I helped a guy out with a scene shoot, and noticed he was using a jib, instead of a tripod, to follow people as the sat and got up, out of chairs. Wouldn't a tripod head be good? Why bring a big jib into an office, that is tough to carry around, and expensive, for just shooting someone getting up out of chair. I should have asked him but I was busy learning other things.
Did they really need jibs for this?
- Thread starter harmonica44
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Probably because they didn't want to tilt, but for the camera to remain level as it follows the action. If you wanted to do the same thing with a tripod you'd have to physically pick it up or raise the head, both of which would be really shaky.
Unless I'm completely misunderstanding the shot and he's using the jib to tilt the head, it's definitely the right tool for the job.
Unless I'm completely misunderstanding the shot and he's using the jib to tilt the head, it's definitely the right tool for the job.
Oh okay, I thought tilting was just as good, for going up and down, but I see what you mean. The jib just looks better.
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TBH, when I have access to a Jib, I prefer to operate from it too. Love the Kessler Cranes to operate at the head at the front. Movements are a lot nicer than just your pan and tilt. You can combine a pan with a tilt and go up or down at the same moment. Oh and not to forget that you can swing the arm too! A lot more versatility in one setup. You can get so many different shots without moving the jib!
Okay I was told I need a fluid head before, to get good pans, but what's the point of having one, if a jib is so much better? Or does the fluid head still have it's place?
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Fluid head absolutely had it's place just like the jib does. Sometimes you pan, sometimes you dolly, sometimes you swing a jib arm, sometimes you go handheld or steadicam, sometimes you mount it to a vehicle like a golf cart or helicopter, and I can go on and on. Many times it's a combination of many of those.
Plus, there has to be a head of some sort on the end of the jib. If it's all manual control, you'll still need a fluid head to tilt and pan from it. Just like there needs to be a head on a dolly or on your gyro mount in a helicopter. You'll always need a fluid head.
Plus, there has to be a head of some sort on the end of the jib. If it's all manual control, you'll still need a fluid head to tilt and pan from it. Just like there needs to be a head on a dolly or on your gyro mount in a helicopter. You'll always need a fluid head.