Camera crane for video shooting. What do you need to know about it?

The camera crane is a specialized tool for lifting the operator with a television camera and a movie camera. It is necessary in order to ensure the movement of the camera in horizontal and vertical planes. Camera cranes at times increase the expressiveness of the image of a TV show or movie. It is worth noting that this device does not apply to the main, but to auxiliary camera equipment, which is designed for beautiful shooting in motion.

Varieties

All camera cranes can be divided into three types: large, medium and small. One of the first was a video device, which included raising the camera with an assistant. Due to the need to ensure human safety and heavy lifting capacity, some restrictions were imposed on the range of the boom. Today, such a kind of camera crane as a boom crane for a tripod with remote control is gaining more and more popularity. This device allows you to carry on the boom only a television camera or movie camera without the participation of an assistant or operator from hard-to-reach points, since it has a small load capacity, providing relative freedom of movement. The specialist can observe the movements of the device on the monitor due to video control and remote control, as well as thanks to the panoramic head. In a separate category is a telescopic camera crane. It allows you to get rid of radial displacement during the "spans" above the stage, and can also set the trajectory of the camera.

Device

Truck cranes and small operator cranes have a lightweight design, but, unfortunately, do not have a mechanical drive. When using such mechanisms, it is necessary to balance the load with a special counterweight configured to facilitate manipulation. You need to manage them manually. Cranmeister is a person who knows how to mount a camera crane, as well as install a television camera and a movie camera. He takes responsibility for safety on the set. In order to increase the convenience of work, the axis of rotation of the boom of the operator's crane is equipped with pointers and limbs. There are times when, to give the camera greater mobility, the camera car is mounted on a crane. In modern cinema, you can see robotic mechanisms that repeat the camera’s movements with high accuracy.

Manufacturers

More recently, a camera crane for video shooting was used only by large studios. And today, with the advent of cheap and lightweight designs, these devices have become available even to videographers, not to mention independent film producers. The main and main manufacturers of cranes can be considered Cambo, ABC-Products, Cinema Technologies, Polecam, Filmotechnic, Matthews Studio Equipment and Panther.

The operator crane is a universal device that significantly expands the capabilities of any operator.