The Oconnor 120EXe Fluid Head is a heavy duty fluid head that shares the same features as the OConnor 120 EX, however it also digitally encodes pan and tilt position information for visual effects work, including compositing and motion capture. The Fluid head supports camera loads from 30 to 120 pounds that have a center of gravity 8″ inches above the fluid head. The included geared camera platform helps you make minor adjustments to the balance of the camera on the head. With a properly balanced load up to 120 pounds, the fluid head is able to tilt 90 degrees forward and back, and the counterbalance is able to keep the camera neutral throughout the tilt range. The EX mode of the fluid head allows it to continue to function with greater weight loads, up to 240 pounds, but with reduced tilt capability.

Independent drag settings for pan and tilt range from 0 to 9, are stepless, and located on the right-side of the head. On the left-side of the head large locking levers, one for pan and one for tilt, allow you to quickly lock/unlock one axis, then the other. Also on the left side of the head is a tilt lock pin that locks the head in a horizontal position. The 120 EXe features a Mitchell base, which mounts on available tripod legs and most heavy duty film/video dollies. The integrated illuminated bubble level aids you when leveling the head, and there are four rosettes for mounting available pan bars, one pan bar is included with the head.

The 120EXe provides precise pan and tilt position information. This avoids having to bolt on encoders or make modifications, which may affect how your head works. This makes the fluid head suitable for live action sets and work on VFX shoots. Pan and tilt information is available via a 19-pin Fisher connector. An available companion encoder allows the head to output pan and tilt info with a resolution of 1.8 million counts per revolution, and available data loggers make it a camera motion capture system.

OConnor’s geared camera platform allows you to adjust the balance of cameras on the fluid head by pushing in and turning a knob. This allows you to make precise adjustments to the position of the camera on the head. This is also much easier than trying to make minute adjustments by pushing the camera forward and back on a head when balancing it.

The camera platform is indexed, which makes it easier to readjust balance after swapping lenses or accessories.

Four pan bar mounting rosettes, left/right and front/rear, provide you additional mounting options for pan bars

Continuously variable (stepless) counterbalance is provided by a sinusoidal cam, and is controlled by a crank with a handle that folds out of the way. The counterbalance allows you to make the camera neutral on the head so that it will hold it’s position, even tilted forward or back. The counterbalance range is 0 to 182%, with 100% corresponding to 120 pounds at 8″ C.O.G. A digital display shows you how much counterbalance you are using, and if you exceed 100%, when working with camera loads greater than 120 pounds, the EX indicator next to the digital display lights up to warn you.

The fluid head’s normal operating load rating is 30 to 120 pounds at 8″ C.O.G. Loads up to 240 pounds can be supported with reduced tilt function.

The tilt lock pin will hold the fluid head in a completely horizontal positions and features red and green indicators for locked and unlocked. Locking the tilt in a horizontal position while attaching or adjusting the camera position prevents the head from wildly tilting and possibly causing the camera to fall.

The tilt range in normal operation is 90 degrees forward and back. With loads greater than 120 pounds, or with a C.O.G. above 8″, the usable tilt range that you can counterbalance decreases. At maximum load the fluid head can only tilt 60 degrees forward and back.

Pan and tilt controls are positioned so as to be near each other. Locks are on the left-side of the head and drag controls are on the right. This allows you to always use one hand for lock, and one had for drag adjustments, making for a more relaxed and natural workflow that helps avoid having to think about locking the head or adjusting drag. Pan and tilt drag settings are controlled by independent rotating knobs, and are stepless with a range of settings of 0 (no drag) to 9 (maximum drag).

The bubble level helps you level the fluid head, and illuminates with a push of a button when you are working in dim settings.

Both the bubble level and the counterbalance display are illuminated by pressing the actuator button, which provides approximately 15 seconds of illumination. This is powered by a 9 volt battery, which is installed at the factory and user replaceable.

The included front box mounting points allow you to attach an available front box with front box bracket to your fluid head, providing you with high end accessory mounting features. There are also accessory mounting points on the rear of the fluid head that allow you to attach available accessories such as an eyepiece leveler bracket.