Help me choose a crane / jib at DVinfo.net

Jean-Philippe Archibald · August 18th, 2008, 01:29 PM

Hi, I need a crane/jib for a shoot in september. I was thinking of getting a kesler crane, but according to Eric Kessler, the K-Pod is out of stock in the moment so I might not be able to get the crane in time.

I am looking for alternatives. For differents reasons, I can't rent. Please point me to some other cranes, ideally with 12' of range. I will be using an XLH1 with a bunch of accessories (35mm adapter, follow focus, matte box).

Thanks

Tony Moskal · August 18th, 2008, 11:58 PM

Check out the advantajib, made in Ontario. Light, and portable and capable of compound moves. I am very happy with mine.

David W. Jones · August 19th, 2008, 06:14 AM

First you will need a fluid head that will support the weight of all the little goodies added to your camera, around 23 pounds. Of corse you will want to weigh your gear to make sure of your load range. Something along the lines of the EZFX Jib, or the Seven Jib would be perfect for your camera. Then you will need sticks that will support more than 100 pounds.
And also counter weights.

Jean-Philippe Archibald · August 19th, 2008, 06:22 AM

Thanks Tony, the Advanta-Jib seems to be a really interesting product.

David: Yes, I am aware of that. I already have a good head. With the Kessler, I was planning to use their K-Pod. With the Advantajib, I don't think I need the head since the camera side is mechanically movable. I am wrong? I will also check the jibs you proposed.

Steve Phillipps · August 19th, 2008, 06:23 AM

Try index I have the multijib, which is good for HDCam and other full size cameras, but there are some smaller ones there too. Glidecam makes some nice kit too.
Steve

Andrew Dean · August 20th, 2008, 03:21 AM

I have an advantajib. Its an interesting l unit. Bit of a learning curve, but versatile. With the advantajib you do not need a head. the crane hooks via 100mm bowl to your legs (assuming they have a 100mm bowl) and the "head" for the camera is built in.

crane shots with a 35 adapter are tricky if you need to follow focus, and impossible to do manually if the crane is really tall. I've given up trying to hand focus shots while also trying to control the crane. and having 2 people handling the camera/crane isnt a great idea either. If you really need narrow DOF on a crane, you either need a lot of really specialized/expensive equipment, shots that dont change focus as they fly, or (my favorite solution) a ride-on crane where the camera op can fly along with the camera.

Jeffrey Butler · August 27th, 2008, 01:05 PM

The versatility commercial is a riot. I bet that video has sold half their fleet....
Advanta-Jib Video and Photo Galleries

Warren Kawamoto · December 29th, 2008, 07:35 PM

I have the Jimmy jib. Very smooth, but more expensive than the others mentioned so far. With this unit you can pull focus, zoom, open/close iris, and do compound moves very smoothly.

The downside of this unit is that it takes longer than the others to set up, and heavier.

My most important criteria of a jib is how smoothly it performs. So far I haven't worked with anything smoother than a jimmy jib.

Bill Hamell · December 30th, 2008, 01:22 PM

I bought the Kessler Crane 8/12 and would buy it again if needed, you can not ask for better service or nicer folks. The quility is outstanding and it flies smooth as silk.

Bill

Lior Molcho · December 30th, 2008, 04:01 PM

Turret makes a great Jib and a remote head

we shot with it for weeks in the desert, it's lightweight and very very easy to assamble, with interlocking joints-comfortable..
i actually had a chance to buy it at NAB and compared it to all the other cranes reccomended in this thread, and taking into mind price, ease of assembly and lengh it was the best choice..
do make sure you get a good demonstration of the crane you choose, check out the remote head and the taking apart assembly procces since in the end it all comes down to this..

Good luck

Lior

Ralph McCloud · December 31st, 2008, 08:39 AM

Have you checked into the Jonyjib? John Huffman at Jonyjib makes a great jib (with all the accessories you'll need) and his service after the sale is second to none.

I own one from John and am very satisfied.

One other thing . . . you might want to really think the 35mm adapter on the jib. Focus (even with a guy pulling focus) is going to be a beast with the 35mm adapter.

August 18th, 2008, 01:29 PM	#1
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	Help me choose a crane / jib Hi, I need a crane/jib for a shoot in september. I was thinking of getting a kesler crane, but according to Eric Kessler, the K-Pod is out of stock in the moment so I might not be able to get the crane in time. I am looking for alternatives. For differents reasons, I can't rent. Please point me to some other cranes, ideally with 12' of range. I will be using an XLH1 with a bunch of accessories (35mm adapter, follow focus, matte box). Thanks __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

August 19th, 2008, 06:22 AM	#4
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	Thanks Tony, the Advanta-Jib seems to be a really interesting product. David: Yes, I am aware of that. I already have a good head. With the Kessler, I was planning to use their K-Pod. With the Advantajib, I don't think I need the head since the camera side is mechanically movable. I am wrong? I will also check the jibs you proposed. __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

August 27th, 2008, 01:05 PM	#7
Jeffrey Butler Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virgina, USA Posts: 276	Only the best Kraft! The versatility commercial is a riot. I bet that video has sold half their fleet.... Advanta-Jib Video and Photo Galleries __________________ Jeff Butler Butler Films

December 30th, 2008, 01:22 PM	#9
Bill Hamell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mystic Ct. Posts: 477	I bought the Kessler Crane 8/12 and would buy it again if needed, you can not ask for better service or nicer folks. The quility is outstanding and it flies smooth as silk. Bill __________________ Cinematographers Bring Shadow To Light

December 30th, 2008, 04:01 PM	#10
Lior Molcho Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 78	Turret Turret makes a great Jib and a remote head we shot with it for weeks in the desert, it's lightweight and very very easy to assamble, with interlocking joints-comfortable.. i actually had a chance to buy it at NAB and compared it to all the other cranes reccomended in this thread, and taking into mind price, ease of assembly and lengh it was the best choice.. do make sure you get a good demonstration of the crane you choose, check out the remote head and the taking apart assembly procces since in the end it all comes down to this.. Good luck Lior

August 18th, 2008, 11:58 PM	#2
Tony Moskal New Boot Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	Check out the advantajib, made in Ontario. Light, and portable and capable of compound moves. I am very happy with mine.

August 19th, 2008, 06:14 AM	#3
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	First you will need a fluid head that will support the weight of all the little goodies added to your camera, around 23 pounds. Of corse you will want to weigh your gear to make sure of your load range. Something along the lines of the EZFX Jib, or the Seven Jib would be perfect for your camera. Then you will need sticks that will support more than 100 pounds. And also counter weights.

August 19th, 2008, 06:23 AM	#5
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Try index I have the multijib, which is good for HDCam and other full size cameras, but there are some smaller ones there too. Glidecam makes some nice kit too. Steve

August 20th, 2008, 03:21 AM	#6
Andrew Dean Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Motukarara, New Zealand Posts: 475	I have an advantajib. Its an interesting l unit. Bit of a learning curve, but versatile. With the advantajib you do not need a head. the crane hooks via 100mm bowl to your legs (assuming they have a 100mm bowl) and the "head" for the camera is built in. crane shots with a 35 adapter are tricky if you need to follow focus, and impossible to do manually if the crane is really tall. I've given up trying to hand focus shots while also trying to control the crane. and having 2 people handling the camera/crane isnt a great idea either. If you really need narrow DOF on a crane, you either need a lot of really specialized/expensive equipment, shots that dont change focus as they fly, or (my favorite solution) a ride-on crane where the camera op can fly along with the camera.

December 29th, 2008, 07:35 PM	#8
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	I have the Jimmy jib. Very smooth, but more expensive than the others mentioned so far. With this unit you can pull focus, zoom, open/close iris, and do compound moves very smoothly. The downside of this unit is that it takes longer than the others to set up, and heavier. My most important criteria of a jib is how smoothly it performs. So far I haven't worked with anything smoother than a jimmy jib.

December 31st, 2008, 08:39 AM	#11
Ralph McCloud Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 80	Have you checked into the Jonyjib? John Huffman at Jonyjib makes a great jib (with all the accessories you'll need) and his service after the sale is second to none. I own one from John and am very satisfied. One other thing . . . you might want to really think the 35mm adapter on the jib. Focus (even with a guy pulling focus) is going to be a beast with the 35mm adapter. __________________ Myrtle Beach SkyTour http://www.myrtlebeachskytour.com