Camera Crane Systems « Videomaker Community Forums

dnathan
Member

Is there anyone who has found a crane system useful in weddings, and is it worth the purchase?

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Good question! I hope we get several replies on this. As for my experience, I bought a crane on eBay. I forget the price, but it was cheap enough - under three hundred, for sure.

I used it on a fire department training video and found out that the thing needed to be altered because the length of the camera from the mounting point determines the angle and this one was close, but a little off. I can work around it, but it'll be better when I fix it.

I still haven't gotten around to the alteration (been shooting weddings nearly every single weekend since late April). It sure isn't something I'd want at the ceremony or (heaven forbid) at the reception where kids and drunks go running around unsupervised. I've already had two tripods knocked over, I shudder to think of the damage that could have been caused by a big camera crane crashing into a table of people!

If you go several hours early to get your exteriors and B-roll, this is where it might come into play. If someone ever orders our biggest package, I'll trot it out, for sure. Until then, it's a lot of hassle for a few seconds clip. I've got the time and money to use it on business shoots, but less incentive on weddings. Especially when its use is so limited.

Posted 5 years ago #
RB
Member

Just ordered a monopod, that's going to be my poor mans crane. I'll just hold it up in the air for those shots from a few feet overhead. Not the same as a crane, but what the heck. Can't have everything all at once.

Posted 5 years ago #
paulears
Member

One thing I've used for years is a sound mans boom (fish pole). You can mount a simple consumer DV on it and get it up and over, as long as the angle is set correctly - obviously, it doesn't maintain a shooting angle. Sticking the camera on it with the boom collapsed also makes a kind of poor mans steadycam once you find the balance point. Damn handy in panic situations.

Posted 5 years ago #
ThomasTyndan
Member

Good question! I hope we get several replies on this. As for my experience, I bought a crane on eBay. I forget the price, but it was cheap enough - under three hundred, for sure.

compusolver, Is the above mentioned ebay crane something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Camera-Crane-Jib-Boom-made-for-Canon-XL1-s-XL1s-XL2_W0QQitemZ180046904894QQihZ008QQcategoryZ3319QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If it is what is your candid review of this item. I am at a toss up as to whether to get this crane, and it be a waste of money or go ahead and buy a kessler crane, for nearly 2x as much. If this crane good enoguh to hold a lot of weight, or would it probably to be better to go ahead and get the kessler? Money really isn;t an issue my crane budget is about the price of a kessler.[/quote]

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

I saw that picture and went, "Yeah, that's MY crane!" but then I read the description where it says it does not require removal of the tripod head. Mine does require removal.

As I posted earlier my complaint is that the auto-tilt mechanism requires adjustment for my Sony VX2100 (and probably for your Canon), yet there is no way to adjust it. I'll have to modify the crane and haven't had the time. If money isn't an issue, go with what you know.

Posted 5 years ago #
ThomasTyndan
Member

Yeah, when I think about mthe important thing when it comes to vidoe equipment: Get what you know to be good, get what can changed to suite your needs. The kessler cranes have so many accessories, that I can go with the basic 8 foot system and then increase the size to a 12 foot, and also buy neat things like remote tilt heads. Seems that it would be worht the extra $100 to have that kind of expandability.

Posted 5 years ago #
paulears
Member

When I was looking for a jib arm, I saw quite a few - the only one that really impressed me was an American one, the EZFX. Most of the others were either very lightweight, flexing quite a bit, frankly, too long. I was looking for one that could be extended, as most people here are. The trouble was in most cases, the extra length meant compromises. The thing I found difficult was that they all on first use, seemed really stable and good quality. Some had proper bearings, others seemed to have simple bolts with neoprene sheathing. With the weight and momentum they both seemed to work fine. The thing I did notice was that when you went up quickly and hit the end stops, some coped better - I tried a couple of budget ones and they jit the stop, kept going, then bounced back.Others hit and really jerked. I came to the conclusion that the extra height from jibs with the extensions wasn't really needed for the work I was doing, and the assembly time would be a pain as they can't travel assembled unless you have a large vehicle. Some were great with PD170 size camcorders, but were poor with heavier cameras, despite mechanically being able to cope with them. The EZFX I had for just a couple of hours seemed to manage all these things fairly well, although it didn't have all the gadgets they show on their web site.

My choice led me to a make qentis - advertised on ebay - chinese, I guess, but the company selling them appeared to go bust leaving people losing money on products that didn't arrive. My choice was difficult, until I was offered a second hand Vinten Dolphin - ridiculously heavy, but over engineered - still expensive, but made to last. It may be a few years old, but I'm really happy. Main snag with it, is simply weight really needs two people, no delete that, definately needs two people!

Posted 5 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

I have plans to get one of these as soon as the budget has room for it:

http://serv01.clev12.com/%7Ekesslerc/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=15&Itemid=29

With the extender of course. I have no problem using one of these at a wedding and can't wait to see what it can do!

Posted 5 years ago #
ThomasTyndan
Member

yeah, thats the kessler I was talking about. I am going to buy the 8foot and upgrade it later, when and if I need to.

Posted 5 years ago #
ThomasTyndan
Member

All this talk of camera cranes made me want one real bad so I bought one from http://www.kesslercrane.com

I got the 8 foot version, with a bunch of trimmings, I cannot wait to get it!

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Alright, Kessler - where's our commission?

Hey Thomas, Endeavor and I will be coming over to borrow it from time to time, OK? X-D

Posted 5 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

Sweet! Let me know how it does! And yes, I'll be by sometime this week :D

Posted 5 years ago #
ThomasTyndan
Member

I just recieved shipment notification this morning, It will be at my house by Thursday at the latest. I will mess around with it a good bit on the weekend adn report back to you guys.

Posted 5 years ago #
ThomasTyndan
Member

Woohoo! I just recieved my crane I'm going to mess with it over the weekend and write a review, I'll let you know when I post it!

Posted 5 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Uh, Adam, would you say Tommy's a little excited? :)

Posted 5 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

Can't say that I blame him. X-D

Posted 5 years ago #