The Most Compact Video Crane/Jib On The Market

A few months back we posted about the cheapest crane on the market and it was a huge hit with our readers. If you happen to have a little extra money (about $300) you may want to invest in the newest and smallest crane on the market. Check out the video review below. If this looks like something you can't live without, head over to eBay to buy one of these new jibs.



Lee Morris's picture

Lee Morris is a professional photographer based in Charleston SC, and is the co-owner of Fstoppers.com

Log in or register to post comments
12 Comments

pretty simple...why didn't i think of that.....

because stuff like this and so much more was thought of and produced years ago and companies are simply adapting, scaling-down, whatever, to accommodate the size and weight of dSLRs and their popularity.

When I produced/directed The Erotic Traveler series for HBO/Cinemax we lugged a huge, heavy jib rig all over the world and had to hire an extra crew member just to deal with it. The cost for all that... about $18,000. Now this comes along for about $300. ? I wish I had a time machine back then!- Gary Orona

i doubt this little mini-jib would have accommodated the cameras you used for your series.

A well made video showing all the advantages of the product.

THis looks great! Planning on picking one of these up for sure!

Lovely new device...  My concern with sliders and lightweight jibs is
that because they are so light, it is difficult to make panning /
tilting adjustments on camera as the relative position changes.  Great
for longer lens shots and small moves but there is still a valid reason
for more substantial systems.

I have a Libec short jib arm which in TV is regarded as a lightweight
unit, but runs with 20Kg counterweight and a full fluid head at the
camera end.  Designed for full size broadcast cameras it works very well
with DSLRs and allows that all important panning / tilting etc.

Same for tracking shots with a fuller size dolly that allows easier
camera adjustment on moves - but takes more space / time than a slider.

But that said, the crane in the video is quick to rig and serves a
purpose.  Just beware of limitations when entering the brave new world
of lightweight grip equipment.

(Great video by the way - very informative).

What you say is true but sometimes extremely lightweight rigs trump bullet-proof  build and adjustment options. On a traditional shoot I'd go for a more meaty jib but I also trek, scramble and rock-climb many miles into extreme, rugged wilderness areas about 3 times a week in Utah and this ultra-light back-packable setup is looking very nice right now! 

Lovely new device...  My concern with sliders and lightweight jibs is that because they are so light, it is difficult to make panning / tilting adjustments on camera as the relative position changes.  Great for longer lens shots and small moves but there is still a valid reason for more substantial systems.

I have a Libec short jib arm which in TV is regarded as a lightweight unit, but runs with 20Kg counterweight and a full fluid head at the camera end.  Designed for full size broadcast cameras it works very well with DSLRs and allows that all important panning / tilting etc.

Same for tracking shots with a fuller size dolly that allows easier camera adjustment on moves - but takes more space / time than a slider.

But that said, the crane in the video is quick to rig and serves a purpose.  Just beware of limitations when entering the brave new world of lightweight grip equipment.

(Great video by the way - very informative).

LEE

think this will have to be getting purchased!  great little review and cute cats

where can get this?

This is hardly the smallest jib on the market. although I noticed the video was posted 2 years ago, so it's possible at the time it was the smallest jib. The Aviator Travel Jib is much more compact. The bag it comes with is considerably smaller than the one this jib comes with. The Aviator is considerably more expensive than this jib so you have to consider that.

For me personally I don't understand why all these jibs have to cover 6+ feet. Why can't they just make a super small, super lightweight jib that only covers 4 feet or less? For today's video blogger that's all we need is a quick pan here and a quick pan there. I don't need huge sweeping panoramas like you guys are doing in your video above.

I like taking videos of my travels and almost all my panning and sweeping are short bursts and very short distances. The best jib is the one that is with you. Make a jib that is 1/4 the size and weight of what you have above and I'll buy it.