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Libec JB-3D Jib Arm Offers Robust Performance But Won't Weigh You Down
Libec is a fairly new comer to the world of camera support manufacturers. Although its parent company, Tokyo-based Heiwa Seiki Kogyo Co. Ltd., has been around since 1955, Libec Sales of America was established in just 2007. Both the parent company and the smaller, younger Libec are best known for tripods and tripod accessories, but they are branching out with more elaborate camera support offerings. I had the opportunity to work with Libec's new JB-30 jib arm in the Heavy-Duty Kit configuration, which includes the JB-30 jib arm, T-102 tripod and DL-8 dolly.
The first sales point I had the chance to challenge is the claim that the IB-30's build time is quick and intuitive. Although I've worked with a number of jibs and cranes in my cinematographic career, my background is as an electrician and gaffer, not as a grip, so I'm not the most well versed gripologist out there. Even with that caveat, the very first time I pulled the IB -30 out of the boxes, I found Libec's claim to be true.
Without reading any instructions, without having seen the product prior to that moment, it took me a mere ten minutes to build the jib the first time. And setup time decreased drastically the more I worked with it. I could easily see someone who owns this jib being able to set it up in five minutes or so.
The arm itself comes in a semi-soft carrying case. It's easily transported by one person in a typical vehicle. Out of the case, it sets up quickly and simply. There is a second case for the optional weight kit (standard barbell weights), which is like a small briefcase-sized nylon carrying case. The arm needs to be set up on a platform base, be that a dolly or a set of tripod legs. In this case, I worked with the Libec T- 102 heavy-duty tripod, which is wonderfully light, yet quite robust. The tripod doesn't have a built-in spreader, so I used Libec's DL-8 spreader and wheels to keep the legs firmly in...