Panoramic Plate for Easy Panos, what do you use? need small,simple, and light

[Hawaii-geek]

Has anyone used this?
This is the link to a very small/cheap one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/504365-REG/Lenspen_LENPN1_Panamatic_Panorama_Adapter_Plate.html

Do you use some thing better? But needs to be, travel small and light.
Is it any good with a D700 + 24-70 on a tripod.

Think I need to mention. I do not shoot a lot of Panoramics.
Most would be shocked at how many paid Panoramics I have shot "handheld".
Even though, it might have been "just" for background, for Text .

In general, I don't carry a tripod with me ... but, when I do , it needs to be small Light, and Travel ... I am already at the weight limits.
So, a lot of these really cool , Pano heads ... are probably over kill for me.

HG

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Les Olson]

If you can do it hand-held, congratulations and you don't need anything. To do it the conventional way I don't think you can do lighter or better than http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/658802-REG/Arca_Swiss_801211_Monoball_P0_with_Panning.html .
--
A l'eau, c'est l'heure! (French naval motto)

 

[Robin Casady]

To do it the conventional way I don't think you can do lighter or better than http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/658802-REG/Arca_Swiss_801211_Monoball_P0_with_Panning.html .

This is the head I use. Since the pan adjustment is at the top, leveling the camera levels the panning plane. I use an RRS lever quick-release on top of the Arca-Swiss P0, and in that I use an 8" rail with another quick-release to hold the camera. The rail is from krosno65 on ebay. It is excellent quality, with an engraved scale, and at a good price.

The reason for the rail is to move the camera back so the optical axis of the lens is centered over the rotation axis. This is necessary to prevent parallax errors when you have near and far objects in the pano.

You will have problems with hand-held panos when there are near objects in the scene. IMO, panos that only include distant objects are much less interesting than ones with near and far objects.
--
Robin Casady
http://www.robincasady.com/Photo/index.html

 

[Hawaii-geek]

Robin,

I have a Manfrotto 3419 positioning sliding plate (not very light and portable)
It's looks very simular to this one on B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554343-REG/Manfrotto_454_454_Micrometric_Positioning_Sliding.html

So, I am curious how you use the Panning Head in combination with the Rail.

Or do you have a LINK with a Tutorial on how to set this up ?
with Pics ... have a feeling I might need to see the set up lol

This rail is not travel light ... BUT, non-travel ... I am curious to learn how I might use what I already have to improve my Panoramics.

As you can probably tell , I don't do very many ... and the "way" I do them now is probably pretty "lame".
and realize I need to improve.

shhhh ... in the 2011 Sony Open Magazine (handed out in this years Sony Open) ... on page 108 and 109 you will see a double truck pano shot I took ... hand held.
in fact there is two in the mag that I shot handheld
No near subject, I was in a tower...

and of course I shot a few more this year for next year lol
Maybe next year I can step it up a little and bring a tripod out.

Thank you,
HG

To do it the conventional way I don't think you can do lighter or better than http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/658802-REG/Arca_Swiss_801211_Monoball_P0_with_Panning.html .

This is the head I use. Since the pan adjustment is at the top, leveling the camera levels the panning plane. I use an RRS lever quick-release on top of the Arca-Swiss P0, and in that I use an 8" rail with another quick-release to hold the camera. The rail is from krosno65 on ebay. It is excellent quality, with an engraved scale, and at a good price.

The reason for the rail is to move the camera back so the optical axis of the lens is centered over the rotation axis. This is necessary to prevent parallax errors when you have near and far objects in the pano.

You will have problems with hand-held panos when there are near objects in the scene. IMO, panos that only include distant objects are much less interesting than ones with near and far objects.
--
Robin Casady
http://www.robincasady.com/Photo/index.html

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Hawaii-geek]

Les,

Thank you for the link and the suggestion.

lol, shoot it handheld not because I think I am good at it ... only because I had no tripod.
and already carring more gear than I care to all day long.

but, yes ... I do need to get more serious about these panos ... and shoot them better.

Thank you
HG

If you can do it hand-held, congratulations and you don't need anything. To do it the conventional way I don't think you can do lighter or better than http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/658802-REG/Arca_Swiss_801211_Monoball_P0_with_Panning.html .
--
A l'eau, c'est l'heure! (French naval motto)

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[RustyKnee]

I use a panosaurusrex.....great neame. quite good for a reasonanle price. its not rock solif, but solid enough. allows vertical as well as horizontal angle change.

Stu
--
I seriously doubt your lens is a copy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitstu77/

 

[SixDasher]

Try the Nodal Ninja 3, it's small light and compact. If you are serious about panos, then a rotator will not give the the best results.

Check out http://www.panoguide.com for a lot of info.

--
I'z lovez my AiS'ez

 

[payingmyduesagain]

http://www.philohome.com/tripod/shooting.htm

This may be of interest to you if you want to shoot handheld and yet maintain the rotation over the nodal point of the lens. Also for best results, you might want to have extra overlap (around 50% worked really well for me). Good luck.

 

[SeeRoy]

Try the Nodal Ninja 3, it's small light and compact. If you are serious about panos, then a rotator will not give the the best results.

Check out http://www.panoguide.com for a lot of info.

--
I'z lovez my AiS'ez

The NN3 will be struggling with a D700 and 24-70 2.8. I have all three. Having said that I've even shot multi-row VR panoramas (tests only) using the 14-24 (@14) on it but it's a struggle against lean and slippage with this amount of weight. The NN3 is under-engineered and really only suitable for light bodies and small primes. I use mine with a DX body and 10.5 FE which is about its limit. I think it's actually been discontinued.

I don't really understand why people make such a big deal about levelling. It's a simple adjustment to level when creating the stitched pano.

Hand held panos will seldom stitch accurately when there's close foreground (depending on distance, fl etc.) You can sometimes get round this by supporting and rotating the lens with one finger under the point where you have established the no-parallax point is located (even only roughly) providing you can keep the rig steady and the ss is fast enough. depands a bit where it is as if it's under the zoom ring or focus barrel... Of course whatever method you're using you need to map the position of the npp for differing focal lengths as it varies on zooms.

Panoguide is a very valuable site for all matters panoramic.
Roy

 

[Hawaii-geek]

RustyKnee, Panosaurus , Thank you ... very helpful
and found Nordal Ninja

Great prices ... and looks like they come apart for travel.
But, not quite the small bring everywhere travel kit

Have to admit though, these links are starting to make me think I "might" need a better ... true Nordal Point Pano Head , for those times I can bring a pano set-up. Or when getting a good pano really counts.

What was interesting in looking at your suggestion is I found a easy to understand Utube on how to set up the Nordal Point using a Nordal Ninja 3.

Found a Set up Utube on the Panosaurus Rex:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGk8RH0or7k
LINK to item Panosaurus Panoramic Tripod Head $86 + $32 Express mail

• My guess is both are Spherical Head ? Multi row shooting

http://gregwired.com/pano/OrderExpress.htm

Found this on Nodal Point setting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0HaRZi-FWs&feature=related

Nordal Ninja 3 MkII $210:
http://www.nodalninja.com/product_selector.html

Thank you for posting the suggestion,
HG

I use a panosaurusrex.....great neame. quite good for a reasonanle price. its not rock solif, but solid enough. allows vertical as well as horizontal angle change.

Stu
--
I seriously doubt your lens is a copy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rabbitstu77/

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Robin Casady]

Robin,

I have a Manfrotto 3419 positioning sliding plate (not very light and portable)
It's looks very simular to this one on B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554343-REG/Manfrotto_454_454_Micrometric_Positioning_Sliding.html

Not the right kind of rail. You could use that with a Nikkor PC-E lens for shift-panos. You want the lens to remain stationary so shift the lens 12mm to the left and move the entire camera to the right 12mm with the rail. Then reverse the process.

So, I am curious how you use the Panning Head in combination with the Rail.

Here are some iPhone 3G photos of the setup:





--
Robin Casady
http://www.robincasady.com/Photo/index.html

 

[Hawaii-geek]

SixDasher,

Nice suggestion ... glad you mentioned this.

As I was doing the google thing I did stumble on the Nodal Ninja.
But, of course I did not know if it was any good.

I am hoping more will confirm this Pano Head had a good MIX of Quality and Value, Compact.

Interesting, looking at the web image .. it did not seem like it was travel compact?
But, it did look like it comes appart flat , to packing.

• is it Solid?

Say , more Solid than the Panosurus Rex?

Thank you for the LINK ... http://www.panoguide.com
I am going to check it out.
Sure I will learn more ... I have already.

HG

Try the Nodal Ninja 3, it's small light and compact. If you are serious about panos, then a rotator will not give the the best results.

Check out http://www.panoguide.com for a lot of info.

--
I'z lovez my AiS'ez

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Hawaii-geek]

The NN3 will be struggling with a D700 and 24-70 2.8.

SeeRoy,
Thank you for the feedback.
Yuk, not what I wanted to hear though.
Because this "is" the kit I use ... D700 + 24-70 f2.8

It's that balance of Travel ... pack Small and Light , and Solid

I have all three. Having said that I've even shot multi-row VR panoramas (tests only) using the 14-24 (@14) on it but it's a struggle against lean and slippage with this amount of weight. The NN3 is under-engineered and really only suitable for light bodies and small primes. I use mine with a DX body and 10.5 FE which is about its limit. I think it's actually been discontinued.

SeeRoy,
Do you have the Nodal Ninja 3 "MkII" ???

Hmmm, hope others will chime in on this ... using the D700 + 24-70 f2.8 combo.
But, from what you are saying ... it does not look good.

Panoguide is a very valuable site for all matters panoramic.
Roy

Great to get confirmation ... Thank you,
Guess I know where I am going next ... when I have time

HG

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Hawaii-geek]

Robin,

Now you got me curious ... How in the world did you get the D700 mounted like that.

It looks solid , even though I know how heavy that is

p.s. my rail and move back and forth 120mm. and it's pretty solid.
Problem is , it's also heavy.

HG

Robin,

I have a Manfrotto 3419 positioning sliding plate (not very light and portable)
It's looks very simular to this one on B&H

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554343-REG/Manfrotto_454_454_Micrometric_Positioning_Sliding.html

Not the right kind of rail. You could use that with a Nikkor PC-E lens for shift-panos. You want the lens to remain stationary so shift the lens 12mm to the left and move the entire camera to the right 12mm with the rail. Then reverse the process.

So, I am curious how you use the Panning Head in combination with the Rail.

Here are some iPhone 3G photos of the setup:





--
Robin Casady
http://www.robincasady.com/Photo/index.html

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Brian OReilly]

Folks

With any choice you may make - be aware that this is the 'Gold Standard'
I use an 'Absolute'
http://www.360precision.com

Hope this helps

Brian

 

[Hawaii-geek]

payingmyduesagain,
Cool link, great idea

I actually do overlap 50% on my handheld panos now. Good advice.

Now that I think about it , it might be one of the reasons for my "somewhat" success at these. and a fast shutter.

Also use PS CS5 to stitch ... but, trigger the pano stitch from the raws in LR v3.3 ... it's actually pretty fast.

HG

http://www.philohome.com/tripod/shooting.htm

This may be of interest to you if you want to shoot handheld and yet maintain the rotation over the nodal point of the lens. Also for best results, you might want to have extra overlap (around 50% worked really well for me). Good luck.

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[Hawaii-geek]

Brian, 360precision , Serious piece of Kit
Looks rock solid

and I am assuming the Adjuste Giga is the best because it's configuable.
and does the D700 + 24-70 f2.8

But, it looks Far from being Travel light

• Now the question becomes ... at that price ... how much more for something that moves the shot for you.

If, you are going to spend that much , and not care about weight and size.

I don't really make money on panos ... so, this might be over kill for me.
but, I do live in Hawaii

No question this would be a huge jump from handheld and simple tripod (with no pano head) to this

now I know .. thank you ... but, you are not doing any favors to my wallet.

HG

Folks

With any choice you may make - be aware that this is the 'Gold Standard'
I use an 'Absolute'
http://www.360precision.com

Hope this helps

Brian

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[tarnish]

Has anyone used this?
This is the link to a very small/cheap one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/504365-REG/Lenspen_LENPN1_Panamatic_Panorama_Adapter_Plate.html

I had to laugh at the picture. I wonder who had the bright idea of putting the angle markings where they couldn't possibly be seen while the equipment is in use? It makes you wonder how many mechanical design factors were also forgotten. I expect that it might work with some of the smallest compact cameras.

After seeing the prices of the seriously engineered pano gear I had hopes that the Panosaurus had somehow found a niche that was an inexpensive optimum. These hopes failed. Even after the complete replacement of the camera slide with a good and compact Manfrotto quick release plate, all the rest of it was too fiddly and wobbly and unpredictable with a D90 and 16-85 in place. It might work OK for something more along the lines of a D40 + 18-55 kit lens, so not all hope is encessarily lost for the little dino. Mine is going to stay on the shelf until such time as I throw it away though.

I also use a D700 with some substantial lenses. So I bit the bullet and went the Really Right Stuff route for my ballhead, L-plate, and slide. I wasn't aware of the panning base at the top of the Arca head, that's pretty clever. I might have selected differently had I known about it earlier. I haven't yet pulled the trigger on adding a RRS pano swivel to the top of the BH55 head but I have a super inexpensive workaround. I made a "neck collar" out of some PVC pipe that keeps the balhead squared up to vertical and I just use the base pano axis. Works great even though it adds another 5 seconds of setup time.

 

[Hawaii-geek]

tarnish,
guess Panosaurus is out ... what have you found for the D700+24-70?

I am getting the picture now.
If, you are talking D700 + 24-70 f2.8 ... which that is a minimum.

The choices start to narrow down. With few travel , small light , if you want a Nordal point adjustment.

My guess is ... the Light/Travel/cheap simple ones have no way of adjusting this?
like the LensPen one.

So, now I am thinking ... besides the "CLICKs" panning accross. to make it faster.

When you already have a OLD Manfrotto 3030 head that has markings ... that additional benifit does these flat/cheaper Pano attachements have?

Now , the Panosaurus (although too lightweight) and the Nordal Ninja "MkII" (which I am not sure yet if it can actually Hold a D700 + 24-70 f2.8 combo yet.

• I do get the Benifit.

and then there is the 360Precision ... which is probably above my pay grade for panos

HG

Has anyone used this?
This is the link to a very small/cheap one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/504365-REG/Lenspen_LENPN1_Panamatic_Panorama_Adapter_Plate.html

I had to laugh at the picture. I wonder who had the bright idea of putting the angle markings where they couldn't possibly be seen while the equipment is in use? It makes you wonder how many mechanical design factors were also forgotten. I expect that it might work with some of the smallest compact cameras.

After seeing the prices of the seriously engineered pano gear I had hopes that the Panosaurus had somehow found a niche that was an inexpensive optimum. These hopes failed. Even after the complete replacement of the camera slide with a good and compact Manfrotto quick release plate, all the rest of it was too fiddly and wobbly and unpredictable with a D90 and 16-85 in place. It might work OK for something more along the lines of a D40 + 18-55 kit lens, so not all hope is encessarily lost for the little dino. Mine is going to stay on the shelf until such time as I throw it away though.

I also use a D700 with some substantial lenses. So I bit the bullet and went the Really Right Stuff route for my ballhead, L-plate, and slide. I wasn't aware of the panning base at the top of the Arca head, that's pretty clever. I might have selected differently had I known about it earlier. I haven't yet pulled the trigger on adding a RRS pano swivel to the top of the BH55 head but I have a super inexpensive workaround. I made a "neck collar" out of some PVC pipe that keeps the balhead squared up to vertical and I just use the base pano axis. Works great even though it adds another 5 seconds of setup time.

--
http://tourist-of-light.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to criticize, make suggestions, and edit any of my photos & re-post, to help show me 'the way'. * I am trying to Elevate the Level of my 'Snap Shots'

 

[tarnish]

tarnish,
guess Panosaurus is out ... what have you found for the D700+24-70?

Heavy duty tripod and head plus the MPR-CL II rail and an L-plate from Really Right Stuff get the basics covered for me. I don't have the 24-70 but I did swing the 14-24 when I rented it. It worked very well indeed even with a pretty hefty weight imbalance. The proper rotation point for that lens is pretty much all the way forward so the camera body was very far "out back".