Comments

farss wrote on 8/4/2007, 4:43 PM
I looked at their stuff, the idea of mounting anything other than a camera on a tripod's head gives me the willies, kind of lost interest at that point.
Good cranes are expensive, we've got two Losmandy Portajibs and they're pretty good although the Chinese knock off that was at NAB actually looks better and cheaper. But they're not cranes.
We've also got a ABC crane that goes to 9 metres, made out of titanium tubing, wieghs next to nothing but costs around $8K. At the Kessler price point there's many things on the market, all manner of cranes and pole things plus it's not too hard to roll your own.

Other thing I don't like about the Kessler is having the counterweights all on one pole, not good design. It should have a handle at 90deg to the arm with the weights spilt onto either side of the handle. Then you add a vector bar with an adjustable weight and position. The vector bar if designed correctly compensates for the change in moment as you tilt the crane. Without that the crane will accelerate up or down. The big serious cranes have small sliding weights to serve the same purpose.

Thing I see is, do you really need to own a crane?
Renting a good crane and operator for when you need one can make a lot of sense.
Jay Gladwell wrote on 8/4/2007, 7:15 PM

From one of Kessler's customers:

I have a production company in Los Angeles and as an individual have been in the television and film industry as a 2nd unit Director (DGA) and a Stunt Coordinator for over 22 years. That means that I have worked on some pretty large projects. Most recently Fast and Furious 3, Tokyo Drift, and Mission Impossible 3. That also means that I have seen and used some pretty nice equipment.

Your equipment, the Kessler 12/8 Crane with the motorized camera turret, video assist and dvx controller ranks right up there with anything that Hollywood has to offer. We just shot two national commercials for QuikDrop International and they turned out just great. We used your crane on both commercials, but one, The Drill Sergeant was shot entirely with your crane. The winning combination of your crane and my dp, Igor Meglic was literally a homerun for my clients and my company.

Steve Hart
Maverick Productions/Post
Los Angeles, CA.


richard-courtney wrote on 8/4/2007, 7:57 PM
My employer hired a 25 ft Jimmy Jib/operator a few years ago but I wasn't allowed
to even drool near it due to liability.

There are some shots "wish I could" and am thinking about winter projects in the
shop. Kessler has a slick fluid swivel that has a 100mm ball to mount on that
looks safer than any fluid head.

I see the counter balance T bar you are referring to. An H bar looks safer to me.
Can you refer me to a photo of the sliding weights you mentioned?

The hydra turret looks interesting for a can I make one type of project. I like
the idea of using hydro instead of electro no batteries needed.

Thanks for your reply.