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How to Center a Jib Crane

This article will show you how to center a jib crane for a film production using counter weights.The jib-crane rig can be made or purchased. If you purchase it, it will include a plate to attach to your tripod. By calculating the weight of the camera, you can add counter weights to properly balance your camera on the rig.

Things You'll Need

  • Heavy duty tripod
  • Jib-crane rig up to 8 feet long
  • Counter weights of ~50 pounds
  • 5-10 lb. Video camera (5-10 pound)
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Instructions

    • 1
      Example of a level and bubble.

      Set your tripod up with the legs extended as far as possible. Most tripods provide a leveling bubble. This is so you can level out your tripod by floating the bubble in place between the indicators. Fluid-head tripods allow you to manipulate the bubble by centering the head using levers.

    • 2

      Attach your jib arm to your tripod by using the plate that comes with tripod, usually used for the bottom of a camera. This plate should attach to a plate or platform on the front of your jib-crane rig. This is where your camera will sit.

    • 3

      Attach your camera to the plate rests in the front of the jib arm. The tripod plate should screw right into the bottom of your video camera. Attach the camera by securing the plates.

    • 4

      Calculate the weight for the jib. Usually you can do this by adding weight, evenly on both sides of the back end of the jib arm. Add weight until the camera floats evenly.
      A general rule is to multiply the weight of the camera by 5. For example, most consumer digital video cameras weigh about 7 pounds. 7 pounds times 5 is 35. Sometimes you have to take off weight or add weight to get it perfect.

    • 5

      Add weights to the back arm of the jib crane.This should balance the arm, leaving the camera hovering about eye level. Once you have centered your weights, you can now maneuver the camera up and down and side to side

Film Production

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