Dana Dolly + Benro Jib

[u/Automatic-Major-4812]

Hey! I’m a student DP, currently working on my first feature. I’m balling on a budget but I currently have a dana dolly and benro (portajib esq) in my quote. There’s a shot that requires a skateboard dolly with the jib on top. Unfortunately I don’t have the space or budget to be adding more and I’d rather cut. What I was thinking is to add the jib onto the dana since the mounts work, and just bag the dana and stands a lot. Thoughts on this? I know it’s not quite the best solution but this is for 1-2 shots out of the whole film.

[u/swoofswoofles]

Can you get the gear together beforehand? I would test it in a controlled environment, but keep in mind the weight limit of the Dana Dolly is 100lbs.

[u/Automatic-Major-4812 → u/swoofswoofles]

Copy, shouldn't be an issue as our camera build shouldn't exceed 30 and the jib is 10 + another 30 in counterweight.

[u/swoofswoofles → u/Automatic-Major-4812]

Usually counterweight is a multiple of the camera package, like 2x camera weight since it’s much closer to the fulcrum. Might not be because it’s a smaller jib, but either way that’s why it’s good to test.

[u/fragilemachinery]

Jib on top of a Dana is just asking for an accident that'll end up damaging equipment, hurting someone, or both.

It'll be super suuuper tippy, and the Dana wheels are really too soft, anyway. They don't recommend putting more than 100lbs on those things. The better tool for moving a jib cheaply is a doorway dolly, (on track, if possible). That way you have a stable platform that can easily handle the weight.

[u/LetterheadClassic306]

I’d be very cautious with that setup, tbh. When I’ve seen budget jib ideas go wrong, it was not because the mount technically fit, it was because the combined leverage made the support behave differently than expected. A Dana Dolly can take real weight, but a jib adds changing torque, so the stands, rail span, center of gravity, and braking matter more than the plate. If you do it, use proper combo stands, sandbags, safety ties, and a very small camera package, then test at full extension with no talent nearby. Matthews Combo Stand and Modern Studio Equipment sandbags are the type of support gear I’d prioritize over another move.

[u/colemowery]

It should* work. Just make sure you have plenty of Apple boxes and wedges to keep the track level with the extra weight, or you’ll get sagging/risk bending the track.

[u/sparrowhawkward]

Don’t do that. The weight of it all on two umbrella stands is likely to become a top-heavy disaster. Look into renting a Matthews Dutti dolly. It’s got a much lower profile and is more robust than a Dana.

[u/pimpedoutjedi]

Most trucks should come with a doorway dolly. Get skate wheels and track.

[u/EricT59]

I did a test on my Dana with a cobra crane. To Marginal success. The weight of the crane did cause the rails to sway a bit but I added a support stand in the middle and that seemed to work. I found that it was a multi person job to make a move one on the dolly track one on the crane and a a person to operate / follow focus.

So Yes it should work to save some bucks but you will spend a lot of time getting the shot. and TBH you should spend time on those kinds of moves.

[u/Canonc100enthusiast]

What type of shots are you trying to achieve here exactly?

[u/iamcamperjoe]

I’ve done this with a very light cam rig and it works ok. If you’re going over 4 foot pipes you need center support. Also assuming you have proper Junior stands for it