Michael, for the crane i use a Canon GL2 or an XL1... But my XL1 is too heavy for the motorized pan/tilt head. Hmmm, plastic or metal... Good question, I don't remember... I just bought it and i'm pretty happy with it for the GL2. At slow speeds, you don't hear the motor but I wouldn't count on using the audio from the cam mounted on it.
EDIT: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...u=64399&is=REG

You can buy a lanc cable from B&H.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=282118&is=REG

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=212185&is=REG

As for the monitor, i'd like to get a color lcd for around $250 eventually but for now, i'll stick with my laptop or a small 13" tv.

Eric

Thanks for the links!

Eric, on the tilt arm there is a hole that can take a screw to being attached to the tripod plate, doesn't this lock the camera down at a position parallel to the ground? Last night I had some troubles with the three sections of the tilt arm, the first section where it attachs to the second section tends to buckle when motion is initiated, did you experience this? It seems like the pictures show the first section screwed into the tripod plate area but this locks the tilt arm done to one position.

Pics of Kessler Crane
 

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...e/balanced.jpg

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...basketleft.jpg

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...asketright.jpg

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...ane/center.jpg

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...rane/joint.jpg

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...ne/wieghts.jpg

http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...ne/ondolly.jpg


http://www.vintageracingnews.com/ima...ercrane/up.jpg

Alan,

That looks pretty good! Quick question, how many lbs of weight did you have to use to balance your camera. From the pictures it looks like a lot, but I couldn't tell what size weights you were using. Just curious.

Alan,

Did the handle on your manual pan arm come with the crane?

Eric

Yep, the handle came with the crane.

cant recall how much weight right off the top....


buuuuutttt....

I think its a...

10lb
2-5lb
2-1lb
2-1.2lb

weights....


will count when I get home.

I've found that using the heads tilt arm is easier and smoother than the manual arm on the crane. YMMV.

The rig will get a work out this weekend.

Shoot Sat. and sunday at race tracks.

Sat. shooting a motocycle trackday, Sunday vintage car races.

Will put together a little demo of the crane footage.

I plan on pulling the crane around the pits on the dolly to get all the crane shots for each car, then tearing it all down, and going back with a tripod and handheld for the C.U. and interview shots.

Seems to me it will be easier than rigging and de-rigging the crane for ever 10 feet and 10 minutes I move in the pits.

We'll see.

will report back.

Thanks for the info Alan, that really isn't too bad for the weights. In the picture it looked like alot more. I'll be interested to see some of the footage you shoot this weekend.

Alan,
When are you going to post clips you shot using the crane?

already did... will have to find where, I think in the "DV for the Masses" thread, there was a cross post in this forum as well... I think...

here it is...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ighlight=crane

kessler crane
 

i saw the cranes on this website and they seem very good for its price....have anyone used their products before? The video of the cranes look pretty good too. http://www.kesslercrane.com/index.html

Hi Abel,
I just took delivery of the 8ft Kessler Crane 2 days ago and am reaally impressed. I like the fact that the crane has 2 side by side arms or boom. Some only have one arm whcih looks like it would make the camera add torque or twist to the rig. Although I've only had a short time to play with it, I've had unbelievably smooth pans and tilts. To really test it, I mounted the tripod on a dolly and was blown away with the shots that I could get.

The tilts are smooth as silk. The key seems to be balancing the weights and camera perfectly. You will then find you can come to a perfect stop without jiggle. As I read on this forum before - don't mount this rig to an expensive fluid head tripod. It puts a lot of weight on the head. I needed 23.5 pounds of weights to balance a Canon XL2 and Panasoic monitor. So, add that to the camera weight, about 8 pounds and the weight of the crane, I think 14 pounds and that is a lot of strain on the head. I'm using an old Bogen 3063 video head and haven't had a problem.

I'd definitely reccommend it.

I love mine.

here's pics...

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...hlight=Kessler

Here's footage -

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ighlight=crane


worth the $.