What would be the best crane?

[Yurena A De Dios]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to do a performance video on a big white studio set and I'm looking at what would be the best crane for this shoot.

The shots require loads of rotation motion and smooth tracking, ideally would be ideal for smooth circular motion. trying to keep budgtary constrains in mind, what do you think would be the best crane for the job?

Not giving up on quality.

[Sanjay Sami]

By rotation do you mean tracking around an object or actor in 360 degrees ?

[Chris Millar]

Yes, that's unclear with undefined DoF, general 'circular motion' could mean a multitude of things - assuming the simplest cases, still leads to questions:

 

- By rotation do you mean simple pan?

 

- Maybe the camera rotating around the subject but pointing at it?

 

...which in turn could be done with an extending arm and pan for small subjects (and large crane) or full circular track.

 

Very different set ups and costs.

 

Also the word 'tracking', you mean the operator tracking talent on the fly - or the crane tracking it own movement repeatedly - i.e. motion control ?

[Albion Hockney]

The best crane is going to be the one you can get in your budget with an operators whose reel looks good and can also do what you need done

 

 

your going to want to talk to OPs and look at reels ....its like hiring a steadicam

Edited December 8, 2014 by Albion Hockney

[John David Miller]

Just because you can afford it and the OP has a pretty reel doesn't make it best...

 

Knowing what your trying to accomplish is a good first step...a dolly/jib on circle track may be best.

Edited December 13, 2014 by John David Miller