The Jib Question at DVinfo.net

Benjamin Harrison · June 14th, 2004, 11:40 PM

I am a film student and I feel like I could add a lot of production value to my stuff if I had my PDX-10 on a jib. I want to rig it up sot that the fluid head is still under the camera on the end of the jib (as you would do with a broadcast-quality camera on something like a porta jib), but all the options I've seen (cobra crane, sky crane) look to be controlled from the opposite end of the jib. I want to hold my camera when Im shooting with it and I don't want to have to buy or rent a monitor for shooting with the jib. Is there any solution out there that would run in the $500 and cheaper budget range?

Benjamin Harrison · June 19th, 2004, 10:50 AM

Has anyone actually used a sky crane? I want to at least try one before I buy one, but I need to find someone in the Bay Area that will let me try theirs out or something.

Joe Romano · June 19th, 2004, 07:48 PM

I've got a skycrane. I'm not in the bay area, but I can sure vouch for it. It is solid and it works like a dream. Lite but strong with really solid pro construction. I have the premiere and it does double duty at both lengths I also got the remote head so I am able to pull off some pretty wild stuff. Mounted on my western dolly it seems like I've got motion in about sixteen axes. It is easy to put together and take down. I say get it. oh, I am only connected by customership, but the guy who builds them stands by his product. I screwed mine up through user error (DUH!) and Bob talked me through a fix, but he was going to take it back and fix it for me if I couldn't undo what I had done. Great guy.

Benjamin Harrison · June 22nd, 2004, 12:58 PM

How much did it cost to ship it? I ask because I am going to film school on the east coast and I want to ship the jib back to myself in the fall. Is it pretty easy to pack up?

Dan Selakovich · June 24th, 2004, 09:05 AM

Hi Ben,

If I understand your question correctly, you can control any jib from the camera end, but you'll be limited to how high you can reach! In my book "Killer Camera Rigs that You can Build" there are designs for 3 cranes. There is a short jib called the "Killer's Kiss Crane" that is easy to make for less than $60, and is designed to work with the dolly in the book (but can also be tripod mounted). And yes, you can add your fluid head to the camera plate. This is an especially good jib to use if your space is limited. There is a quicktime movie on my site showing the jib at work with the dolly if you'd like to check it out.

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

June 14th, 2004, 11:40 PM	#1
Benjamin Harrison Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 60	The Jib Question I am a film student and I feel like I could add a lot of production value to my stuff if I had my PDX-10 on a jib. I want to rig it up sot that the fluid head is still under the camera on the end of the jib (as you would do with a broadcast-quality camera on something like a porta jib), but all the options I've seen (cobra crane, sky crane) look to be controlled from the opposite end of the jib. I want to hold my camera when Im shooting with it and I don't want to have to buy or rent a monitor for shooting with the jib. Is there any solution out there that would run in the $500 and cheaper budget range? __________________ www.badcharacter.com

June 19th, 2004, 10:50 AM	#2
Benjamin Harrison Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 60	Has anyone actually used a sky crane? I want to at least try one before I buy one, but I need to find someone in the Bay Area that will let me try theirs out or something. __________________ www.badcharacter.com

June 19th, 2004, 07:48 PM	#3
Joe Romano New Boot Join Date: May 2003 Location: new york Posts: 16	I've got a skycrane. I'm not in the bay area, but I can sure vouch for it. It is solid and it works like a dream. Lite but strong with really solid pro construction. I have the premiere and it does double duty at both lengths I also got the remote head so I am able to pull off some pretty wild stuff. Mounted on my western dolly it seems like I've got motion in about sixteen axes. It is easy to put together and take down. I say get it. oh, I am only connected by customership, but the guy who builds them stands by his product. I screwed mine up through user error (DUH!) and Bob talked me through a fix, but he was going to take it back and fix it for me if I couldn't undo what I had done. Great guy. __________________ peace, Joe

June 22nd, 2004, 12:58 PM	#4
Benjamin Harrison Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 60	How much did it cost to ship it? I ask because I am going to film school on the east coast and I want to ship the jib back to myself in the fall. Is it pretty easy to pack up? __________________ www.badcharacter.com

June 24th, 2004, 09:05 AM	#5
Dan Selakovich Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 220	Hi Ben, If I understand your question correctly, you can control any jib from the camera end, but you'll be limited to how high you can reach! In my book "Killer Camera Rigs that You can Build" there are designs for 3 cranes. There is a short jib called the "Killer's Kiss Crane" that is easy to make for less than $60, and is designed to work with the dolly in the book (but can also be tripod mounted). And yes, you can add your fluid head to the camera plate. This is an especially good jib to use if your space is limited. There is a quicktime movie on my site showing the jib at work with the dolly if you'd like to check it out. Dan www.DVcameraRigs.com