how do cobra cranes work at DVinfo.net

Yang Wen · July 29th, 2003, 06:07 PM

I'm curious as to how does the Promax Cobra Crane work. I just spoke to a Promax person and he insisted that I use a true fluid head for it. I assumed that for tilts, the tripod head does not play a factor. (It basically supports the crane while a pivot ontop of the head allows the crane to rotate around it?) But he says all tilt and pan actions uses the tripod head mechanism. He is wrong right??

Alex Knappenberger · July 29th, 2003, 06:20 PM

Nope, he is right. The crane attaches to the head of the tripod, and the head allows it to move around (pan/tilt).

Mike Rehmus · July 29th, 2003, 08:57 PM

I've got one and it is marginal at best.

I mount a PD150 on it and it twists because of the weight of the camera although the crane is 'rated' to handle it. I do have the extension piece so that makes it a bit more flexible.

The way it flexes is with a twist so the camera is not level unless you compensate at the tripod end.

And it blows around in a breeze.

You do need all of the functions of the tripod head ( and it better be a very sturdy tripod and head, too!) to get full use of the crane.

The bent steel 'L' that attaches the crane to the tripod head also bends as it is unsupported.

For quick and dirty and cheap, it isn't bad. For good, buy another product.

Oh, and ProMax doesn't tell you until after you buy that they don't accept returns.

I rate ProMax unacceptable to do business with for that reason.

Chris Hurd · July 30th, 2003, 11:26 PM

Look into the SkyCrane instead...

See http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/camsupport/skycrane.php -- hope this helps,

Yang Wen · July 31st, 2003, 07:06 AM

Well this Skycrane looks like the base of the crane mounts onto the tripod head and is fixed, while tilt is done separately from the head. Is that true?

Chris Hurd · July 31st, 2003, 07:29 AM

That's right. He recently made an optional motorized remote pan head for it, but the basic package has a cable-driven tilt head built right in.

July 29th, 2003, 06:07 PM	#1
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	how do cobra cranes work I'm curious as to how does the Promax Cobra Crane work. I just spoke to a Promax person and he insisted that I use a true fluid head for it. I assumed that for tilts, the tripod head does not play a factor. (It basically supports the crane while a pivot ontop of the head allows the crane to rotate around it?) But he says all tilt and pan actions uses the tripod head mechanism. He is wrong right??

July 29th, 2003, 08:57 PM	#3
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I've got one and it is marginal at best. I mount a PD150 on it and it twists because of the weight of the camera although the crane is 'rated' to handle it. I do have the extension piece so that makes it a bit more flexible. The way it flexes is with a twist so the camera is not level unless you compensate at the tripod end. And it blows around in a breeze. You do need all of the functions of the tripod head ( and it better be a very sturdy tripod and head, too!) to get full use of the crane. The bent steel 'L' that attaches the crane to the tripod head also bends as it is unsupported. For quick and dirty and cheap, it isn't bad. For good, buy another product. Oh, and ProMax doesn't tell you until after you buy that they don't accept returns. I rate ProMax unacceptable to do business with for that reason. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

July 30th, 2003, 11:26 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Look into the SkyCrane instead... See http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/camsupport/skycrane.php -- hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 31st, 2003, 07:29 AM	#6
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	That's right. He recently made an optional motorized remote pan head for it, but the basic package has a cable-driven tilt head built right in. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 29th, 2003, 06:20 PM	#2
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Nope, he is right. The crane attaches to the head of the tripod, and the head allows it to move around (pan/tilt).

July 31st, 2003, 07:06 AM	#5
Yang Wen Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 991	Well this Skycrane looks like the base of the crane mounts onto the tripod head and is fixed, while tilt is done separately from the head. Is that true?