Down and dirty jib.... at DVinfo.net

Aaron Dunlap · January 28th, 2011, 10:57 AM

OK, just thought I'd post something here to get the collective thoughts of the forum before I go and do this, in case its just a stupid idea.

I bought a very nice boom arm and stand for lighting (I'm a photographer who has visions of becoming a better videographer).

so my first thought was, "hey, I bet I could use this as a cheap jib...". It has a standard brass nub, to which I am planning on attaching a nice manfrotto umbrella adapter (to allow for proper placement of my camera). Then I can attach a head directly to the 1/4x20 screw on the umbrella adapter and I'm good to go (or so I think).

Obviously it would need tweaking to do pans from higher than ground level, but i'm thinking it would be able to run some pretty sweet ground level pans.

Has anyone else tried this? If not, I'll hook it up and take pictures of the set-up if it ends up working well.

Ron Little · January 28th, 2011, 11:31 AM

I have not done this but I have thought about it. I am interested in how it turns out.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 28th, 2011, 11:52 AM

But it won't stay level when you jib up or down. That's why proper jib arms have two parallel arms connected to always keep the lens axis parallel to the ground. A tilt control is added on with some rigs.

Aaron Dunlap · January 28th, 2011, 12:11 PM

Oh I understand completely. For vertical pans, it would have to be "eyeballed" to keep it level. Doing vertical pans on this would be very difficult.... but for the type of work I'm doing with it right now, I think it will suffice (we shall see).

I'm mostly thinking of using it for doing short horizontal pans, or diagonal pans with a bit more steadiness than handheld (due to the counterweight).

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 28th, 2011, 12:31 PM

OK.
Look forward to seeing your results.

Regards,

Robin

Ron Little · January 28th, 2011, 12:33 PM

Could you add another rod and have it connected to a platform that is hinged? I am going to have to dig mine out and see if that looks doable.

Aaron Dunlap · January 28th, 2011, 03:20 PM

I'm not sure how a second rod would work..... I'm trying to visualize how it would connect to the first rod to keep them lined up.

I guess as long as it is mounted correctly to the light stand it would work. Then the trick would be fabricating the plate on the end. Doing it that way would give you the added stability of having a counterweight on each boom arm though.

Brian Murphy · January 30th, 2011, 08:14 PM

buy a jib.

Warren Kawamoto · January 30th, 2011, 11:24 PM

The problem with your idea is that your pans and tilts will be executed without a fluid head. Your movement will be jerky, rendering your moves unusable.

January 28th, 2011, 10:57 AM	#1
Aaron Dunlap Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 49	Down and dirty jib.... OK, just thought I'd post something here to get the collective thoughts of the forum before I go and do this, in case its just a stupid idea. I bought a very nice boom arm and stand for lighting (I'm a photographer who has visions of becoming a better videographer). so my first thought was, "hey, I bet I could use this as a cheap jib...". It has a standard brass nub, to which I am planning on attaching a nice manfrotto umbrella adapter (to allow for proper placement of my camera). Then I can attach a head directly to the 1/4x20 screw on the umbrella adapter and I'm good to go (or so I think). Obviously it would need tweaking to do pans from higher than ground level, but i'm thinking it would be able to run some pretty sweet ground level pans. Has anyone else tried this? If not, I'll hook it up and take pictures of the set-up if it ends up working well.

January 28th, 2011, 11:52 AM	#3
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	But it won't stay level when you jib up or down. That's why proper jib arms have two parallel arms connected to always keep the lens axis parallel to the ground. A tilt control is added on with some rigs. __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

January 28th, 2011, 12:31 PM	#5
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	OK. Look forward to seeing your results. Regards, Robin __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

January 30th, 2011, 08:14 PM	#8
Brian Murphy Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Monreal, Quebec,Canada Posts: 249	buy a jib. __________________ Brian Murphy Director-Editor-DoP Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto

January 28th, 2011, 11:31 AM	#2
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	I have not done this but I have thought about it. I am interested in how it turns out.

January 28th, 2011, 12:11 PM	#4
Aaron Dunlap Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 49	Oh I understand completely. For vertical pans, it would have to be "eyeballed" to keep it level. Doing vertical pans on this would be very difficult.... but for the type of work I'm doing with it right now, I think it will suffice (we shall see). I'm mostly thinking of using it for doing short horizontal pans, or diagonal pans with a bit more steadiness than handheld (due to the counterweight).

January 28th, 2011, 12:33 PM	#6
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Could you add another rod and have it connected to a platform that is hinged? I am going to have to dig mine out and see if that looks doable.

January 28th, 2011, 03:20 PM	#7
Aaron Dunlap Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 49	I'm not sure how a second rod would work..... I'm trying to visualize how it would connect to the first rod to keep them lined up. I guess as long as it is mounted correctly to the light stand it would work. Then the trick would be fabricating the plate on the end. Doing it that way would give you the added stability of having a counterweight on each boom arm though.

January 30th, 2011, 11:24 PM	#9
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	The problem with your idea is that your pans and tilts will be executed without a fluid head. Your movement will be jerky, rendering your moves unusable.