Magnum Dolly

Overview

The Magnum Dolly is a professional camera dolly manufactured by the German company MovieTech (based in Munich) and is considered the flagship of its grip and camera support system program. It is an electromechanical column dolly (center-column dolly): the camera is mounted on a motor-driven, height-adjustable center column, allowing for vertical camera movements (boom-up/boom-down) during takes. The Magnum is used in international film production and is also available for rent from companies like Panavision.

The dolly is designed as a modular system. The base is the Leggero base dolly, onto which either the electromechanical lift column or alternative platforms/base plates for fixed camera positions can be mounted.

Technical Features

Characteristic features include the motor-driven center column and extensive configurability for different surfaces and shooting situations:

• Steering Modes (3): Fixed (wheels locked), Crab (all wheels parallel) and Free (freely rotating wheels, e.g., for track operation).
• Wheel Types (4): Pneumatic, Studio, Soft-Studio, and Wide – for smooth studio floors, rough surfaces, or tracks.
• Lift Column: electromechanical drive with 360° rotation; the column supports the camera and enables repeatable vertical movements.
• Remote Control: The current generation offers wireless remote control of column/movement functions as well as software modes (including recording and playback of movements).
• Height-adjustable push bar for ergonomic pushing by the dolly grip.

According to MovieTech, the Magnum is manufactured "Made in Germany" in Munich. Specific values for load capacity, lift, and dimensions depend on the version and configuration and should be obtained from the manufacturer's current data sheet.

On-Set Usage

The Magnum is operated by the dolly grip and serves as a mobile camera platform for tracking shots – freely on smooth surfaces, sideways in crab mode, or on laid dolly tracks. Combined tracking and lifting movements can be achieved via the lift column, such as raising the camera during a forward move. Thanks to the interchangeable wheels and steering modes, it is flexibly deployable in studios as well as on location shoots.