SkyCrane or Kessler Crane? at DVinfo.net

Andy Joyce · June 7th, 2005, 04:24 AM

Both cranes seem really nice. Any opinions? How about ProAm (on ebay)?

The Kessler Crane 12 foot model seems cool since you can choose to resize it to 8 foot if desired, and those extra few feet would be nice to have in reserve.

I'm staying away from ProMax and the other cheapo units, but I don't want to go much above $500 if I can help it.

I guess any one of them would accomodate one of the common servo pan units for later upgrading.

Thanks!

Michael Best · June 8th, 2005, 05:52 AM

Thumbs up for the 12ft Kessler

Eric Pontbriand · May 11th, 2006, 05:27 AM

Check out my post there:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...light=skycrane

Webb Pickersgill · May 11th, 2006, 11:40 AM

I can't say enough good things about my Kessler crane. I bought an 8' crane about a year ago and love it and recently purchased the 12' with some of the fancy new upgrades. Well worth the extra few bucks!

Quoc Peyrot · May 18th, 2006, 11:52 PM

Hey guys, I was recently looking at the Kessler, and I was wondering what tripod head you are using. I have a Manfrotto 503 and I don't want to damage it.

Any advices?

Update: I just realized that Kessler sells a Fluid Swivel for 200$. Is it worth it or is it better to buy a video fuild head (which one?) that I can reuse for other stuff?

Thanks,
Best Regards,
Quoc

Webb Pickersgill · May 19th, 2006, 02:30 PM

The Fluid swivel does not have tilt, only pan. So you won't be able to use the cran's tilt lever. I use a Bogen 316 head which has worked great for me. They run about $500 or so.

Quoc Peyrot · May 19th, 2006, 09:55 PM

Can you clarify why you need the tilt from the tripod head? With the kessler it seemed you only needed a pan. Am I missing something?

Thanks,
Regards,
Quoc

Webb Pickersgill · May 19th, 2006, 10:29 PM

The head's tilt is what translates to the tilt at the end of the crane. As you're booming, you almost always want to adjust the tilt of the camera to keep your framing. The only real-use for a pan-only head would be if you're using a motorized remote head or some other method to control the camera at the end of the jib.

Quoc Peyrot · May 20th, 2006, 12:51 PM

I feel really stupid asking this, but... why can't you just use the tilt handle of the kessler's jib? Meaning, while you boom you also control the tilt using the tilt handle. As far as I understood, on the kessler's jib, you can lock the tilt or control it.

Regards,
Quoc

Steve Madsen · May 23rd, 2006, 12:18 AM

Webb, just to confirm, you're not using the swivel, but a 516 head on your tripod with the crane at 12'?

Isn't that an awful lot of weight on a head rated at 22 pounds?

If the 516 could handle the weight without being damaged that would eliminate my only reservation about this crane.

June 7th, 2005, 04:24 AM	#1
Andy Joyce Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 61	SkyCrane or Kessler Crane? Both cranes seem really nice. Any opinions? How about ProAm (on ebay)? The Kessler Crane 12 foot model seems cool since you can choose to resize it to 8 foot if desired, and those extra few feet would be nice to have in reserve. I'm staying away from ProMax and the other cheapo units, but I don't want to go much above $500 if I can help it. I guess any one of them would accomodate one of the common servo pan units for later upgrading. Thanks!

May 11th, 2006, 05:27 AM	#3
Eric Pontbriand Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Watertown, CT Posts: 29	Check out my post here. Check out my post there: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...light=skycrane

May 11th, 2006, 11:40 AM	#4
Webb Pickersgill Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 204	I can't say enough good things about my Kessler crane. I bought an 8' crane about a year ago and love it and recently purchased the 12' with some of the fancy new upgrades. Well worth the extra few bucks! __________________ Webb Pickersgill Bassline Digital, LLC

May 19th, 2006, 02:30 PM	#6
Webb Pickersgill Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 204	The Fluid swivel does not have tilt, only pan. So you won't be able to use the cran's tilt lever. I use a Bogen 316 head which has worked great for me. They run about $500 or so. __________________ Webb Pickersgill Bassline Digital, LLC

May 19th, 2006, 10:29 PM	#8
Webb Pickersgill Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Louisville, CO Posts: 204	The head's tilt is what translates to the tilt at the end of the crane. As you're booming, you almost always want to adjust the tilt of the camera to keep your framing. The only real-use for a pan-only head would be if you're using a motorized remote head or some other method to control the camera at the end of the jib. __________________ Webb Pickersgill Bassline Digital, LLC

June 8th, 2005, 05:52 AM	#2
Michael Best Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Oceanside Harbor, CA Posts: 446	Thumbs up for the 12ft Kessler

May 18th, 2006, 11:52 PM	#5
Quoc Peyrot Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 81	Hey guys, I was recently looking at the Kessler, and I was wondering what tripod head you are using. I have a Manfrotto 503 and I don't want to damage it. Any advices? Update: I just realized that Kessler sells a Fluid Swivel for 200$. Is it worth it or is it better to buy a video fuild head (which one?) that I can reuse for other stuff? Thanks, Best Regards, Quoc

May 19th, 2006, 09:55 PM	#7
Quoc Peyrot Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 81	Can you clarify why you need the tilt from the tripod head? With the kessler it seemed you only needed a pan. Am I missing something? Thanks, Regards, Quoc

May 20th, 2006, 12:51 PM	#9
Quoc Peyrot Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 81	I feel really stupid asking this, but... why can't you just use the tilt handle of the kessler's jib? Meaning, while you boom you also control the tilt using the tilt handle. As far as I understood, on the kessler's jib, you can lock the tilt or control it. Regards, Quoc

May 23rd, 2006, 12:18 AM	#10
Steve Madsen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 111	Webb, just to confirm, you're not using the swivel, but a 516 head on your tripod with the crane at 12'? Isn't that an awful lot of weight on a head rated at 22 pounds? If the 516 could handle the weight without being damaged that would eliminate my only reservation about this crane.