haha,
Sorry. I'm in school, most of the time I have to call people by their last names, some times i dont. Force of habbit. Sorry Richard.

It is rather unconventional to attempt this kind of shot, but in the hands of a very steady operator it does have it's uses. The slow cranking down is almost always sped up in post so you get some neat stuff. Stop motion effect with a slow downward crawl. Spooky!

Nevin,

Is there a particular shot you are trying to do? Maybe we forum yokels can help.

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Nope. i just liek the effect and would liek to do it with out the bounce of a crappy tripod. so i would liek to know what the better prosumer tripods with a center column are in you all's opinions.

Nevin