Camera Crane and Tripod Weight Problem for AF-100

Kindredmachine

Kindredmachine

Well-known member
I just got my 12' CobraCrane Pro II today (the dual bar one) that holds up to a 20lb camera and I might have a huge problem. My stripped down AF-100 camera rig with just a baseplate, lens and mattebox is around 10 lbs and my tripod is a Manfrotto with a 503HDV. I'm afraid the crane and camera with counterweights will be TOO HEAVY for for the 503HDV fluid head... all togeather I'm guessing it'll be 60-80 pounds on the tripod?? I have zero experience with cranes so I'm not sure what type of legs and head I would safely need for that kind of weight. When it comes to the "weight rating" of a tripod is it referring to the total weight of the head or something else? Any help or suggestions on what to buy would be a HUGE help!! TY
 
No matter what I wouldn't put that setup on a 503HDV, and probably not even on a more robust fluid head. The ea$y solution would be to get a Kessler Hercules head and the K-pod, but that might not be in your budget. The head would be included in the tripod rating, so if the head is 5#, that's 5# less payload.
 
I used to rent cranes when I needed them, more specifically jibs. One of the issues I often found was whilst my tripod ( or the one hired with the jib) was correctly rated for the weight, the legs would still start to get a little twist going on. They were never terribly stable until you got up to a higher weight rating where they started to use pedestal style bases etc.

Which is 100% the reason why when I decided to buy my own jib last year that I wanted a solid base to go with it. Now there are other systems around but I highly recommend the kessler k-pod system. Does it work for your crane set up, not sure Im sorry. But I would definitely be looking along those lines.

EDIT: Just noticed mkfotos reply. Step away for a drink half way through a reply and people beat you to the punch :)
 
Thanks, I checked out the Kessler stuff and it looks great. I wish I would have known about their systems before ordering our track dolly too. Looks like you can use the Kpod for both the jibs and tracks with different wheels attached to the bottom... nice.
 
Thanks again everyone! I appreciate all of the tips I'm always getting here which makes my life 100x easier.

I think I'm going to return our new cobracrane track dolly, wheel dolly and maybee 12' crane for a complete Kessler Crane bundle. The interchangable wheels on the K-pod is just too great to pass up. It looks like the attachable Kessler track/truck wheels can also run on 1-1/4" PVC which is great for flying in somewhere, buying pipe at Lowes, shooting, dumping the pipes in the trash and flying home.

That being said, does anyone have expereince filming with the K-pod with attachable truck wheels (track dolly wheels)? Is the whole thing stable and run smoothly? At least the same as Cobracrane dolly running on 2" PVC?
 
I make my own jibs and they are very sturdy, way over built, for a reason.

Don't ever go with light weight sticks or jib, a crash happens very fast, and it is very final.
 
Kindredmachine said:
That being said, does anyone have expereince filming with the K-pod with attachable truck wheels (track dolly wheels)? Is the whole thing stable and run smoothly? At least the same as Cobracrane dolly running on 2" PVC?
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Not the wheels, but the K-pod + crane + head combo, yes. I think it's excellent gear for the money.

olof said:
...a crash happens very fast, and it is very final.
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:beer: I don't think it's possible to say that any more succinctly.

Gear? Dead. Shoot? Ruined. Client? Lost. ...and that's before getting into collateral damage, such as talent with fresh metal implants.
 
All very true. The kessler wheels (12 wheels) attach to the tripod and run in 1-1/4" pipe whereas the CobraCrane track dolly runs with 6 wheels on 2" PVC pipe and of course your tripod has to "sit" on it. It seems to me that even though the Kessler runs on smaller diameter pipe it would run at least as smooth if not smoother (because of more wheels) than the CobraCrane. It would be nice if there was someone out there that tried them our before I begin shipping boxes and back and placing new orders. :-) so far, i'm leading towards all Kessler...

http://www.kesslercrane.com/images/stories/accessories/k-pod/kpod_dolly3.jpg
 
Get a heavy duty column built with a heavy duty bearing.

You do not need a friction / fluid head to carry a jib or a crane. The long lever eage nullifys any value of the fluid / friction head and the weight just wrecks it mechanically.

Very poor engineering or design decision to do so.

Columns are easily built and can be extendable or sectionable.

Anything GRIP DEPT...needs to be strong and heavy.
 
Kindredmachine said:
Nice, thanks for the input. Have to go place my orders now. It seems the need for more equipment never ends...
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Depends on your business model.

You can own it ....or ...you can rent it on a task related basis.

Renting it per task can come with someone to operate it. (Owner -operator - freelancer). Easy to manage a business around this model.
 
Shooter said:
You do not need a friction / fluid head to carry a jib or a crane. The long lever eage nullifys any value of the fluid / friction head and the weight just wrecks it mechanically.

Very poor engineering or design decision to do so.
Click to expand...

The Kessler Kpod head gets locked down with a locking pin for use with the jib. The head itself isnt used to travel the jib at all in pan tilt. It basically turns into a column head with rotation only. Plus it can be used as a tripod head for things like a cineslider where you can remove the lock pin and pan / tilt whilst someone operates a dolly move. The system actually becomes rather versatile as opposed to a straight column.
 
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