Decent jib for the money, but I had to perform some mods to get the most out of it.
The first mod was adding an inexpensive motorized pan/tilt head to allow me to keep the subject in frame regardless of the move.
The second mod was to clamp a short length of pipe to the balance handle to allow me to affix standard cast iron balance weights to the handle end instead of using the sand bag. I found the sand bag tended to sway, movement that was amplified by the jib arm causing unsteady shots. Further, the sand bag would sometimes rub on the tripod legs when the camera was in the highest position.
The next mod was adding a quick shoe mount so I could quickly attach the motor unit since it's a bit tight to get to the screw on the jib camera head.
The final mod was adding an L bracket to the center pivot that attached to the tripod for mounting a preview monitor to be able to monitor the camera shot.
While the jib does operate smoothly, it does have a bit of wiggle in it when attempting to stop and hold a shot steady. It's not bad, but it does definitely make the case for a metal jib arm if you really want professional results. I'll take a little wiggle for the price since it meets my budget needs.
The jib is a bit fussy to get the camera head properly level in all directions, but it stays put once it is. The issue is, the extensions want to twist and torque when the knobs are loose while extending the sections. When properly balanced, the jib stays put when you let go of it and the locks seem to hold it in place.
I will say, you do need a good solid tripod to hold this thing. Even a small camera creates a wide center of gravity that will make a light weight tripod too easy to tip over. Don't put you camera at risk by using a sub-standard tripod.
I do like the looks of the jib and it's nice and light and compact for storage and transport. The only down side is that lightness does make the jib a little less steady than something with more bulk.
The first mod was adding an inexpensive motorized pan/tilt head to allow me to keep the subject in frame regardless of the move.
The second mod was to clamp a short length of pipe to the balance handle to allow me to affix standard cast iron balance weights to the handle end instead of using the sand bag. I found the sand bag tended to sway, movement that was amplified by the jib arm causing unsteady shots. Further, the sand bag would sometimes rub on the tripod legs when the camera was in the highest position.
The next mod was adding a quick shoe mount so I could quickly attach the motor unit since it's a bit tight to get to the screw on the jib camera head.
The final mod was adding an L bracket to the center pivot that attached to the tripod for mounting a preview monitor to be able to monitor the camera shot.
While the jib does operate smoothly, it does have a bit of wiggle in it when attempting to stop and hold a shot steady. It's not bad, but it does definitely make the case for a metal jib arm if you really want professional results. I'll take a little wiggle for the price since it meets my budget needs.
The jib is a bit fussy to get the camera head properly level in all directions, but it stays put once it is. The issue is, the extensions want to twist and torque when the knobs are loose while extending the sections. When properly balanced, the jib stays put when you let go of it and the locks seem to hold it in place.
I will say, you do need a good solid tripod to hold this thing. Even a small camera creates a wide center of gravity that will make a light weight tripod too easy to tip over. Don't put you camera at risk by using a sub-standard tripod.
I do like the looks of the jib and it's nice and light and compact for storage and transport. The only down side is that lightness does make the jib a little less steady than something with more bulk.
Jib move using Imorden 5.7' jib: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T...
By Gadget Guru
IMORDEN Customer
