Best Jib Arm under $1500 (including Sticks)

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kgdecker

New member
This is my first post on this site, but have been browsing for a month so i respect your opinions. Anyways I've been researching the following camera cranes and trying to figure out which tripod to put them on.

EZ FX


Kessler


Glidecam CamCrane 200


TRIPODS
BOGAN 528XB HEAVY-DUTY VIDEO/MOVIE TRIPOD
KESSLER MARK 4 CRANE TRIPOD

Has anyone had experience with any of the products above? I am very curious especially on the Kessler Mark 4 Crane Tripod. My biggest concerns with these jibs are how a fluid head can buckle due to the stress and weight of a camera crane. Thats why I am leaning more towrads a crane that swivels by itself rather than a fluid head (athough I loose the tilt feature). Another important feature to me is setup time. I film action sports skiing and snowboarding and often need a quick and easy setup as athletes are eager to start shooting ASAP. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I also have a cobra crane with a weak tripod and head. would it be worth keeping this crane and getting a new tripod head and sticks or is this a weak base crane to begin with?
 
I'm using using an EZ FX crane with a set of old, heavy duty ITE sticks. It's the only crane I have experience with, so I can't make comparisons, but I'm very impressed with the quality of the product. Considering the amount of stress it puts on the legs, I am now very leery of cranes that mount onto fluid heads.
 
After researching jibs I went with the EZ FX crane and the 528XB Tripod. You will also want to get a spreader bar with wheels so you can move your crane around once it is set up. Save a little money, you do not need the handle, I just use the handle that came with my pan and tilt head. I went with this jib for several reasons. 1.) This is a longer investment than your camera. you may shoot with a small camera now but the EZ FX Jib and 528xb can support much more weight than the other jibs and You may need that option in the future. 2.) Solid build 3.) upgradeable- I can get the extension later and a motorized head and I believe the 528xb will still hold it. The 528xb will hold a lot more weight than it is rated for. Once you get it you will realize you made the right choice. I was in a studio recently and saw the kessler. it seemed flimsy compared to the build of the EZ FX jib. It only had a little sony HD camera on it but it seemed to bounce if not careful. My last camera was a DSR 250 and the EZ FX handled it with no problem. Ask them to give you a better deal on the case to carry it. Compare prices at other places for the tripod and spreader dolly. Hope that helps.

Blessings,
David Wendt
 
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