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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Need techno-crane advice

Tom Lowe

Tom Lowe

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I have a shoot coming up soon that will require a techno crane-style telescoping crane. I need the crane to extend about 15 feet, or maybe 20 feet max. I will be using Epic in an extremely light configuration -- hopefully under 15 lbs.

Here's the trick. I need a technocrane that is as light and compact as possible. I will be filming in a national park that has tight restrictions on the size of the footprint of the crane, as well as on how much the whole crane can weigh. Obviously with a light Epic camera, I will need less counter-weight, but I am looking for a crane that is compact and light itself. Not something made to handle IMAX cameras.

Can you guys give me some suggestions in terms of brands of telescoping cranes? This shoot will take place near Montana. So I guess LA rentals are possible.

Thank you!!
 
Tom,

Panther Galaxy Crane from Germany is one of the best cranes because of its flexibility.

They have also US office web page here >>>

PANTHER Dollies & Cranes
7358 Radford Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91605
U.S.A.
Phone 818 764 1234
Fax 818 764 1144
 
The Galaxy is not a telescopic crane. As I understand it Tom is looking for something like a Moviebird or similar.
 
Shooting while the crane is telescoping can lead to some wobble in the picture. If the crane is moving fast you hardly notice any of the telescoping wobble. But if gentle moves and long telescoping sequences are planned you may be disappointed.

Technocranes are heavy.

Hans
 
Michael Dorn said:
The Galaxy is not a telescopic crane. As I understand it Tom is looking for something like a Moviebird or similar.
Click to expand...

Maybe this one

Panther Foxy Advanced Crane System


FOXY pyramid

FoxyAd_pyramid_420_200.jpg


Form follows function. The FOXY Advanced pyramid was designed in such a way that it can be used
as the storage point for all crane parts. The patented construction facilitates easy transport
and orderly storage of all elements of the FOXY Advanced crane.
All it takes now is one person to transport the crane to the location site.
 
Tom, you may want to contact Techno Crane directly. I remember seeing a prototype telescoping crane they were making that was tiny compared to what we are used to seeing. Maybe worth a shot? It sounds like exactly the tool you need for the job, and maybe they will let you take her for a test run? Good luck!
 
I think the moviebird would be your best bet for smoothness of operation. But cammate makes the retract, which will get you out to 17.5'. Test it out first. Techno also makes a T-15, which may be under your weight requirements, but will only go 15' out.
 
Thanks for the information, guys. Please keep the advice coming! This will be my first technocrane shoot, so I basically know nothing about them.

Moviebird 17 looks interesting. What head would I use? I'd love to find a system like this that is essentially designed for smaller cameras? I assume most of them are designed to carry heavy, full-on movie camera setups?
 
The 30" Supertechno has a relatively small footprint for a crane. It's high end though, and you will need an operator with it so, that's a budget issue. However, again it comes in a truck and is more or less ready to go when you unpack it. All you have to do is unpack the head, balance it, put the camera on, and then re-balance and fine tune. All the unnecessary gear can stay in the truck, and when you're ready to go, all you will have out there will be the crane and the camera/remote head carts

Hans, you only get wobble in the picture from telescoping for two reasons: 1) your gyro's are not quite solid enough to handle the weight of the camera and 2) your crane is not properly balanced.

When you go faster with the crane, your camera acts as drag and the bottom of the sled tends to fall slightly behind the auto-horizon during the move. Not too noticeable if you're shooting straight on, but turn the camera sideways and you will notice it easily.
 
the techno 15 is built to handle large packages but can be broken down easily and carried with the heaviest piece weighing 130kg. In NZ we are constantly shooting in National Parks one strategy is to spend a little to gain expediency, the T15 is easy to helicopter into situ. Thus gaining shooting time as it can be slung as a complete package.
 
Good friend of mine has this thing:

http://www.telescopicjib.com/

Works like a champ. Can even handle rigged RED loads with ease. He has the 24, but the 15 has a 7 min. reach. Might work for you.
 
Is there a reason you can't use something like a jimmy jib on a skateboard dolly? Jimmy jib and two pieces of track is highly portable, light and a lot cheaper and less complictaed than a techno crane. Of course if you want to RIDE it, you need a super technocrane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb6NqHHOR4M
 
Only telescoping cranes.
 
The techno 15 is excellent, even when extending and retracting. To a certain extent the head you use will determine how fluid and stable the image will be. I prefer the Z head. I think the base is not larger than a western dolly to the size of the footprint should not be an issue. If you can get away with it the 30 will give you a lot more latitude.
 

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Tom Lowe said:
Only telescoping cranes.
Click to expand...

Wiki said telescopic crane is something like this but I would be concerned about renting costs for production of a small movie with that "monster":

452px-Telescopic_crane%2C_SouthGate%2C_Bath.jpg


Telescopic Handler Crane

Telescopic Handlers are like forklift trucks that have a telescoping extendable boom like a crane.
Early telescopic handlers only lifted in one direction and did not rotate, however,
several of the manufacturers have designed telescopic handlers that rotate 360 degrees through
a turntable and these machines look almost identical to the Rough Terrain Crane.
These new 360 degree telescopic handler/crane models have outriggers or stabiliser legs that must
be lowered before lifting, however there design has been simplified so that they can be more quickly deployed.
These machines are often used to handle pallets of bricks and install frame trusses on many new building sites
and they have eroded much of the work for small telescopic truck cranes.
Many of the worlds Armed forces have purchased telescopic handlers and some of these are the much more
expensive fully rotating types. There off road capability and there on site versatility to unload pallets using forks,
or lift like a crane makes them a valuable piece of machinery.

LINK>>>
 
Tom, maybe you also should have a look at www.mat-film.tv
The T15 Telescopic Jib could be the right thing for you. I'm just not sure if MAT has a branch in the U.S.

Sanjin, we are talking about film making, not construction.
 
Michael Dorn said:
Sanjin, we are talking about film making, not construction.
Click to expand...

Michael,

hah ha he he, of course I know that.

But let't clear what does telescopic mean in terms of a crane for movie production.

Telescopic in that case means:

A. Capable of discerning distant objects: telescopic vision.

B. Extensible or compressible by or as if by the sliding of overlapping sections.

So that could be achievable with many cranes but is difficult to find a right one

and that was Tom question as I could understand well.

Probably he needs input from experienced professional user...
 
At NAB, I must have seen about ten of these techno cranes from different manufacturers. Here's a question: Are there any technocranes designed specifically for smaller cameras, for cameras the size of an EX1 or Epic, for example?
 
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