ZoomCrane – The Crane That Offers Fast Set Up and Portability

April 7^th, 20177

ZoomCrane - The Crane That Offers Fast Set Up and Portability

by Adam PlowdenApril 7^th, 2017

Looking for a crane that provides portability and reach for your next video shoot? The ZoomCrane is both a long reaching and compact option for capturing the kind of shots a gimbal or polecam can’t. You can back their campaign on Kickstarter today. Read on for all the details.

The original design of ZoomCrane first appeared at NAB in 2011, and allowed operators to expand and contract the crane freely to create a dolly-like shot. However, this proved to be unfeasible, so the designers focused instead on making the crane compact, portable, and easy to set up.

The current model has been designed with speed and portability in mind, and to be used in locations where you wouldn’t usually take a crane. Designed for professional use, it is available in a range of lengths depending on the payload and reach you need.

The ZoomCrane Family

The ZoomCrane Mini has a reach of 37-inches, or 3 feet, with a maximum payload of 35lbs or 15kg. This is the greatest payload of all three available models, and can support a wide range of cameras and large lenses. As you can see in the video above, it can fit into a backpack when disassembled.

ZoomCrane Mini Camera Crane

The next size up is the ZoomCrane GT (GlobeTrotter). It has a reach of 68 inches, or 5.6 feet, and a maximum payload of 25lbs or 11kg. For reference, that’s twice the weight of the Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro. When packed away, it breaks down to 20x12x7 inches, which the company claims is ‘small enough to fit within airline carry-on requirements’.

ZoomCrane GT Camera Crane

The largest model is the ZoomCrane GTX, offering a reach of over 8 feet or 98 inches, and a payload of up to 16lbs, or 7.25Kg, which is enough to support many popular DSLR and mirrorless cameras all the way up to small cinema cameras. For a scissor extension arm-type crane, you can expect a reduction in payload as the length increases.

ZoomCrane GTX Camera Crane

For a true portable solution, you can also get the Rocktopper mini tripod, which has been specifically built for this system. It supports up to 150lbs, or 68kg.

The components of the crane are made from aircraft-grade aluminium and stainless steel, with no fiddly parts to worry about. It also comes with a 100mm bowl head for mounting the camera to the arm, as well as a carry case. A 75mm bowl is available separately.

There are a range of backing options for the ZoomCrane, with expected delivery between May and July this year depending on the crane model. Pledges range from $799 for the Mini model up to $1,899 for the GTX. With 26 days still to go, there is plenty of time for the campaign to pick up traction, and the target goal of $9,500 seems to be in close reach to get it into production. If you’re interested in making a pledge, check out their Kickstarter page here.

If you want to add another level of production value without breaking the bank and while keeping your setup compact, the ZoomCrane certainly seems like a good option.

ZoomCrane set up demonstrated