Jib vs Slider

keylight

keylight

Veteran
Which do people prefer, Jib or Slider? Do you find one more useful that the other, or are they tools for different needs? Anyone know of any videos comparing the two by trying to get the same shots using each method?

If you had $500 to spend on one or the other piece of gear, would you get a slider or jib??
 
Stephen Mick said:
I'd get a slider. $500 can get you a really nice slider setup, but it won't go very far towards a good jib.
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+1.

But yes, they are different tools for different purposes. They can both achieve some similar shots, but there are so many differences that they are far from interchangeable.
 
The only real entry-level jib that I'd consider is the Long Valley Equipment SevenJib Compact XL…
http://www.longvalleyequip.com/sevenjib.php

Now, the Aviator Jib looks promising, but I don't know anyone who has used/seen one in person. So until I get some hands-on time or some feedback from trusted friends, the jury is out.
 
or are they tools for different needs?
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more or less. YES.
you can come close to duplicating a slider move with a jib (providing you can get far enough back and have a deep DOF). but you wont get jib shots with a slider.

as far as whats more useful. depends on what you shoot. id say personally, that a jib move is more of a tv show or live event thing. generally used to establish a scene or transition from one thing to another. for the last few years, i use mine frequently in ads for a furniture store to establish volume or set a scene

usually, a slider move is more of a cinematic tool. great like a jib to establish a scene. but usually used more close up. or if you have a slider that reacts well to simultaneous pivoting (via center mounting on a tripod) they can be great for product beauty shots as well.

so really, the answer depends on what you shoot more.
 
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Kind of like asking... which is better, a boom mic or a wireless lav.

Rather than having someone on a forum with no knowledge of your shooting needs pick which tools you need to buy, instead pick the tools you need!

If you don't know which tools you need, then there is a real good chance you don't really need it in the first place.
 
Interesting. I know it's a DIY project, but not everyone has the workshop/hobbyshop space/garage and/or time to put it all together, so they prefer to buy. I see that you understand that, and so you sell the slider at zazaslider. If you want to gauge the market, you can always put your slider/jib up for sale at some price and see how many orders you get. Of course, that assumes you've completed the design. What would probably be good is to include some video showing off the capability of the gear to spark up people's imaginations. Best of luck!
 
Interesting comments.

David W. Jones said:
Kind of like asking... which is better, a boom mic or a wireless lav.

Rather than having someone on a forum with no knowledge of your shooting needs pick which tools you need to buy, instead pick the tools you need!

If you don't know which tools you need, then there is a real good chance you don't really need it in the first place.
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I was asking abstractly, if all you had was $500 which tool would give you more flexibility/use generally. Every project is different, but say you didn't want (or couldn't afford) to have buy new tools for each project, and wanted to buy one tool that would give you more flexibility.

Taking your mic analogy, if you're running and gunning for a documentary, you're going to want a boom. If your interviewing, a lav is more traditional but a boom works great. If you're shooting a scene for a film with a long shot/wide shot, a boom may not be workable, so a hidden lav might be better. So clearly what you're shooting does dictate what you get. At the same time, I'd argue that if all you could afford was one mic, I'd get a boom first because it gives you much more flexibility than other types of mics.
 
Id get a T shaped dolly that you can place your sticks on

http://www.longvalleyequip.com/dolly.php

Jibs must counter weight your camera, so you usually end up lugging a huge bag of mass about, sliders - maybe need second sticks, or at least removing your head from your sticks, or maybe a second head IMO both are a pain

My next project beyond a dolly similar to that linked is a jib, not a slider..

S
 
No doubt both are totally different tools but for your budget, I would look into to the Dana Dolly... Very well built and very versatile!
 
Slider is faster and much more portable. Most shots i get from a slider are easy "money shots"... but mostly detail things since the scale is so limiting.
A Jib, you can get much more "Wow" shots. But its larger, longer to setup, and takes a ton more time planning your shots.
I come from a Wedding and Event coverage - DSLR perspective. If I was doing more commercial and cinema style productions then i'd go with a Jib.

If there is a way, i'd be interested in seeing a poll for this too!
Maybe 3 or 4 categories like: Commercial, Event, Cinema, Wedding, etc.
Then 1st choice of gear: Steady Cam, Slider, Jib, Shoulder Rig, Handheld, etc.
 
I dont find sliders fast at all

that is becuase I think they really sing when the head is on the slider (so you can slide and counter pan)

so to move from sticks generally you have to..

dismount camera,
remove head
add slider
add head
add camera

I prefer the linked dolly as the set up is

chuck sticks onto the board

also dollies can carry a built camera with mic, monitor and the like, many sliders dont work with a built camera, so part of the setup time can be liverating the cam from its accessories

S
 
I would say a slider, Just thinking about it, I use my slider way more than a jib. Unless you get a jib that breaks down to a small enough size to be mobile, otherwise their a pain to lug around, never mind the timely setup they can require, and the weights for counter balance, meh,,
 
@morgan_moore
Really, there has to be a "faster" solution for your slider needs. Extra sticks, without a head should run you easily under $100.
Amazon.com: Manfrotto 190XPROB 3 Section Aluminum Pro Tripod: Camera & Photo
Amazon.com: Ravelli AVT Professional 67-inch Video Camera Tripod with Fluid Drag Head: Camera & Photo
Amazon.com: Davis & Sanford VOYAGERLTB Vista Voyager Lite Tripod with BHQ8 Ball Head (Black): Camera & Photo

I've got a decent Fluid head setup as my main, but carry an extra tripod for the glider setup...

and just from a quick scan...
You can find a spare set of decent sticks... even span a heavier camera with a cheap light-stand (with a threaded top)
Even some of the Chinese sits offer pretty solid sticks... try dx.com
 
Indeed, I already have satchler biggies and miller solo too not to mention some stills tripods that could carry an elephant - actually some stills sticks could be amazing for a slider for various reasons (a levelling head is better than a bowl head at taking off torque forces etc)

Each shooter, each job, really you need experience of the kit to select the right bunch of kit for each job and each crew size; for example two sticks might be practical on on a location 5meters from your truck, while totally impractical on a beach 500m from the truck

My personal experience is track that you can just throw under your built camera/sticks combo is extrmely fast and efficient way of getting moves

Also track puts all the forces in the right places, near the ground, so you dont run into the issues of a slider, built camera, and single tripod combo..

Jib wise I am a massive fan of the NEX5n which I will be building a jib for - here the mass drops by an order of magnitude and a jib becomes possible for the solo operator

S
 
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my 8' kessler crane breaks down into two pelican weapons cases. weights and all. not exactly "backpack friendly" but it travels pretty easily along with a hard-cased manfrotto 510/3193 combo.
 
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