16 Fluid and Remote Heads

Fluid heads in cameras give hands-on control. They are designed with springs and lubricants that give the camera operator a pan-and-tilt movement. They usually have adjustment levers or collars that can restrict or lessen the friction of each head—sort of like an adjustable power steering unit. Each operator will prefer a certain “feel” that enhances his or her movement of the camera. There are several designs out there in the film world; I will show you some of what I see used daily.

Remote heads are electronic heads that attach to cranes, dollies, or rigs. They are fast becoming preferred over having a person riding a crane and operating the camera. They have control wheels, a joystick, or even a fluid-type head with ...

Get The Grip Book, 4th Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.