Michael Hammond Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Hi there, I want to buy a jib to upscale my productions. I'm in that spot where I don't want to spend thousands, but I also don't need a top line, ultra-professional piece of gear that I'm going to go into debt for. If I ever need something like that I'll rent. For now, I want something I can set up as a solo shooter or maybe with an assistant. My main "asks" are these: Under $1000 Something I can set up as a solo shooter or maybe with an assistant Doesn't shake or shimmy as it moves (a lot of review videos I watch leave me a little underwhelmed in the stabilization of the shots) Weight capacity of 12lbs or less Does anyone have any experience with a brand that they've use to good effect? I'm looking at CobraCrane for now because it gets good ratings on B&H. Maybe the right jib doesn't exist in my price point? Any input would be very appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tyler Purcell Posted February 24, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted February 24, 2021 (edited) I personally have never used an inexpensive jib that works well. The best "low end" jib I've used is an intel-a-jib. It flat-out works. Easy to assemble by yourself. Easy to balance and can take a pretty heavy load. I've used it on many shoots (rental is cheap on it) and you should be able to find one used somewhere. You can also hang a pan tilt head to it, which is very nice and important for real jib shots. The cobra looks pretty lame, for sure not of the quality intel-a-jib. I wish their pictures were better, but the website looks old. Edited February 24, 2021 by Tyler Purcell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Sponsor Robert Houllahan Posted February 24, 2021 Site Sponsor Share Posted February 24, 2021 I have a Seven-Jib and it is really nice and well thought out especially for the price, I have done some mods to it but overall happy with this. https://www.longvalleyequip.com/sevenjib.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Tyler Purcell Posted February 24, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted February 24, 2021 2 hours ago, Robert Houllahan said: I have a Seven-Jib and it is really nice and well thought out especially for the price, I have done some mods to it but overall happy with this. Ohh very nice! Bit short, but I dig! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Sponsor Robert Houllahan Posted February 24, 2021 Site Sponsor Share Posted February 24, 2021 It is very good piece of kit for the money and he is in New Jersey so Michael could probably go check it out in person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hammond Posted February 24, 2021 Author Share Posted February 24, 2021 (edited) Thanks everyone for the suggestions! That intel-a-jib is pretty far out of my budget zone but I make take a closer look at the Seven. I do wish all these companies had better video examples of shots taken with their gear. I find the available examples pretty lacking in professionalism and info. But I've ordered a couple of lower cost jibs to try out...and most likely return. My gut and brain is telling me the ones I've ordered are just not anywhere near good enough. If and when I send them both back I'll dive into the Seven and see about that. Edited February 24, 2021 by Michael Hammond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Field Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 4 hours ago, Robert Houllahan said: It is very good piece of kit for the money and he is in New Jersey so Michael could probably go check it out in person. I looked them up and it turns out I've driven right by this place a dozen times lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanne Summers Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 On 2/23/2021 at 9:03 AM, Michael Hammond said: Does anyone have any experience with a brand that they've use to good effect? I'm looking at CobraCrane for now because it gets good ratings on B&H. Pro Am also has some around the same price as the Cobra Crane. I don't have any experience with them to tell you about, but could be one to look into. I'm sure there's some videos on youtube covering it. https://www.proamusa.com/collections/camera-cranes-jibs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sines Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 I've had this for 12 years, it does the job. It's a clone of a Libec JB-30. Can handle an O'Connor 50D or Manfrotto 502HD head loaded with a Moviecam SL MKI and a 400' mag. Got it for $300 off eBay. https://kitsplit.com/rent/fancier-ft9115-6-portable-aluminum-jib-like-libec-jb30-includes-manfrotto-502hd-fluid-head-supports-35-lbs-15-kg-brooklyn-ny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Famira Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Also check out the Proaim 10 Wave jib. New it's $680.00 and I have had mine for a couple of years. Your camera package has to be massive to make it jiggle. The worst thing about this monster is its carrying bag, which works but is just too soft sided for a heavy item like this: https://www.proaim.ca/collections/jibs/products/proaim-10-wave-2-plus-telescopic-jib-arm-crane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Famira Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hammond Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 On 3/10/2021 at 11:40 AM, Hannes Famira said:Your camera package has to be massive to make it jiggle. Hi Hanes thx for the suggestion. The issue I’m finding with the products I’m trying is that they’re inherently jiggly due to the construction no matter the kind of camera or weight I use. And they’re also poorly built in a way that as I rotate/pan/crane up and down they go out of level regardless of how level the tripod head is. How do you find the ProAim to be in these situations? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Famira Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Let me just start out saying that I am not a big fan of Proaim products in general. They seem clunky, heavy and are missing the sort of mechanical refinement that I am always looking for in my gear. This jib is an exception. Big, heavy and clunky are actually positive qualities in this case. It feels like a tractor. There is no play or slack in the joints. I found that once the jib is recklessly overloaded my heavy-duty Ronford&Baker tripod becomes the bigger problem, not the jib itself. I solved this issue by mounting it on fat, old Mitchell risers rather than on the tripod. If the base stays level, the head stays level too and I have had no issue with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael LaVoie Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 The Matthews DC slider "floatcam" was an awesome piece of gear and could do everything a jib could and also act as a slider. I think the main problem with this product was the price. It just couldn't find a home anywhere in the market. No rental house had it and nobody bought them for personal use. Adorama has a used one if you are willing to go beyond your budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Uli Meyer Posted March 26, 2021 Premium Member Share Posted March 26, 2021 There's a cheaper and not so "Heavy Duty" version here: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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