Remember the massive virtual studio setups of old? (Ten or fifteen years ago, because that’s how fast we’re going) How did integrating live graphics into a broadcast feel like launching a rocket? And I mean in both complexity and cost. Well, those days are numbered. CARTONI, the family-owned Italian tripod masters, have just launched the new e-JibO. Essentially a portable, encoded jib that, combined with the right partners, brings AR and VR live production within reach to a significantly broader clientele: Under €50,000 for the whole thing. Including the camera.

CARTONI has long been a staple of stability (pun intended). The company has been making tripods, jibs, dollies, and everything made to stabilize or smoothly move a camera. All this experience has led the company to respect shifts and differentiate them from trends, responding to the market’s actual needs. The encoded e-JibO is another testament to that perspective and strategy.

CARTONI e-JibO: the encoded jib that makes virtual production affordable

The e-JibO is an elevated CARTONI JibO: A compact, three-section portable jib that tracks and communicates motion and position information. This is achieved by utilizing 22-bit absolute encoders on both the pan and elevation axes, the same encoder resolution found in CARTONI’s high-end encoded heads. No calibration required.

CARTONI JibO, the non “e” version

These encoders feed precise positional metadata into the pipeline, which is where the magic happens. Paired with the right hardware and software, the e-JibO can feed real-time position data to a graphics engine, enabling virtual object insertion, augmented reality overlays, and on-screen sports graphics – all locked convincingly to the camera’s movement. Add a Sony FR7 PTZ camera on the front, and have a four-axis tracked virtual camera system for a fraction of the cost it used to be.

While the price may not sound like a bargain to some of us, those who delved into the alternatives know just how affordable and accessible the CARTONI e-JibO’s capabilities are.

Tech specs

The e-JibO is built from aluminum, weighs 15 kg, and folds down to 122 cm for transport. It extends up to 172 cm and can shoot from ground level up to 2 meters high. The maximum payload capacity is 20 kg, with a 360° pan range. The e-JibO accepts 75mm, 100mm bowl heads, or Mitchell flat base heads, and mounts on any standard 100mm bowl tripod. A rear arm accommodates up to 25 kg of counterweight, and the front telescopic arm allows for under-slung or sideways camera orientations. The assembly should take under three minutes, given proper skill and know-how. Power draw is a modest 5V DC, and it operates happily between -15°C and +60°C. Data output is via BiSS-C protocol through Lemo connectors, making integration into third-party systems straightforward.

CARTONI e-JibO from the operator side. Image credit: CineDWho is it for

The CARTONI e-JibO is aimed at lowering the bar on AR/VR productions. It will suit medium-small suite production companies, rental houses, sports broadcasters, a university media department, some houses of worship, or a regional TV station that wants to punch above its weight with live virtual graphics, etc. For working operators and DPs already familiar with jibs, the learning curve is minimal – it’s the same tool they know, with an encoder layer underneath and a data cable coming out.

The open architecture is worth highlighting. CARTONI isn’t building a closed ecosystem here. The e-JibO connects to any compatible system via standard Lemo connectors, and software compatibility extends beyond any single vendor. All in all, CARTONI is mixing two of its fundamental characteristics: Working with proven concepts and not fixing what’s not broken, while innovating in meaningful, user-focused ways. Though there’s no shiny AI slapped onto it, nor a large touchscreen, that’s a philosophy worth respecting.

Price and availability

The CARTONI e-JibO is available now through CARTONI and its dealer network, as well as through integration partners including Miraxis and Sony. The e-JibO itself is priced at approximately €11,000. Full system pricing (including camera and electronics) should set you back around €50,000.

Will the e-JibO help you take the leap towards live AR/VR jib work? Let us know in the comments.