Kessler Crane vs. Seven Jib Compact XL

P

Peckhammer

Member
I own a Kessler Crane. It works really well, and my only complaints about it stem from my particular idiosyncrasies. I use a crane or jib as way to achieve smooth movement, mostly. I rarely need a high shot. I find the Kessler crane a little awkward at times, and some of my shots are a bit wobbly because my tripod head and sticks are a bit under-rated for the weight. The sticks are flexing, and I am too frugal for my own good.

The Kessler Crane mounts on a tripod head and tripod, is typically operated from behind, and has a lever for tilting the camera up or down. I prefer to operate the crane from the middle so that I have more control by directly interacting with the tripod head.

The Seven Jib Compact attaches to a tripod without needing to be attached directly to a tripod head. The head is located at the front of the jib, and the camera mounts to it there. It appears that you operate from the front, and camera control is very direct. The camera can be under-slung with a bracket. For my kind of shooting, this has some appeal.

The Seven Jib requires sticks that have a 100mm bowl, which I do not have. So in addition to the $1200 Jib, I'd need better sticks. Money is an object here, and since I already have a Kessler Crane, it may be cheaper to just buy a Kessler K-Pod system and Hercules head, and then use my 501 HDV head on the camera mounting platform, giving me similar control to that of the Seven Jib. That said, the Seven Jib looks very easy to operate, and appears to have a better under-slung mounting system.

Thoughts? Advice? Experiences? Recommendations?
 
I have a Long Valley Seven XL compact jib. I had previously owned the Microdolly jib. I bought the Long Valley on the recommendation of a friend who travelled around the US doing a spot where he had to rent a variety of jib arms. I love how quickly this sets up , how easy it is to operate and how solidly it is made. A great value! I know 2 other DPs who traded up (over) to this from other brands and they are very happy with their choice.
 
First, please forgive me as I try to reason this all out in a public forum. I am usually much more decisive. The conundrum I face is that I have to buy better sticks and a head if I am to continue using my Kessler, or spend even more for a Seven Jib and sticks (extra head not needed). The simple answer to that is to buy a K-P system and head, $809. But simple answers may not be the best answers.

The Seven Jib Compact looks really easy to carry around and set up. And I like the possibilities of camera control from the front end of the jib. Anyone have feedback on how well that works? How it may compare to the Kessler?

I suppose I could mount my 501 HDV head on the front of the Kessler, and try using it similarly to the Seven jib. I don't know if it would work as well or not.

The bottom line for me are the costs because of a limited budget. The Seven Jib is ~$1200, plus needing better sticks. IOW, I'd have to spend roughly twice what I would need to spend to make the Kessler work better. At the same time, I am willing to come up with that extra money if there are some features and usability that I'd get from the Seven Jib. If only someone had a Seven locally, I could give it a test run... but it seems that no one stocks this stuff.
 
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