Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1950)

standard friction head is removable from the base plate — and therefore interchangeable with other pan-head types as the job dictates. THE GEARED HEAD Where pan and tilt movements of controlled slowness and steadiness are required, the geared tripod head often is indicated. In its design, crank handles (or, on occasion, wheels) act on individual gear trains controlling the pan and tilt actions. For ease of operation and smoothness of camera movement, the geared head should be designed with a small-to-large gear ratio, so that a sizable crank handle movement will create only a slight pan or tilt movement. Removal of either of the handles from its operating position automatically locks the movement which it controlled. The geared head is used effectively for very slow follow shots, for the smoothest of panoramic coverage, and it is handy in tabletop and animation work. Professionally it is used" in Hollywood for process background shooting, where any unevenness in the rear-projected image would be noticeable against the players down front. With the heaviest professional camera units, such as a camera in a blimp ( sound-proof housing ) , a geared head with two gear ratios (one fast, one slow) sometimes is called for. THE GYRO HEAD Third of the standard pan-and-tilt designs is that known as the gyro head. In it a series of gears and flywheels is so arranged as to create resistance when pressure is applied to the pan handle. Requiring a minimum of skill to operate, the gyro head has a reassuring action to the operator and will insure against sudden jerks in pan or tilt movements. Usually such a head has two operating speeds, to match the cameraman's needs in filming fast or slow action. With these facilities, it is often preferred for shooting horse races or football from camera distances where telephoto lenses are a necessity. HIGH-HATS, BABIES, TRIANGLES Supplementing these basic camera support units are such accessories, handy when needed, as the high-hat tripod, the baby tripod and the tripod triangle. Singularly misnamed, the high-hat is actually a very low unit convenient in shooting close to the floor or in cramped quarters. In the version illustrated, any one of the three HERE IS THE HEAVY DUTY KIND of commercial filming for which these tripods were primarily designed. Note use of mask box. standard heads may be affixed to the high-hat base. The baby tripod is likewise a low-angle camera support, but with a certain amount of adjustment possible in lens height. The tripod triangle was illustrated last month, and its non-slip function should be familiar by now to all readers of this magazine. These, then, are representative examples of the sturdiest tripod units available to the non-theatrical cameraman — be he an amateur or a 16mm. commercial producer. In examining them, ask yourself whether your camera and the production demands you make of it call for the qualities offered here. If so, one or the other of these heavyduty tripods may well be your meat. At the same time, the prudent amateur cameraman will bear in mind that heavy-duty tripods must of necessity be relatively heavy in weight. Such an accessory should not be bought simply because it looks impressive. Decide how much tripod you need, then buy one that fills your need. FRICTION HEAD, in closeup, shows control arm, level, and separate pan-tilt locks. GEARED HEAD, in closeup, shows tilt gear and positioning of pan-tilt crank handles. THE GYRO HEAD, with separate pan and tilt locks and fast-slow speeds, is seen above.