RED used with Kessler Crane

[Brad Patterson]

Hey i'm just wondering if anybody has used the RED with a Kessler Crane? I just talked to a friend who wants to use me and my jib for his music video but we both want to make sure that if we attach the camera to it, nothing bad will happen to either pieces of equipment. At the least we will be using the body, lens, and remote follow focus.
Anybody have any experience with this?

[Matthew Rogers]

I don't think the Kessler Crane will support the weight of the RED. I know my EZ-Jib supports just enough weight (50lbs) to run my RED and Sachtler Video 18 head on it.

Matthew

[Brad Patterson]

how much does the red set up weigh? The most i've put on my Kessler is around 25lbs.

[Mark Phelan]

The RED is too heavy for the Kessler. As it states on their website, "NEVER exceed 45lbs on the weight bar on either side of the crane's frame." They are referring to the counterbalance weight. You will greatly exceed that weight to counterbalance a RED. A typical RED will weigh between 20 and 50 pounds, depending on what you've got attached. The problem is at the other end of the crane, the counterbalance weights. I use the Intel-A-Jib with a ten foot reach and it typically uses between 130 and 185 lbs. to counterbalance the camera at that length.

[michael zaletel]

Should be fine depending upon boom length. If you mount it bare-bones, record to CF cards and run power and monitor to base of crane, you can operate at under 18 pounds. Mark is right about counter-balance weight but at 15-18 pounds and say under 10', you can probably do it just fine.

-michael zaletel
(shooter)

[Stephen Pruitt]

I have a Kessler Crane, and it works just fine. Now, I'm just using the 8' and 5.5' versions. I also have the extra support cable for the 8' version. You will need to invert the crane to the underslung position for best stability.

I am running a stripped down RED (using CF cards), Nikon glass, and I have a custom made cable that allows me to run the battery way back on the crane. But, on the other hand, I am using Kessler's remote ball relocator AND my O'Connor 1030HDS fluid head! I use it only indoors. I have a larger jib for outdoor use.

I have had no issues at all. And it is as smooth as silk.

Stephen

[Tim Whitcomb]

Hey i'm just wondering if anybody has used the RED with a Kessler Crane? I just talked to a friend who wants to use me and my jib for his music video but we both want to make sure that if we attach the camera to it, nothing bad will happen to either pieces of equipment. At the least we will be using the body, lens, and remote follow focus.
Anybody have any experience with this?

I have 4 8 and 12 foot Crane and they all work just grand... but that is only SINCE I bought the Hercules Head and K-Pod system...

without at least the Herc Head (150 LB payload) I would not risk it...

the bigger hassle is the dumbbell weights u need to counter it... 2 to 1

[Mark Phelan]

"Give me a lever long enough, and a prop strong enough, I can single-handed move the world.” – Archimedes, early jib operator.

Look, sure you CAN use the Kessler, but I think it would be prudent to choose something sturdier to place a heavy $20K camera upon it. I believe the reason that Kessler states not to use any weight heavier than 45lbs of counterbalance is that you risk breaking the welds due to the torque of the weight bar. I'm sure there is some fudge-factor built in. How much? Who knows.

BTW, I know that of which I speak. I owned a Kessler before I purchased the RED, when I had a Canon camera. For what it was, the crane worked fine. But it is built for a smaller, lighter camera. IMHO, YMMV.

[Chris Beller]

Hey guys, frequent lurker here, but wanted to make some clarifications in this post.

First, here are the formulas to calculate the counter balance for our cranes

12 ' configuration
27.5 lbs (to balance crane itself) + (3 x payload weight) = counter balance needed (subtract approximately 20% if using the extended weight bar)

8' configuration
7.5 lbs (to balance crane itself) + (1.5 x payload weight) = counter balance needed (subtract approximately 20% if using the extended weight bar)

The statement on our website that states "maximum of 45 lbs on weight bar on either side of the frame rail" means, don't put all the weight on one side of the weight bar if it is over 45 lbs. We recommend not exceeding a total of 75 lbs on the weight bar. If using the Extended Weight Bar, you could have up to 150 lbs of counter balance weight (75 on standard weight bar + 75 on extended weight bar).

If using the HD (Heavy Duty) versions of our crane, along with our K-Pod tripod system, Hercules 2.0 head, and following our weight limits, there should not be a problem supporting a RED camera.

I hope that helps to clarify things.

Thanks,
Chris

[Alexander Alexandrov]

...and I have a custom made cable that allows me to run the battery way back on the crane.

does anyone know if such cables are for sale anywhere?

[Rob Ruffo]

We have an 8" Kessler with Red no problems. I would recommend getting their tripod and head though.

We also use a Birger mount, which lightens the lens load considerably, and only use the top rails on Red

[Terry VerHaar]

We have an 8" Kessler with Red no problems. I would not recommend not getting their tripod and head though.

We also use a Birger mount, which lightens the lens load considerably, and only use the top rails on Red

Rob, I was interested in the Kessler partly because of it being a complete integrated system. Any specifics about their tripod and head that you could share?

[Adam Clark]

we use a kessler 8' and 12' with our red and it's solid as a rock. best though to use it in underslung position for smoothest action. we use the support cables - no bending or anything. we have the hd complete package with the tripod and head and all is well and works great. we only use the kessler tripod/head specifically for the crane though - they're crazy heavy and, in my opinion, not really ideal for anything other than crane use.

[David Rasberry]

So how is the Hercules head? Pretty decent movements?

[Adam Clark]

the movements are smooth with the crane. i'm confident that i could get decent fluidity out of it if even directly connected to the red, but i've never tried as i always reach for a physically lighter head for non-crane work. the hercules can hold something like 150lbs and is a big hunk of heavy metal. the various adjustments do not feel as precise as those on heads that cost many, many times as much. clearly it is no o'conner, but for its price, it should not expected to be.

we just shot a piece for the nature conservancy, and the real bummer was that we couldn't take just one tripod and one head along with the crane rig when shooting cause the weight of the kessler legs and hercules head were way too prohibitive for some of the remote locations we needed to get to, so we had to bring our lighter fluid head & tripod too. no big deal, but i really hate hauling around more gear than necessary.

[Marc Berger]

does anyone know if such cables are for sale anywhere?
Alexander, I used my Red on a Kessler crane with a long battery cable from action products. But I´m sure its not difficult to find somebody who can make a custom built cable extension in your area. All it needs is a male and a female lemo connector, a cable and the knowledge how to connect the cable.
Cheers,
Marc

[IAN SUN]

I have the 12 ft Kessler and am pretty happy with it. Holds my RED using small lenses, with brick and cage. I preffer stripping it down though using screw on filters, CF cards, and remote power.

The head and sticks are very heavy, and will take a ton of weight. (Screws on the caster wheels keep coming loose though.)

The Hercules 2.0 head is smooth but has no dampening, so using it as regular tripod is a bit precarious as the camera will tend to tilt forward or back uncontrollably if you forget to put in the safety pin. Panning is good but you don't easily get that nice feathered stop because of the lack of dampening that a true fluid head would have. Tilts are another thing altogether, fugetabout it.

[Rob Ruffo]

Hercules head is a joke for non-crane work - think of it as only for crane use, but for crane use it's just awesome, and helps dampen tilt. It has no fixed settings, just a "stiction regulation knob". If you are serious, this is not your tripod head for anything else. Then again, what other tripdo heads with 150 lb capacity can you get at this price? If you put the crane on your own head and it is rated for less, you will ruin your head.

Tripod too - very sturdy, but heavy as hell - it's our crane tripod, and nothing else.

Looking at their dolly I would not recommend it based on design, but you can use the Kessler on other dollies, including the indy dolly

BTW our Red with our fluid head (RH45) only needs 40-45 lbs total in the back, with just about any Canon lens you would ever want to use on a crane (we use Birger Mount + Long Valley top mount)

[Conrad H]

I have this little jib. Great price and performance, although I have no experience with anything else. We have CF cards in use, EVG and LCD, and battery on board, with Red Pro Prime. The counterweight is 70 lbs of mass, and a 10 lb sliding weight to tune the balance just right. We were able to get nice smooth moves and static re-positions quite readily.

http://www.ezfx.com/

[Tom Lowe]

Alexander, I used my Red on a Kessler crane with a long battery cable from action products. But I´m sure its not difficult to find somebody who can make a custom built cable extension in your area. All it needs is a male and a female lemo connector, a cable and the knowledge how to connect the cable.
Cheers,
Marc

Could I get a link to that battery extension cable, Marc?

Thanks!