Remote Camera Head (Robo’s)

A&C PeePod 500HD

Lammo Ltd currently offer six A&C PeePod 500HD systems.

We have always loved what Frank and A&C manufacture. The first remote head Lammo used in the mid 90’s was an A&C offering! Their gear is very reliable with so many options regarding control, data etc.

Able to take a load of 32kg, we have both digital video drop box which are used to control broadcast lenses & the film dropbox which offers power (12/24v) for cameras. The film ‘Dropbox’ allows the operator to control focus/iris/zoom motors (FIZ) using our external Heden motors.

One Memory Desk Console/Memory Jib Console allows one operator to control up to 10 heads. This works with all the available control options below.

Described by A&C as 'a system that performs like a mouse on steroids' these heads are available with one of our Operators or if you have a cameraman you want to use they are available with a Remote Head Technician.

More info & full specs can be found on the A&C website: https://powerpod.co.uk/products/pee-pod-500/

Chassis Options:

We have various chassis available to house the super smooth HD motors that A&C make.

Slider: The Slider chassis is a super sturdy chassis capable of working heavier camera/lens packages.

We often have the Canon CJ45EX9.7B lens on a 500HD Slider. Working at the end of its zoom range it keeps things rock steady.

Classic: We also have a couple of ‘Classic’ wide chassis setups. These allow us to use the third axis which is ‘Roll’.

As PeePod heads are manufactured as standalone remote heads (Hothead / Robo’s) they can be mounted in a vast array of places including lighting rigs, scaffolding, Towercams, Jibs & Cranes etc.

Operator Control Options:

Memory Control Console Desk:

Joystick desks allow the operator to have full control of pan, tilt, and roll as well as zoom, iris & focus on a variety of broadcast & film style lenses.

These desks have the ability to record moves.

Pan Bar System:

The A&C Pan Bar System (PBS) allows an operator to use a ‘familiar’ tripod style set-up to control the remote head. As with the desk the operator has the same full control of pan, tilt, roll zoom, iris & focus etc.

This system works great when a desk isn’t suited to the shots that are required (fast moving sports etc).

If a client has a preffered camera operator who has no experience operating with a desk it allows them to operate in a manner that they would usually work.

Hand Wheels:

We have hand wheels available for pan, tilt & roll. These are suited to DOP’s etc who use wheels in their regular work.

The use of wheels allows for an accuracy of moves that a joystick/PBS cannot. It is an art form performed by, in our mind, Jedi warriors!

Back-Pan:

Back-pan allows a camera operator to keep the remote head and the connected camera pointing in the same direction while the arm of a crane/jib is moved. This does not keep the camera pointing at a specific target. Instead, it keeps the camera aimed at a set direction.

It is particularly useful as it allows for a smooth transition between a Grip swinging the arm & the head Operator controlling the pan seperately. When two people are bought into the mix there will always be a brief moment where the two are slightly out of sync. Back-Pan allows the head to immediately start panning the opposite way to the arm swing as the two people get up to speed with each other. It helps with smoothing out starts & stops.

We now have Back Pan modules fitted to two of our PeePods.

More information regarding control options can be found at https://powerpod.co.uk/products/control-options/

Mo-Sys B20 Remote Hotheads

We have now added two Mo-Sys B20 remote heads to our kit list.

The B20 is a superb head for both regular hothead work or for mounting on a jib, Towercam etc.

At present we have been using them on the RDF production, Tipping Point & are very impressed. We had one in the lighting rig & one on a Jimmy Jib.

Mo-Sys are a very forward thinking company & we look forward to working with them on many other projects including their brilliant AR/VR system, StarTracker.