Camera pedestal

[1] A pedestal typically consists of three main parts: a base (with wheels), the column (with steering ring), and the platform.

Pedestals are designed to take the weight of a pan & tilt head, television camera, zoom lens, teleprompter and vanity monitor; this is achieved by having a column balanced with pneumatics or hydraulics.

The column, nowadays typically filled with compressed gas such as nitrogen, can be raised and lowered whilst "on-shot".

The robotic pedestal can be moved around on a studio floor, and the height of the column adjusted, from a remote control panel.

Typically, this panel will also control a pan-tilt head fitted on the pedestal, allowing the operator to frame the shot.