Shoot Review — EZ FX Jib

One of the problems with most low-budget productions is the lack of exciting angles and camera moves. In most videos, it's easy to see that the shots are either handheld or done on a tripod. And without a Steadicam-like device, it is hard to create sophisticated moves. (For more on the state of Steadicam for video, click here.)

EZ FX offers components for full jib/crane systems for video shooting, including jib arms, arm extensions, a jib handle, remote controls, dollies, tripods, and motorized pan/tilt/zoom control heads.

We've all seen the big money shots at the beginning of movies: the shot that starts high up above the scene and lowers to the point of view of the actors in one smooth motion. A jib — for example, the popular Jimmy Jib — is a long arm on top of a fluid-head tripod that allows sweeping vertical, horizontal, and diagonal camera movements. Putting your camera on the end of a jib arm can help you create that Hollywood shot, but until now it's been prohibitively expensive — approaching $10,000 for a typical jib.

The EZ FX Jib is a video crane, boom, and full-motion camera platform all rolled into one cost-effective product. EZ FX is a small, innovative company based in central Florida that I discovered in a small booth at NAB. It's a typical “build a better mousetrap” company, with solid, unique, cost-effective products.

The company has two main products, the EZ FX Jib and the EZ FX Junior Jib, along with lots of options to help you configure your crane and support system the way you want. Extensions can add 4ft. or 6ft. to the height and reach of the arm. The company also makes remote controls, motorized pan/tilt/zoom control heads, dollies, monitoring options, and more.

With this versatility, you can put together a rig that will create cool jib movements — like those you see in major motion pictures — with minimal effort and without any panning, tilting, zooming, or focusing of your camera. And, of course, there's the reasonable price of the EZ FX Jib.

For testing I used the EZ FX Jib and the EZ FX Jib Handle on top of two different tripods and with two different videocameras. I used a professional-strength Bogen tripod and a heavy-duty Sachtler tripod, both with fluid heads. I shot with a JVC KY-27 full-size camera with a Betacam back and a smaller Sony VX1000 three-chip DV camera.

Setup is quick (less than five minutes with practice) and easy once you know what goes where. For one of the tripods, I used the optional 75mm ball adapter so I could fit the jib onto the smaller head properly. There are also special setup steps for those using center-column tripods.

I used some weights from my barbell set for counterweights to help balance the camera. When working with the jib, balance is crucial. If you add an LCD or other type of monitor to the operator's end of the jib, you'll need to add even more weight for balance. If your camera is front-heavy with a large lens, then you'll need to work that much harder to get smooth movement. Your camera will be less tiring to use the better it is balanced, so experiment with various weight settings. But be careful of the dangers of over-tipping! The idea is to achieve a sort of neutral buoyancy so your camera will float easily through each move.

The EZ FX Jib arm itself is rather heavy at 24lbs., but the unit's four-column design results in a camera support with maximum stability and minimal wobble. High-quality internal bearings and bushings ensure incrediblly smooth movement. The construction of high-grade aluminum makes it lightweight but rugged. Covered in textured, non-reflective black, it's ready to go for full-size cameras up to 50lbs. If you're using a smaller DV camera, you'll need the special mounting plate.

With minimal practice, smooth lifts and rotations were easily accomplished. I set up at a local music event, and right away folks were impressed — onlookers as well as clients. I kept the camera lens at its wide-angle setting for best results. Self-leveling jib shots allow a wide variety of camera moves with no panning or zooming of the actual camera. Imagine being able to start from a close-up in the foreground then move up above to an overhead shot (or vice versa). And it's all done smoothly with no shake or roughness due to the well-engineered hardware. Mastering the arm's locking mechanisms for lift and swivel is essential for both smoothness and safety.

Moving low to high and vice versa with the EZ FX Jib is great, but better yet are simulated dolly moves — 360 degrees with no lift. This allows the shooter to follow a subject in a full circle for a very cool shot. I could see charging clients a little extra for its use.

With the EZ FX Handle option, I could perform manual pans and tilts (including a “Dutch tilt” shot) that looked straight out of big-budget productions. The handle attaches to the jib arm and allows a smooth 300-degree pan and a 125-degree tilt, provided you are using both hands — one on the handle and one on the jib. It required some practice, but in a short time I was able to produce acceptable results with complex camera moves. I was able to keep my subjects in frame as they moved, even when the camera was way above my head. At less than $300, the patented handle is a must-have option for the jib.

If you have not yet purchased a heavy-duty tripod, you might want to consider buying the EZ FX JibPod. Built with aircraft-grade aluminum and double leg clamps, its legs are wider than those of a normal tripod. It accepts any pan/tilt head with “claw ball” leveling. The JibPod is perfect for use with the jib arm, and given the slight hassle of configuring the arm for a third-party tripod, it's just easier. And at less than $600, the price is right. You might also need the Super Clamps, a set of three safety clamps that attach to the legs of the tripod. This adds strength and keeps the unit from slipping out of position. Check out other accessories at the company's website (www.ezfx.com).

From my tests it's clear that EZ FX has produced one of the most versatile and cost-effective jib and support systems in the video production industry. With a price that's less than half that of other well-known solutions, the EZ FX Jib makes it easy for you to buy “Made in the USA.”

Built like a tank, easy to operate, and nice to look at, the EZ FX Jib is a system of camera support options that really can grow as your shooting needs do. The Jib provides high-end money shots quickly and easily — at a price any video shooter would find attractive. It also provides a new option for your rate card, and your clients will love the shots it helps capture.

Company: EZ FX Ocoee, Fla.; (800) 541-5706

Website:
www.ezfx.com

Product: EZ FX Jib and EZ FX Handle

Assets: Low cost compared to other jibs in the market, solid construction, easy setup and operation.

Caveats: Use a heavy-duty tripod with a 2in. ball.

Demographic: Shooters who need high- and low-angle shots as well as smooth wide-arc pans.

Price: $1,149

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