Scott Auerbach
May 17th, 2006, 11:22 AM
I'd asked for user feedback on this jib arm before buying it, and found no users, so I figured I'd post my own review.
The Cartoni jib is a standard jib arm that fits any 100mm ball sticks. IMO, it's extremely well-constructed and designed.
It's a parallelogram design, like most jibs, and each side of the parallelogram telescopes independently, thus giving a significant amount of tilt capability to the bowl without using the fluid head's own tilt capability. The back end also telescopes, so there's tremendous range in both boom height and counterweighting, while packing up to a small package (about the same size as single-stage tripod sticks). The bowl also can be loosened and panned L-R (though not while in operation), giving you the ability to shoot sideways off the arm.
The butt end of the jib includes a hefty vertical post for adding standard barbell weights (the kit comes with 20-25 lbs of weights in assorted sizes) with a large plastic lock-down screw, plus a smaller built-in metal counterweight that slides along the jib arm for fine adjustment of counterweight. The locking screw for the small counterweight is a brass-threaded plastic core...good for not digging into the aluminum jib arm, but not so great for durability. Mine was shipped with the locking screw in place, and it sheared off in shipping. I'd suggest that it always be backed all the way out and stored separately for airplane/UPS shipping, or wrapped with a ~lot~ of bubblewrap. The counterweight is easily secured with gaff tape to prevent it banging around during shipping without the lock screw.
Movement on the arm is silky and precise... better than what I've experienced in other jibs in this price range (street $1000-1500). My only druthers would be that it came with a custom-fitted case...it comes completely naked.
The Cartoni jib is a standard jib arm that fits any 100mm ball sticks. IMO, it's extremely well-constructed and designed.
It's a parallelogram design, like most jibs, and each side of the parallelogram telescopes independently, thus giving a significant amount of tilt capability to the bowl without using the fluid head's own tilt capability. The back end also telescopes, so there's tremendous range in both boom height and counterweighting, while packing up to a small package (about the same size as single-stage tripod sticks). The bowl also can be loosened and panned L-R (though not while in operation), giving you the ability to shoot sideways off the arm.
The butt end of the jib includes a hefty vertical post for adding standard barbell weights (the kit comes with 20-25 lbs of weights in assorted sizes) with a large plastic lock-down screw, plus a smaller built-in metal counterweight that slides along the jib arm for fine adjustment of counterweight. The locking screw for the small counterweight is a brass-threaded plastic core...good for not digging into the aluminum jib arm, but not so great for durability. Mine was shipped with the locking screw in place, and it sheared off in shipping. I'd suggest that it always be backed all the way out and stored separately for airplane/UPS shipping, or wrapped with a ~lot~ of bubblewrap. The counterweight is easily secured with gaff tape to prevent it banging around during shipping without the lock screw.
Movement on the arm is silky and precise... better than what I've experienced in other jibs in this price range (street $1000-1500). My only druthers would be that it came with a custom-fitted case...it comes completely naked.