Control Camera Movement with the Streamlined ikan Carbon Fiber Mini-Jib

Adding controlled camera movement to your shots is one of the easiest and most effective ways to boost the production value of your videos. While camera sliders and modern stabilizer systems have made it easier for amateur filmmakers and small production crews to get smooth, professional-looking movement, they aren't very effective at replicating the boom moves of traditional jib arms. The problem is that jib arms are often bulky, cumbersome, and difficult to transport. This is where ikan’s Carbon Fiber Mini-Jib comes to the rescue.

The Carbon Fiber Mini-Jib allows you to capture those cinematic boom and sweeping camera moves without the bulk of other jib arms. It is able to do these thanks to two main features: its carbon fiber construction and two-stage telescopic design. The carbon fiber construction keeps the weight of the jib down to only 7 pounds, while the telescopic design allows the arm to extend up to 50" (from the fulcrum point), yet it retracts to fit into a 38" carrying case.

The Mini-Jib is capable of supporting loads up to 13 pounds, making it suitable for DSLRs to medium-sized video cameras. Like most jib arms, it is designed to be supported on tripod legs. The base of the jib fits into a 75mm bowl and is leveled and secured in place using a jib level knob. It is recommended that you check the knob periodically throughout your shoot to ensure that it remains tight. For lighter camera loads, the jib can also be mounted on flat-base tripods that have a 3/8"-16 stud. In either case, you'll want make sure that your legs are capable of supporting the weight of the jib and camera.

To balance the Mini-Jib, counterweights must be added to the tail section to offset the weight of your camera. A gym-style 5.5 pound weight is included, which attaches to the tail via a threaded counterweight bolt and is secured in place by a retainer nut. Additional weights can be purchased for balancing heavier rigs. Weights can also be added using the included weight bag, which attaches to the bolt using a carabiner and washer. Weights can be dropped directly into the bag, letting you add and remove them quickly without having to spend time unscrewing and screwing the retainer nut on the counterweight bolt.

The two-stage telescopic arm has a maximum reach of 50" and a minimum reach of 21.5". To extend the jib, simply loosen the sets of twist locks, pull the arm out to the desired length, and tighten the twist locks to secure in place. The tail of the jib also extends to provide quick counterbalance adjustments. The longer you extend the arm, the more you will need to extend the tail to properly balance the arm. Proper balance is achieved when the arm floats parallel to the ground.

Your camera attaches to the Mini-Jib via a quick-release plate. Alternatively, you can mount a fluid head to the end of the jib arm using an included 75mm bowl quick-release plate. Adding a fluid head can be beneficial, as it lets you adjust the angle and position of your camera. For example, you can angle the camera down when capturing high-angle shots. Without a tripod head, the camera will always remain level with the ground—assuming that your arm is properly leveled. Two bubble levels, one under the camera plate and another at the front of the baseplate, are built into the jib to assist with leveling. 

Once the jib arm is balanced, you can begin planning and performing your camera move. The arm operates much as a tripod head does, proving smooth tilting and panning, and features separate pan and tilt locks when you need steady, single-axis moves, or to safely lock the arm in place when not in use. A point worth considering is that when you’re operating from the rear of the jib, you'll likely need an external monitor to accurately frame and execute your shots. To accommodate a monitor mounting arm, there are 1/4"-20 threaded mounting points at the base of the jib.

While all this talk about the Mini-Jib is great, let's not forget that you will need tripod legs to support it. If you already own tripod legs that can support the weight of the jib and camera, then you're all set. If you don't, then you may want to consider the GA752 E-image tripod system, which combines the GC752 2-stage carbon fiber legs and the GH06 head. The legs have a 75mm bowl for mounting the jib arm, a mid-level spreader, and mono-lock feature that lets you lock and unlock the leg sections using a single rotating locking lever. The tripod has a 32.25 to 72" height range which, combined with the 50" length of the jib arm, provides a maximum camera height of more than 10 feet.

The GH06 head supports 13 pounds, making it a great fit to attach to the end of the Mini-Jib, since it can support the jib's maximum load capacity. Of course, you can also use the head directly on the tripod legs when you're not using the jib arm. The head features adjustable pan and tilt drag, four steps of counterbalance (including a zero setting), and an Easy Lock baseplate system that combines the balance adjustment of a sliding balance plate with the ease of a quick-release system.

Whether you're an amateur filmmaker looking for a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use jib arm, or a video professional looking for a more portable alternative to large bulky models, then the Carbon Fiber Mini-Jib from ikan could be exactly what you've been looking for.