Overview
Camera heads are essential components in the world of cinematography, providing the mechanical interface between the camera and its mounting system, such as a tripod or dolly.
They enable smooth, precise pan, tilt, and roll movements, helping to achieve dynamic shots. There are several types of camera heads, each designed for specific needs:
- fluid heads for smooth motion, done manually by the operator
- geared heads for precise control, with both manual and electronic options on the market
- remote heads for motion control, repeatable shots, and remote operation.
There are also specialty heads such as dutch, tango/swing, and many others.
Camera heads are commonly used on tripods, cranes, dollies, sliders, and stabilizers, playing a critical role in both studio and on-location shoots.
Here are some of the most common heads, by type.
Camera Heads by Type
| Camera Head | Type |
|---|---|
| Arri Geared Head Mk2 | Geared Head |
| Arrihead 2 | Geared Head |
| Bullhead Studio | Remote Head |
| Cartoni Lambda 25 | Nodal Head |
| Cartoni Lambda 50 | Fluid Head |
| Cartoni Magnum | Fluid Head |
| CineShooter | Remote Head |
| e-Lambda 25 | Remote Head |
| e-Rem 25 | Remote Head |
| Fisher Model 10 | Fluid Head (xl) |
| HeadPLUS | Remote Head |
| HeadPLUS Pro | Remote Head |
| Heavy Bullhead | Remote Head |
| Jimmy Jib Hot Head | Fluid Head (xl) |
| Kessler Revolution Head | Fluid Head |
| KFX Aurora Max | Remote Head |
| KFX Aurora Mini | Remote Head |
| Lambda 2.0 | Remote Head |
| Manfrotto Nitrotech 612 | Fluid Head |
| Miller ArrowX 7 | Fluid Head |
| Mo-Sys G30 | Remote Head |
| Mo-Sys L20 | Remote Head |
| Mo-Sys L40 | Remote Head |
| Monohead Studio | Remote Head |
| OConnor 2560 | Fluid Head |
| OConnor 2575D | Fluid Head |
| Panavision Geared Head | Geared Head |
| Ronford-Baker Atlas 50 | Fluid Head |
| Ronford-Baker F7 | Nodal Head |
| Ronford-Baker Fluid 7 | Fluid Head |
| Sachtler 18 S2 | Fluid Head |
| Sachtler Video 25 Plus | Fluid Head |
| Sapphire Pro Pan + Head | Remote Head |
| Spectrum ST4.3 | Remote Head |
| Vantage | Remote Head |
| VZ-MC100 | Remote Head |
| Worrall Geared Head | Geared Head |
| X Head Studio | Remote Head |
Nodal Heads by Type
| Nodal Heads, by Type | |
|---|---|
| Camera Head | Type |
| Kessler Second Shooter Pro | Motorized & Programmable Nodal Head |
| Cartoni Lambda 25/50 | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| Ronford-Baker Fluid 7 | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| Mark Roberts Motion Control Bolt Jr+ | Motorized & Programmable Nodal Head |
| eMotimo ST4 | Motorized & Programmable Nodal Head |
| C-Motion C-Force Remote Head | Motorized & Programmable Nodal Head |
| Ronford-Baker Fluid 10 | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| Arrihead 2 | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| O’Connor 2575D | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| O’Connor 2560 | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| Miller ArrowX Series | Manual & Fluid Nodal Head |
| Nodal Ninja Mecha E2 | Specialized & Robotic Nodal Head |
| Freefly MoVI XL | Specialized & Robotic Nodal Head |
| Shotover G1 | Specialized & Robotic Nodal Head |
| Shotover K1 | Specialized & Robotic Nodal Head |
| ARRI SRH-360 | Specialized & Robotic Nodal Head |
Specialty Camera Heads by Type
| Specialty Camera Heads | |
|---|---|
| Camera Head | Type & Specialty |
| Dutch Head (e.g., ARRI DUTCH, Ronford-Baker DUTCH) | Enables controlled roll (tilt on Z-axis) for dynamic shots. |
| Tango Head / Swing Head (e.g., P+S Technik Skater Scope, Ronford-Baker Swing Head) | Allows lateral shift (parallax movement) while tilting/panning. |
| Fluid 3rd Axis Add-Ons (e.g., Cartoni C20S Dutch Head, O’Connor 3rd Axis Roll Unit) | Adds roll axis to standard fluid heads. |
| Orbital Camera Head (e.g., GFM GF-9 Orbital Head, Panther Revolution Head) | Provides 360° rotation around the lens axis for creative motion. |
| Underslung Heads (e.g., Cartoni Lambda 10, Movcam U-Head) | Allows mounting the camera upside down for low-angle shots. |
| Slingshot Head (e.g., Mo-Sys Slingshot) | Specialized for high-speed tracking shots, often used in sports. |
| Telescopic Camera Head (e.g., Scorpio Stabilized Head, Technocrane Scorpio 45/50) | Features a telescoping extension for smooth in/out movement. |
| Tube Camera Head (e.g., P+S Technik Skater Scope, Innovision Probe 2+) | Designed for shooting through small openings or extremely close macro shots. |
| Wire/Rigged Heads (e.g., Spidercam, Robycam 3D) | Suspended on cables for large-scale aerial tracking shots. |
| Gyro-Stabilized Heads (e.g., Shotover F1, Cineflex V14, ARRI SRH-3/360) | Provides ultra-stable, vibration-free footage for aerial, vehicle, or handheld use. |
| Remote Pan/Tilt Heads (e.g., Hot Head, Libra Head, Scorpio 23) | Used for remote control in high-risk or inaccessible locations. |
| Helicopter Mount Heads (e.g., Shotover K1, GSS C520, Cineflex Elite) | Specifically designed for aerial cinematography. |
| Rope-Rigged Heads (e.g., Supertechno Skycam, Movicom Robycam) | Used for extreme sports, concerts, and large venue coverage. |