Miller Tripods to Cease Operations After Nearly 80 Years

Miller Tripods, the Australian firm credited with creating the fluid head for motion picture cameras in 1946, has announced it will cease operations. Owners Mark and Diane Clementson disclosed in an open letter via the Guild of Television Camera Professionals that September 25 will mark their last day of business. The company, formally named Miller Camera Support Equipment, was established by Australian engineer Bob Miller, who patented the fluid head in the U.S. in 1949 and founded the company in 1954. Based near Sydney, it also has service centers in London and New York. The fluid head transformed filmmaking by replacing cumbersome gear-driven systems, allowing for smoother panning and diagonal shots. PetaPixel recognized Miller Tripods as the top choice for video tripod heads. The Clementsons expressed their appreciation for seven decades of support, revealing they had attempted to find a buyer without success, as reported by News Shooter. This closure signifies the end of an important era in the history of film and television equipment.