Short answer: if you want the longest reach, the heaviest camera setups and a complete kit you can shoot with on day one, buy the Proaim 10' Wave-2 package at $1,250 — a 10 ft telescopic jib with a 25 kg payload, plus the CST-100 tripod stand and a portable dolly in the box. If you travel light, shoot with smaller cameras and already own a tripod, the 7.2ft Wave Fold at $523 is the portable, budget-friendly pick — a foldable 7.2 ft jib with a 15 kg payload, but no tripod included. Both are made by Proaim, a maker of film and video support gear since 1997. All prices in this article are in US dollars (USD) and are as listed on Proaim's own product pages on November 1, 2026. We have not hands-on tested either jib. We reviewed the bigger package in depth — read our full Proaim 10' Wave-2 review for the detailed verdict and the current price.
The price gap: what the extra $727 buys
Short answer: the Wave-2 package costs $727 more ($1,250 vs $523), and the money goes toward reach, payload and a complete kit — the Wave-2 is a package with a tripod stand and dolly, while the Wave Fold is a jib arm only.
The 10' Wave-2 package is listed at $1,250, down from $1,319 (a 5% saving). The 7.2ft Wave Fold is listed at $523, down from $638 (an 18% saving). That is a $727 gap — the Wave-2 package costs more than twice the Wave Fold.
But the two prices do not buy the same thing. The Wave-2 price is for a complete shooting package: the 10' Wave-2 jib, the CST-100 tripod stand with an aluminum spreader, a portable dolly, a 75mm conversion ring, a 100mm bowl adapter, a flat base plate and storage bags. The Wave Fold price is for the jib arm, a 100mm bowl and a bag — and Proaim states plainly on the product page that the tripod and counterweights are not included and must be bought separately. So part of the $727 gap is the tripod stand and dolly that the Wave Fold buyer still has to pay for.
Reach and payload: the numbers that matter
Short answer: the Wave-2 reaches further and lifts more — 6 to 10 ft telescopic with a 25 kg payload, against the Wave Fold's 5.2 to 7.2 ft and 15 kg payload.
| 10' Wave-2 package | 7.2ft Wave Fold | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (USD) | $1,250 (listed down from $1,319) | $523 (listed down from $638) |
| Reach | 6–10 ft telescopic | 5.2–7.2 ft telescopic |
| Payload | Up to 25 kg / 55 lb | Up to 15 kg / 33 lb |
| Jib weight | 7 kg | 3 kg |
| Camera mount | 75mm/100mm bowl + flat base plate | 100mm bowl |
| Tripod included | Yes — CST-100 stand + spreader | No — buy separately |
| Dolly included | Yes — portable dolly | No |
| Counterweights | Not included | Not included |
| Pan | 360° | 360° |
| Warranty / returns | 1 year / 30 days | 1 year / 30 days |
The reach difference is the first thing to picture. The Wave-2 telescopes from 6 ft to 10 ft, so at full extension it gives you nearly 3 ft more reach than the Wave Fold's 7.2 ft maximum — the difference between a sweeping crane shot over a scene and a shorter rise. The Wave Fold telescopes from 5.2 ft to 7.2 ft, which is still a real jib move, just a smaller one.
The payload difference is the second thing. The Wave-2 is rated for camera setups up to 25 kg (55 lb), while the Wave Fold is rated up to 15 kg (33 lb). That 10 kg gap decides which cameras each jib can carry: a cinema camera with a heavy lens, a gimbal and a pan-tilt head can easily pass 15 kg, and at that point the Wave Fold is out of its rated range. Proaim's counterweight table shows a 15 kg camera needs about 30 kg of counterweight and a 25 kg camera about 50 kg — roughly twice the camera setup's weight, and counterweights are not included with either jib.
What's in the box: the real difference behind the price
Short answer: the Wave-2 package ships as a shoot-ready kit — jib, tripod stand, spreader, dolly, adapters and bags — while the Wave Fold ships as a jib arm, a 100mm bowl and a bag, and you supply the tripod yourself.
The Wave-2 box, as listed on Proaim's product page, contains the 10' Wave-2 jib, the CST-100 100mm bowl tripod stand with an aluminum spreader, the portable dolly, a 75mm conversion ring, a 100mm bowl adapter, a flat base plate and storage bags. The stand is rated for up to 80 kg and the dolly for up to 500 kg, according to the maker — the support is not the weak link. For the full breakdown of the Wave-2 package — setup, what is in the box, and whether it is worth $1,250 — see our Proaim 10' Wave-2 review.
The Wave Fold box contains the Wave Fold jib, a 100mm bowl and a bag. That is it. Proaim's own Q&A on the page confirms the tripod and counterweights are not included, and names the compatible tripods as the CST-100-01 and P-TP-100-B. So a Wave Fold buyer who does not already own a sturdy 100mm-bowl tripod needs to budget for one — which narrows the $727 price gap in real terms.
Neither package includes a pan-tilt head: the Wave-2 package includes a flat base plate for pan-tilt heads and accepts 75mm and 100mm fluid heads, but the head itself is a separate purchase. (Proaim sells a bigger "10' Wave-2 Plus" bundle that does include one — a different, more expensive package, not the $1,250 one compared here.)
Setup and portability: complete kit vs fold-and-go
Short answer: the Wave-2 is the heavier, more complete setup — 7 kg of jib plus a stand and dolly, all in bags — while the Wave Fold is the travel jib: 3 kg, folding down to a compact size, ready in minutes.
The Wave-2 is a two-arm design with a bubble leveler for fast setup on uneven surfaces, pan knobs to control panning, and an assembly hub that the maker says adds drag for smooth panning and absorbs operator vibration. It telescopes from the back, which the maker says helps with balancing, and packs into the included bags — but it is a full kit: jib, stand, spreader and dolly.
The Wave Fold is built around a different idea. Its folding mechanism lets it collapse to a compact size for transport and storage, and Proaim describes it as ready in minutes. Its dovetail mechanism switches between underslung and overslung configurations quickly, and a central fork mechanism is designed for smooth, vibration-free pan-tilt movements with an integrated lock for precise angle control. At a listed 3 kg against the Wave-2's 7 kg, it is the jib you carry to a location shoot without a second pair of hands.
Which one should you buy?
Short answer: buy the Wave-2 package if you want the longest reach, the heaviest payloads and a complete kit — buy the Wave Fold if you already own a tripod, shoot with lighter cameras and value portability and price above all.
Choose the 10' Wave-2 package ($1,250) if:
- You want the longest reach — 10 ft against 7.2 ft — for sweeping crane shots.
- Your camera setups run over 15 kg, or you want the headroom for a gimbal plus a pan-tilt head.
- You want a complete kit: jib, tripod stand, spreader and dolly in one box, ready to shoot.
- You shoot film productions, music videos or event shoots where the bigger setup earns its keep.
Choose the 7.2ft Wave Fold ($523) if:
- You already own a sturdy tripod with a 100mm bowl mount.
- Your camera setups stay under 15 kg, including any gimbal.
- You travel light and need a jib that folds down small and sets up in minutes.
- The $727 saving matters more than the extra reach and payload.
For most filmmakers buying their first serious jib, the Wave-2 package is the better buy: it reaches further, lifts more, and arrives as a complete kit, so there is no extra tripod to buy before the first shoot. The Wave Fold is the right pick only when portability and budget decide, and a tripod is already in your kit. Read our full Proaim 10' Wave-2 review for the detailed verdict and current price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does each Proaim jib cost?
Short answer: the 10' Wave-2 package costs $1,250 (listed down from $1,319) and the 7.2ft Wave Fold costs $523 (listed down from $638), as listed on Proaim's own product pages on November 1, 2026. All prices are in US dollars. The Wave-2 price includes the CST-100 tripod stand and a portable dolly; the Wave Fold price does not include a tripod.
Does the Wave Fold include a tripod?
Short answer: no. The Wave Fold ships with the jib arm, a 100mm bowl and a bag only — the tripod and counterweights are not included and must be bought separately. Proaim names the CST-100-01 and P-TP-100-B as compatible tripods. The Wave-2 package, by contrast, includes the CST-100 tripod stand with a spreader and a portable dolly.
Can I use a gimbal with either jib?
Short answer: yes, both — as long as the combined weight stays within the payload limit. Proaim confirms the Wave-2 works with gimbals such as the DJI Ronin, and the Wave Fold's own Q&A says gimbals are usable if the combined weight stays within its 15 kg limit. A heavy gimbal setup can push past 15 kg, in which case the Wave-2's 25 kg rating is the safer choice.
Which Proaim jib should I buy — the Wave-2 or the Wave Fold?
Short answer: the Wave-2 package for most buyers — 10 ft of reach, a 25 kg payload and a complete kit with tripod stand and dolly for $1,250. The Wave Fold for buyers who already own a 100mm-bowl tripod, shoot with setups under 15 kg and want the lightest, cheapest way into crane shots at $523. If you have to buy a tripod for the Wave Fold anyway, much of the price gap disappears.
Sources: Proaim 10' Wave-2 Jib Crane product page and Proaim 7.2ft Wave Fold Jib Crane product page, checked November 1, 2026. Prices in USD.