ProAm USA Orion DVC200 DSLR Video Camera Crane - Aircraft Aluminum Camera Jib - 8 ft Extendable Filmmaking Boom with L-Shaped Side Camera Mounting Bracket

A camera crane is a tool that when properly used can be helpful in obtaining stunning video shots BUT like the zoom lens it must be used carefully and with purpose. I purchased the ProAm DVC200 on Amazon along with The ProAm stand. This package came with free shipping which saved almost $40.00. The crane portion comes in two parts which can be attached together without the use of additional tools. Ordered with the stand the crane has the proper adaptor for attachment (also without tools). It can be ordered for use with a tripod and will then come with the appropriate mount. Using a crane requires the right equipment and some practice. The video camera needs to have the ability to attach a TV monitor and remote controls to it in order to frame your picture and start and stop your camera. It also requires balancing weights at the end of the crane. My set up consists of a Panasonic HMD-40 camera with a remote control manufactured by Studio 1 in Florida that lets me start and stop the camera as well as control the zoom speed, the lens focus and the iris. Depending on your camera a kit can be purchased that includes a remote control, a TV monitor and a bracket that attaches to the side of the crane. In my case the Panasonic camera required a different type of remote control. For a TV I adapted a Coby 7" portable digital LCD TV by making a metal plate to attach to the crane and attaching industrial strength velcro strips to the plate and the back of the TV. When I can I will upgrade to a better monitor but until then this works. The crane is very well designed and reasonably light. A four foot extension is available that changes the crane from 8' to 12' and can be purchased later. So far I have found that a crane works best when using wide angle lens settings. The crane is difficult to get stable start and stop pictures but works very well as a moving device. Zooming can be effectively used in moving shots with practice to great effect but the wide angle will give much better results at the starting and stopping positions. The camera platform has several mounting holes but to get the steadiest camera shots the camera should be mounted as close as possible to the crane siding. All in all the ProAm Crane is a well constructed piece of equipment that if used properly can be a creative tool for professional looking video. Like the zoom lens the crane must have a reason for being used. This is a good piece of equipment at a decent price.

We use this crane for nearly every shoot/video we're on. Great quality, good build, and super fluid motion. Comes in a matte black finish which scratches somewhat easily, but it's super durable. Definitely consider getting the bag if you plan on traveling with this crane. Really hard to find a bag that fits otherwise.Also, the crane is attachable to other tripods other than the one that is purchasable. Consider using your own tripod if it's heavy enough to support it and use that money instead to get the travel bag!

This crane adds a wealth of cinematic effect to any project. I have used it to shoot an onstage dance performance and fashion show to move easily with the dancers and models. My client was very pleased with the final product. I am also using it to get close up details and wide panoramic shots for a documentary. It is a much less expensive alternative to a steadicam to achieving smooth, sweeping shots. Although it can be a bit bouncy at times when ending a movement, the pros far outweigh the cons. (Those last few seconds can usually be edited out anyway.) I like that you can switch between automatic camera tilt to manual tilt with the removal or insertion of a peg. A drag control would be nice, but for the price you can't really complain. I love that it is very portable and I can fit it in my car with all my gear (have to put the back seat down). I also purchased the bearing mount, stand, lock, and bag. The lock was probably not a great purchase, as it doesn't really lock it firmly and I can't seem to get it to work as a smooth drag either, but it wasn't that expensive. I had to purchase a large rubber washer at a hardware store to put between the bearing mount and stand mount so that it would hold securely and not come unscrewed. I have also tried some other things including mounting it to a tripod head and tripod, but I like the crane stand and bearing mount the best, as they seem more stable, and I seem to have less bounce. I also have tried modifying it to become a 4ft crane in hope to use it in situations when an 8ft crane may be more obtrusive, such as at a wedding. This was achieved by drilling extra holes with a drill press and moving some screws and bolts around. Pretty cool, but a lot of work. For the reasonable price of the shorter cranes, it may be easier just to purchase one of them in addition to the 8ft one. The 8ft crane gives more dramatic shots, too. I also didn't feel comfortable with the screws that held the two pieces of the arm together not actually inserting into the second piece, so I had some holes drilled for that, too. The physics of it may be fine, but I didn't want the arm accidentally sliding out. All in all, for the price, it was a great investment! I think it takes my footage to the next level.