ARRIHEAD II

Instruction Manual
As of: Aug. 1999

ALL ARTWORK, PICTURES AND TEXTS ARE COVERED BY OUR COPY-

RIGHT. THEY MUST NOT BE COPIED FOR REPRODUCTION (E.G. ON
CD-ROM DISKS OR INTERNET-SITES) OR USED IN THEIR ENTIRE FORM
OR IN EXCERPTS WITHOUT OUR PREVIOUS WRITTEN AGREEMENT.

IF YOU ARE DOWNLOADING PDF-FILES FROM OUR INTERNET HOME-

PAGE FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE, MAKE SURE TO CHECK FOR UPDATED
VERSIONS. WE CANNOT TAKE ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR
DOWNLOADED FILES, AS TECHNICAL DATA ARE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
 safety lock for
bridge plate BP-4
locking lever for
sliding base
release grips (front) lock-release for
for tilt plate bridge plate BP-4
sliding base

tilt plate
release grips (rear)
for tilt plate

gear selector switch (tilt)

lock for friction locking lever

tilt lock pivoting for hand wheel
tilt drive
fixing bolt for eyepiece
leveling rod

pan lock hand wheel

(tilt)

fixing screw for bubble level

hand wheel
gear selector switch (pan)
hand wheel
(pan) friction locking lever for
hand wheel
 ARRIHEAD

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

3
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.

4
 ARRIHEAD

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.

5
ARRIHEAD

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.

guiding pin
keyway

locking grip

6
 ARRIHEAD

• 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.

sliding base tilt plate

hand wheel, tilt

fixing
screw

bubble level
hand wheel, pan
fixing screw

7
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

8
 ARRIHEAD

• 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.

friction
locking lever for
hand wheel

locking lever for

sliding base

tilt lock gear selector switch

9
ARRIHEAD

• 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.

knurled screw
eyepiece leveler
fixing bolt

10
 ARRIHEAD

• 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

11
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.

pan lock

friction locking lever

for hand wheel

gear selector switch

hand wheel

12
 ARRIHEAD

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

tilt lock
for hand wheel

hand wheel

13
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

14
 ARRIHEAD

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

15
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.

release grips tilt plate

support brackets

bore holes

16
 ARRIHEAD

release grips
tilt plate
sliding base

bore holes
support brackets

17
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.

tilt plate release grips

support brackets

bore holes

18
 ARRIHEAD

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.

rods

registration pin
fixing screw

19
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.

20
 ARRIHEAD

Technical Data
Tilting range: ........................... +/- 30 degrees
(without tilt plate)
+/- 90 degrees
(with tilt plate)

Gears: .................................... 1 - 2 - 3 + Neutral

Tilt drive: ................................. adjust. 38 degrees horizontal

Panning range: ........................ 360 degrees

Gears: .................................... 1 - 2 - 3 + Neutral

Panning drive: ......................... Fixed

Geared head: .......................... Mitchell Standard

Base: ...................................... Flat Base

Weight complete with quick

release bridge plate BP-4: ........ 33 lbs. (15 kg)

Tilt/pan wheels: ....................... 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)

Temperature range .................. - 4 to + 122 F degrees

-20 to + 50 C degrees

Maximum load: ....................... 110 lbs: (50 kg)

Dimensions with handwheels: ... Inches:

H13 L22 W13
Millimetres:
H330 L566 W343

21
ARRIHEAD

ARRI SERVICE
Germany ................................ Arnold & Richter Cine Technik
Türkenstraße 89
80799 München
phone: (089) 3809-0
fax: (089) 3809-1244
E-mail service:
[email protected]

USA ....................................... ARRI USA

617, Route 303
Blauvelt, New York 10913
phone: (914) 353 14 00
fax: (914) 425 12 50
E-mail: [email protected]

ARRI USA
600 North Victory Blvd.
Burbank, California 91502
phone: (818) 841 70 70
fax: (818) 848 40 28
E-mail: [email protected]

GB .......................................... ARRI (GB) Ltd.

The Movie House
1-3 Airlinks, Spitfire Way
Heston TW5 9 NR
phone: (0208) 848 88 81
fax: (0208) 561 13 12
E-mail: [email protected]

22
 ARRIHEAD

Italy ........................................ ARRI ITALIA S.R.L.

Viale Edison 318
20099 Sesto S. Giovanni,
Milano
phone: (02) 26 22 71 75
fax: (02) 242 16 92
E-mail: [email protected]

ARRI ITALIA S.R.L.

Via Placanica, 97
00040 Morena (Roma)
phone: (06) 79 89 02 02
fax: (06) 79 89 02 39

Canada .................................. ARRI Canada Ltd.

415 Horner Avenue, Unit 11
Etobicoke, Ontario
Canada M8W 4W3
phone: (416) 255-3335
fax: (416) 255-3399
E-mail: [email protected]

23
 © ARRI/KVW
Technical data are subject to change without notice

Printed in Germany

Ident-Nr. for Instruction Manual:

K5.43555.0

available Languages
English

ARNOLD & RICHTER CINE TECHNIK

TÜRKENSTR. 89 • D-80799 MÜNCHEN • TEL. (089) 3809-0
FAX (089) 3809 - 1244 • http://www.arri.de