ARRI has launched the 360 EVO, the third iteration of their 3-axis stabilized remote heads. It has 360-degree rotation of the roll axis (and the pan axis), heavier duty construction (payloads up to 30 kg), and more remote control possibilities. It has a new, logical graphical user interface (GUI). Many accessories can be shared with the ARRI TRINITY 2.
Brief detour: the first remote head was SRH-3. It could only pan 520 degrees because cables restricted unrestricted movement. And it could only roll 90 degrees.
The second generation SRH-360 had unlimited panning capability thanks to slip rings, but roll remained the same at 90 degrees.
Now, the third generation 360 EVO adds additional roll — at least two full rotations. Curt O. Schaller, ARRI Product Manager of Camera Stabilizer Systems, explains: “The roll axis of the 360 EVO is fundamentally unlimited. The potential number of 360-degree rotations in the same direction is only constrained by the length of the Roll Ring Main Cable and the length of the camera setup. The standard Roll Ring Main Cable supplied with the 360 EVO allows for at least two full rotations. With a shorter camera setup, up to three full rotations are possible. Additionally, an extra-long Roll Ring Main Cable will be available as an accessory. With appropriate cable management, this can enable up to 5 – 6 full rotations.”
The 360 EVO runs similar software as TRINITY 2, with the same GUI displayed on its touchscreen remote control panel. They also share cables, brackets and SAM plates for mounting cameras, and can be controlled by the same wheels and heads: e.g. ARRI Digital Remote Wheels DRW-1 and new Digital Encoder Head DEH-2.
You can even control the 360 EVO over Internet.
With its remote system integration, 360-degree roll-axis rotation, payloads up to 30 kg, compact size, versatile connectivity, high-capacity 12/24 V camera power supply, and rock-steady stabilization even at long focal lengths, the 360 EVO offers an unparalleled price-performance ratio that makes it a budget-friendly product for the cine and broadcast markets.
ARRI is also releasing a dual-channel fiber optic version of the 360 EVO for events, multi camera and live broadcast.
First customer shipments of the 360 EVO and 360 EVO Fiber will begin in Q1 2024. ARRI will also begin offering upgrades of existing SRH-360 and SRH-3 systems at that time.
Curt Schaller said, “What makes the 360 EVO different from the remote heads we made before is that it is a bit more beefy from the structure side to make sure the head is not flexing, which allows you to drive faster. Because, people like Nino Pansini were using the EVO remote head for quite some time. They do extremely fast driving sequence, as in Ford v Ferrari. And the only question people like him, the camera operators, ask is, ‘Yes, but can I drive faster with your next head?'” It reminds me of Henry Ford who said, ‘When you ask people, what they need, the reply is they need a faster horse.'”
More info at arri.com/360-evo