Crane with the HPX500

It's just another camera atop a jib (I'd call a crane something an operator rides on with the camera). Anyway, I use a Seven jib often with our 500. Planning on buying a PortaJib very soon.
 
I use a Port-a-jib and it is excellent quality - have had it for 15 years and it is still like new, so this was a purchase that was well worth it. The HPX is a much lighter camera than my old betacam, so it works great with less weights. You will need a zoom controller with extension cable to operate it.
 
I have the porta-jib and the vista head.

it does work, but bear in mind that this is about the minimum size eqipment you want to go with. In fact, you should only use dionic batteries and keep the camera as stripped down as possible.

also bear in mind that you can only use this on the widest ends of the lens, unless you are outdoors and stopped way down. Otherwise you will need a preston or bartec setup and focus puller(which can ad a lot to your daily cost).

The most common and best rated jib out there for industrial use is the Jimmy Jib, which is much more stable and has a higher payload. You can get Jimmy Jib ops in the LA area for between 700 to 1400 a day including labor and rental.

The Jonny Jib is similar to hte Jimmy Jib, but uses a Vista head which has lower weight limit and also that jib is much harder to use and less versital.

My recommendation is pay someone who already has one until such time as you can afford a Jimmy Jib. I wouldn't settle for less. I wish I had waited and spent a few more grand for a Jimmy Jib.

that said, if all you want are small manual moves atop a dolly or indoors with limited hieght than any of the smaller jib will do.

Also, don't expect to get any of the amazing moves you see in big films which are done with technocranes. Even low winds will ruin your ability to get a good shot with a jimmy jib outdoors.
 
We did our DSC labs Ambi-2 setup vid with the HPX500, Bogen 516 fluid head, Marshall 7" HD monitor and 12V power mounted on our Cinevate jib. The jib was mounted on our dolly. It works great, but requires nearly 100lbs of counterbalance. This jib will be introduced this summer for approx. $1200 to go with our "Ballare" dolly system. The setup allowed the fellow shooting it, Piotr, to effortlessly move in and out, pan left and right as well as jib up and down letting the jib do all the support work :-)
 
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I've used the EzFX for 8 years.... including the last 12 months with my 500. It's very solid and good for reveals and small moves indoors and out. With the right tripod, I've used this with a Betacam and teleprompter. It's a nice tool to have to add production value to smaller shoots. Easy set up for one person. For big projects and/or big moves I hire a Jimmy Jib with operator.
 
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