User Manual

120EX Fluid Pan & Tilt Head
3
Preface
Thank you and congratulations on the purchase your new 120EX from OConnor.
We want you to get the most from your new 120EX, and therefore encourage you to read this
operator's guide to familiarize yourself with its many features, some of which may be new to you.
It also covers essential health and safety information and a section on maintenance that will
ensure you keep your new product in perfect condition.
Features and benefits of your new 120EX
The 120EX head is the flagship of OConnor's new EXTENDED CAPACITY range of fluid heads
- the EX range. Based on the new patented EX-technology, this head features a new kind of
stepless counterbalance system as well as a new ultra-smooth pan and tilt fluid drag designed
for film style shooting.
OConnor's fluid heads are famous for ultimate control and stability for film style shooting. Now,
with the use of EX-technology, OConnor can offer the features it has become famous for with
the additional benefit of extended capacity. With a new counterbalance mechanism at the heart
of the EX-technology, the 120EX can be boosted into EX-mode to achieve a whole new realm
of counterbalance. True and accurate balance is achieved through the sinusoidal EX-
counterbalance technology. The EX-drag technology is ultra-smooth and stepless - just what
OConnor is famous for.
The EX-Mode
Getting more than 100% is the best way to describe the EX-Mode on the new EX range of fluid
heads by OConnor. The EX fluid heads have a given payload range for the ±90° tilt range. With
traditional counterbalance mechanisms any payload heavier than this maximum weight cannot
be balanced. But with the EX range of fluid heads, you can go far beyond that maximum payload
by slowly limiting the tilt range as the payload is increased. The tilt range is still an impressive
±60° at the maximum payload of 240 lbs (109 kg). The full tilt range of ±90° is maintained with
payloads between 30-120 lbs (14-54 kg). All of these ranges are based on an 8" center of
gravity.
Other Features
A collapsible counterbalance crank knob and digital readout make counterbalancing the payload
easy - even though the range is huge. The new easy-to-use sideload mechanism features a
push and turn platform knob with a "pop up" gear to engage the camera mounting plate and
adjust the platform fore and aft easily and precisely. It is easy to move heavy camera payloads
forward and backwards on the head with this mechanism. Geared and non-geared plates can
be used on the platform.
OConnor's fluid drag system allows an extremely quick pan movement from one position to
another, recovering instantly without any spring back. You can set up easily in low light
conditions using the illuminated level bubble and back-lit display.
Once again, thank you for choosing the 120EX. We are confident it will give you many years of
reliable performance.