Jib recommendations

Looking at buying a decent, under 2K$ jib. My problem is I am in Alaska and there is no opportunity to "test drive" before I buy! The Camera package with tripod head is about 30lbs. Portability is important. I am thinking of either the Porta-Jib Traveller by Losmandy ($2100) or the Long Valley Seven Jib Compact ($1200). Obviously, the Seven looks very attractive at nearly half the price. Both are portable, though the Traveller a bit more so. Any thoughts, pro or con on these, or am I missing another make that should be looked at??
Thanks!
Stu Aull
Alaska

Thanks Frank!
other thoughts? sounds like these are the only 2 jibs to look at....??
Stu Aull

I have an ezfx jib. Price-wise, it's a good value, and as we use it once or twice a quarter it doesn't get a lot of wear. That's good, since the pivot points on the arm are all nut-washer-bolt and sleave type...no bearings, and the locking mechanisim doesn't really lock all that well. The monitor bracket is nice.

It also doesn't have any way of adjusting the pantograph like the Porta-Jib does, and requires constant tighting of all the pivot bolts.

It does have a small mass for storage and hangs nicely on our grip cart. We bought it becasue it can handle a broadcast camera and mini-prompter without stressing the arm and it wasn't going to be a daily use piece of gear.


Cheers,

Frank Otto

Have a look at this:

http://cinekinetic.com/other/index.html

I have one, and it is absolutely beautiful.



rejdmast

John-
Cinekinetic no longer sells jibs!! They just emailed me to tell me-
So its looking like either:
Long Valley's 7-jib
or Porta-jibs Traveller
Any users out there who can help with these??

I have worked with all three as well and the Porta-Jib is far and away the best of the trio. For us, it was a matter of price and useage AND corporate spending practices that we purchased the ezfx unit.

Mitch points out the issues with the Seven...those problems aren't as bad in the ezfx and are not an issue at all with the Porta-Jib. But, as in all situations, you buy what you can afford that will do the job with as little problems and maintanance as possible.

Cheers,

Frank Otto

Well - thanks for the input everyone. I can't believe some magazine hasn't done a side-by-side of these jibs!! (hint-hint) Anyway - I bought the EZFX after talking with the very helpful owner, Kevin there, and it arrived today. I have not yet used it but I have to say the apparent quality of construction is amazing. It was the cheapest one of the group - NOT my main reason for buying it, but it is beautifully assembled, with nice heavy duty attachments, clean welds, beautiful crackle-coat paint, etc. And seems to have some very nicely thought-out features, some surprisingly simple in their execution (like the spring clips that hold the weights in place, or the reversible head bowl). The down side, which I am sure almost all these rigs suffered from, is weight and size. Its 51" long without the bowl attached (+8") so it will be trickier to transport. But they did have a smaller (read: shorter jib arm) model, but I wanted the reach, so... Weight is 31lbs, which is about high/average. And to top it off they offer a 30-day-money back guarantee, so I really couldn't go wrong...
regards
Stu Aull