Does a Glidecam on a Jib make sense? at DVinfo.net

Paul Cascio · December 1st, 2009, 09:19 AM

I was thinking that if you locked the rotation, it might provide some very smooth jib moves. Then, I thought there must be a reason why no one is doing this already, but I can't figure it out. Any thoughts?

Charles Papert · December 1st, 2009, 01:22 PM

Paul:

Jib shoots shouldn't need smoothing out unless there is a problem with the jib or the head on the jib (if applicable).

There's not much to be gained by adding a stabilizer onto a jib that I can think of, and it would start to become quite a handful. Certainly using the spring arm would make it particularly awkward. Connecting the gimbal handle directly to the end of the jib would be more manageable but again, not sure why it would be used, unless it was to add a specific look to the shot, i.e. activity in the roll axis. Once the jib is raised in the air past a certain point you wouldn't be able to keep a hand on the post properly.

Can't really see the utility in this one.

Paul Cascio · December 1st, 2009, 04:39 PM

You're absolutely right, and jibs by nature have the potential for smooth motion. Thanks Charles.

Jon Fairhurst · December 5th, 2009, 10:06 PM

I would think that a tripod head at the end of the jib is the more practical solution to maintain or change framing.

A friend of mine has an inexpensive jib that I've borrowed. It has a motor for a security cam at the end. It worked well on a concert shoot with a DVX-100b, partly because framing isn't all that critical, as long as the view is wide enough.

For a narrative piece with the 5D Mark II, it really wasn't adequate. We designed the jib shots to work without pan or tilt at the end of the jib.

The other problem with the inexpensive jib is that it didn't have any damping. It was nearly impossible to stop the movement without bouncing.

December 1st, 2009, 09:19 AM	#1
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Does a Glidecam on a Jib make sense? I was thinking that if you locked the rotation, it might provide some very smooth jib moves. Then, I thought there must be a reason why no one is doing this already, but I can't figure it out. Any thoughts? __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

December 1st, 2009, 01:22 PM	#2
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Paul: Jib shoots shouldn't need smoothing out unless there is a problem with the jib or the head on the jib (if applicable). There's not much to be gained by adding a stabilizer onto a jib that I can think of, and it would start to become quite a handful. Certainly using the spring arm would make it particularly awkward. Connecting the gimbal handle directly to the end of the jib would be more manageable but again, not sure why it would be used, unless it was to add a specific look to the shot, i.e. activity in the roll axis. Once the jib is raised in the air past a certain point you wouldn't be able to keep a hand on the post properly. Can't really see the utility in this one. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

December 1st, 2009, 04:39 PM	#3
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	You're absolutely right, and jibs by nature have the potential for smooth motion. Thanks Charles. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

December 5th, 2009, 10:06 PM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	I would think that a tripod head at the end of the jib is the more practical solution to maintain or change framing. A friend of mine has an inexpensive jib that I've borrowed. It has a motor for a security cam at the end. It worked well on a concert shoot with a DVX-100b, partly because framing isn't all that critical, as long as the view is wide enough. For a narrative piece with the 5D Mark II, it really wasn't adequate. We designed the jib shots to work without pan or tilt at the end of the jib. The other problem with the inexpensive jib is that it didn't have any damping. It was nearly impossible to stop the movement without bouncing. __________________ Jon Fairhurst