Remote-controlled camera crane with joystick precision — independent pan/tilt and track axes. Essential for repeatable moves and tight spaces without operator on boom.
The Lily — often referred to in English as a Lily Cam or Remote Head — is a compact, remotely controlled camera head system primarily used for light boom work and tracking shots. You mount it on a jib arm or a dolly and control it via a joystick controller from the set, without needing a focus puller operator to sit on the boom itself. This not only saves space but also allows for more precise, repeatable movements across multiple takes.
Practically, it works like this: The Lily offers three translational axes (X, Y, Z) plus pan and tilt — a total of five axes of control. This is sufficient for smooth camera movements in medium to close-up ranges, such as in interview setups or when you want to slightly shift a stationary position. The joystick provides immediate tactile feedback; you sit on the monitor side and see directly through the viewfinder what the camera is doing. Calibration is essential — incorrectly adjusted proportions between joystick input and camera movement will result in jerky, unstable shots that cannot be fixed in the edit.
A major advantage over manual boom movements is repeatability. Once you've recorded a move cleanly, you can precisely repeat it for the next take — ideal for multi-camera setups or when your director needs a second version of the same shot. The Lily is less demanding than specialized remote heads like a Cascade or Libra Head, making it advantageous on lighter jib arms and for handheld camera work. This also makes it a more budget-friendly option for smaller productions.
What you should consider: For very long or complex movements exceeding 30 seconds, control can become a test of patience — a human grip with good hand-eye coordination is often smoother. Additionally, you need a stable, calibrated system; even the slightest contamination in the joystick can lead to drift and micro-jitters. Always run through it before shooting, save, shoot a second version, and then the editor decides which version works best.