ARRI ARRIHEAD II User manual

ARRIHEAD II
Instruction Manual
As of: Aug. 1999
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gear selector switch (tilt)
friction locking lever
for hand wheel
release grips (rear)
for tilt plate
tilt plate
lock for
pivoting
tilt drive
hand wheel
(tilt)
lock-release for
bridge plate BP-4
sliding base
bubble level
gear selector switch (pan)
friction locking lever for
hand wheel
hand wheel
(pan)
fixing screw for
hand wheel
pan lock
fixing bolt for eyepiece
leveling rod
tilt lock
release grips (front)
for tilt plate
locking lever for
sliding base
safety lock for
bridge plate BP-4

ARRIHEAD
3
Contents
Safety Specifications ..................................... 4
Introduction ARRIHEAD II ............................... 5
Mounting the ARRIHEAD II ............................. 6
Panning ..................................................... 12
Tilting ........................................................ 13
Adjustable Tilt Drive .................................... 14
Tilt Plate ..................................................... 15
Transport ................................................... 19
Service and Maintenance ............................ 20
Technical Data............................................ 21
ARRI SERVICE ............................................ 22

4
ARRIHEAD
Safety Specifications
Danger of injury or equipment damage
possible.
• The ARRIHEAD II has been thoroughly tested with
regard to its safety and quality of workmanship.
• In order to ensure optimal performance, follow
the operating instructions described herein.
• The general safety regulations as well as the ser-
vice and maintenance procedures mentioned in
this manual should be carefully followed.
• The ARRIHEAD II should be assembled only by
qualified personnel, familiar with the procedures.
• Only original ARRI accessories and replacement
parts should be used.
• To transport the ARRIHEAD II: set both gear se-
lector switches in neutral and all friction levers
and locks in open position.
• Remember to remove the hand wheels before
setting the ARRIHEAD II directly on the floor or
other surface without tripod base.
• The serial number of the ARRIHEAD II is located
on the base.

ARRIHEAD
5
Introduction ARRIHEAD II
The ARRIHEAD II can be used with all tripods and
camera dollies or camera support systems that em-
ploy a Mitchell flat base. All ARRIHEAD II control
features are arranged to provide simple operation.
Precision chain drives and worm gears ensure slack-
free operation. The precision guides guarantee
smooth tilting and panning.
The laterally adjustable tilt drive pivots out horizon-
tally up to 38°counter-clockwise, and can be fixed
at any intermediate position. As a result, the full tilt
range of the ARRIHEAD II is maintained when film-
ing with an ARRIFLEX 535 camera equipped with
a 1000 ft (300 m) magazine. The tilt plate enables
filming with extreme upward and downward tilt
positions.

6
ARRIHEAD
locking grip
guiding pin
keyway
Mounting the ARRIHEAD II
• Place the ARRIHEAD II on the flat base so that
the guiding pin ➪photo engages the keyway
➪photo.
• Secure the ARRIHEAD II with ARRIHEAD II locking
grip ➪photo.

ARRIHEAD
7
• Position the bubble in the center of the level
➪photo.
• When using a tripod, it is essential to employ a
tripod spider or spreader.
• Set the hand wheels ➪photo onto the drive spin-
dles and secure with the fixing screws➪photo.
The tapered guides should slide easily into each
keyway.
• Push the sliding base ➪photo onto the tilt plate
➪photo. Center the sliding base to the “0” mark
of the tilt plate and lock in position.
hand wheel, tilt
bubble level
fixing
screw
sliding base tilt plate
hand wheel, pan
fixing screw

8
ARRIHEAD
• Fasten the bridge plate BP-4 to the camera
bottom ➪photo.
Ensure that all locks and levers are tight,
before mounting the camera.
• Place the camera with bridge plate onto the
ARRIHEAD II sliding base.
• Ensure that the bridge plate BP-4 is properly
engaged and locked in the recess of the sliding
base.
• Attach all camera accessories required for filming.
bridge plate BP-4

ARRIHEAD
9
• Slide the gear selector switch ➪photo to “1”
and loosen the friction lever ➪photo.
• To balance the camera, first loosen the left and
right tilt locks ➪photo and the locking lever
➪photo of the siding base. Shift the camera
on the tilt plate, until the “0” mark on the lower
cradle falls in line with the witness mark. Keep a
firm hold on the camera throughout, then re-
secure the three locking levers ➪photo.
gear selector switch
friction
locking lever for
hand wheel
tilt lock
locking lever for
sliding base

10
ARRIHEAD
eyepiece leveler
knurled screw
fixing bolt
• The viewfinder and eyepiece will remain station-
ary during tilting, as long as the eyepiece leveler
➪photo is fixed to both the threaded receptacle
of the viewfinder extension (top) and the fixing
bolt on the ARRIHEAD II ➪photo.
• Loosen the knurled screw ➪photo, adjust the
viewfinder to eye-level and re-tighten the knurled
screw.

ARRIHEAD
11
• If required, slide the battery holder ➪photo
into the dove-tail guide ➪photo on the right
side of the ARRIHEAD II.
battery holder
dove-tail guide

12
ARRIHEAD
Panning
• Loosen the friction lever ➪photo.
• Slide the gear selector switch ➪photo to the
desired position.
• Loosen the pan lock ➪photo.
• The ARRIHEAD II is now prepared for continuous
360°panning with use of the hand wheel
➪photo.
In order to avoid damaging the jaws of
the friction lever and lock ➪ photo , it
is essential to loosen both, before turning
the hand wheel.
gear selector switch
friction locking lever
for hand wheel
hand wheel
pan lock

ARRIHEAD
13
Tilting
• Loosen the friction lever ➪photo.
• Slide the gear selector switch ➪photo to the
desired position.
• Loosen the two tilt locks ➪photo.
• The cradle of the ARRIHEAD II can now be tilted
by turning the hand wheel ➪photo.
In order to avoid damaging the locking
jaws of the friction lever and lock
➪ photo , it is essential to loosen both,
before turning the hand wheel ➪ photo .
gear selector switch
friction locking lever
for hand wheel
hand wheel
tilt lock

14
ARRIHEAD
Adjustable Tilt Drive
The tilt drive of the cradle can be pivoted horizon-
tally 38 degrees counter clockwise. This preserves
the full tilting rage of the ARRIHEAD II when using
an ARRIFLEX 535 camera equipped with a 1000 ft
(300 m) magazine.
• Loosen the lock ➪photo.
• Swing the tilt drive to the desired position and re-
tighten the lock ➪photo.
lock

ARRIHEAD
15
Tilt Plate
• The tilt plate ➪photo pivots open to allow film-
ing with extreme upward or downward tilt posi-
tions (up to 90°+ or -). The tilt plate support is
engaged in the corresponding bore holes.
For safety, the camera should be re-
moved while the tilt plate is adjusted.
tilt plate

16
ARRIHEAD
Filming with extreme upward angles
• Push both release grips and raise the tilt plate
➪photo as required.
• Ensure that the locking pins of the support brackets
➪photo are engaged exactly in the bore holes
➪photo of the upper plate.
• To allow easy mounting of the camera, set the tilt
plate in a horizontal position.
• Then mount the camera on the sliding base
➪photo and lock in position.
tilt platerelease grips
support brackets
bore holes

ARRIHEAD
17
sliding base
release grips
support brackets
bore holes
tilt plate

18
ARRIHEAD
Filming with extreme downward angles
• Push both release grips ➪photo and raise the
tilt plate as required.
• Ensure that the locking pins of the support brackets
➪photo are engaged exactly in the bore holes
➪photo of the upper plate
• To allow easy mounting of the camera, set the tilt
plate in a horizontal position.
• Mount the camera on the sliding base and lock
in position.
support brackets
bore holes
tilt plate release grips

ARRIHEAD
19
Transport
For transporting the ARRIHEAD II use the optionally
available handles.
• Remove the fixing screw ➪photo.
• Separate the two halfes of the handle.
• Plug the rods ➪photo into the center bore hole
of the ARRIHEAD II.
• Ensure that the four registration pins ➪photo
plug in to the other bore holes and retighten the
fixing screws.
fixing screw
rods
registration pin

20
ARRIHEAD
Service and Maintenance
For optimal performance it is essential that all
ARRIHEAD II guides are kept clean. It is therefore
important to occasionally check for possible dust
and dirt. Dust in combination with humid air creates
a coarse substance which can inhibit smooth oper-
ation.
The guides of the cradle are easily accessible and
can be cleaned with a non-fraying cloth.
Both the flat base of the ARRIHEAD II and the tripod/
dolly bade should also be cleaned occasionally. Use
no hard faced or coarse materials for cleaning.
Otherwise the ARRIHEAD II is maintenance free. It
requires neither oiling nor greasing.
For ARRIHEAD II service see an authorised ARRI
service center (see page 19).
The handwheels must be removed before
setting the ARRIHEAD II directly down on
any surface without a tripod base.
Remember to loosen all locks and set both
pan and tilt gears in neutral (N) before
transporting.