Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: setup for pan/stitching  (Read 4543 times)

gehle

  • Guest
setup for pan/stitching
« on: March 07, 2007, 01:53:58 pm »

OK I have shot with an Arca-Swiss ball head for almost 20 years, using it with blads, 680's and even a Toyo 45A. Still use it but I think I need to get with the times.

I want to especially start doing stitching with my 1DsII in the vertical position (been doing it horizontial for some time) so I am looking for a setup to do this as best possible. I make my living shooting landscapes & lifestyle for advertising, so I need it to perform and be seemless.

Who makes a good head for this? Do I need to use a 90 angle bracket (using the hot shoe level with the camera in horizontal before switching to vertical)? I have a couple of Gitzo tripods and use a Manfroto leveling base between the tripod and the head.

Finally, I use several levels as I get everything set, with the final leveling done by a hot shot bubble level (which break way too easily). So, is there better things here?

I am moving quick - shooting a couple of days at an old plantation that will be developed either next week or the following week.

Thanks,

Ken Gehle
Logged

gehle

  • Guest
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2007, 01:23:33 pm »

Seems a lot of dead air on this one. Well I have it worked out and it didn't cost me much.

I have a Manfrotto leveling base that I needed to raise up a tiny bit on my Gitzos in order for it to work properly. This was done with some large fender washers, which are super glued to gether. I extended the 3/8" thread insert a little and the leveling base is very snug. And my 20 year old Arca head is not in as bad of shape as I thought - with the leveling base working correctly, the head pans very level. So I bought one of those Aractech bubble levels that has the arca plate and a RRS L bracket and I am good. Only $250 spent.

Ken Gehle
Logged

CatOne

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 458
    • http://blloyd.smugmug.com
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2007, 01:39:31 pm »

Quote
Seems a lot of dead air on this one. Well I have it worked out and it didn't cost me much.

I have a Manfrotto leveling base that I needed to raise up a tiny bit on my Gitzos in order for it to work properly. This was done with some large fender washers, which are super glued to gether. I extended the 3/8" thread insert a little and the leveling base is very snug. And my 20 year old Arca head is not in as bad of shape as I thought - with the leveling base working correctly, the head pans very level. So I bought one of those Aractech bubble levels that has the arca plate and a RRS L bracket and I am good. Only $250 spent.

Ken Gehle
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=106274\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I got the RRS pivoting head and the nodal point extension thingy.  You can get a dovetail on the bottom of the pivoting head and just attach it to the A-S mount.  Then you can use the setback on the plate to pivot around the nodal point of the lens, which avoids parallax.  This is actually quite important if you're shooting wider than 50mm (not sure of the exact specifics).  The other nice thing about the equipment is that there is a level on the plate itself -- if it is level, then you will be level when you pivot.  The whole setup is maybe $150 to $200.
Logged

duranash

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 84
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2007, 10:57:58 pm »

I'm a bit late answering, but I ran across this unit the other day.  I don't own one, but you might have a look

http://gregwired.com/pano/Pano.htm
Logged

Lisa Nikodym

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1705
    • http://www.stanford.edu/~melkor/lisa_pictures/lisa_pictures.html
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2007, 09:53:45 am »

Quote
I'm a bit late answering, but I ran across this unit the other day. I don't own one, but you might have a look

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

I started out with one of those, but it was far too bulky for carrying around hiking, and not nearly as sturdy and rigid as metal alternatives (though much cheaper).

Lisa
« Last Edit: March 16, 2007, 09:54:48 am by nniko »
Logged
[url=http://www.stanford.edu/~melkor/lis

Christopher

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1499
    • http://www.hauser-photoart.com
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2007, 08:13:52 pm »

Quote
I started out with one of those, but it was far too bulky for carrying around hiking, and not nearly as sturdy and rigid as metal alternatives (though much cheaper).

Lisa
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


[a href=\"http://www.roundshot.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d438/d927/f852.cfm]roundshot.ch[/url]

This is in my eyes the best out there. 100% solid even in stormy weather. Wonderful built quality. I have it and love it. Stitching with it with my 1DsMk2, 5D and M8.

I tried other companies like Manfrotto haeds, but sorry their heads are crap against it.

Yes it is not so cheap, but the best.

Edit: You also can't have all. You can have the perfect head, but than you will have to carry a little bit more. If you want to travel light shoot them hand held.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2007, 08:15:11 pm by Christopher »
Logged
Christopher Hauser
[email=chris@hauser-p

Thomas Krüger

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 447
    • http://thomaskrueger.eu
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2007, 02:09:37 am »

The "best" setup is a head from http://www.360precision.com on a tripod with the Manfrotto MDeVe leveling coloumn. Con: the head is only for a fixed camera/lens combination. Pro: lightningfast setup if you carry the camera mounted on the head in your bag, putting it with the Manfrotto hex plates on the tripod, leveling with the center column and you are ready to shoot (< 1 minute).

Here is another head: http://www.pinnacle-vr.com/

Or have a look at http://www.360rage.com/panorama-hardware.php or at http://panotools.info/site_index/catid,87/
« Last Edit: March 17, 2007, 02:10:41 am by ThomasK »
Logged

Jack Flesher

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2592
    • www.getdpi.com
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2007, 10:19:30 am »

Really, all you need is a good solid set-up where the top clamp of your camera can be released so it can pan after it has been leveled.  I use the Arca Cube, but RRS has a very good solution with their "panning clamp" too.  Neither of these allows you the centering adjustments of the dedicating spherical heads, but they'll be a lot lighter and probably more convenient for "normal" shots.

Cube info here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/...arca-cube.shtml
Logged
Jack
[url=http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/

BernardLanguillier

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13983
    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2007, 10:07:28 pm »

Quote
roundshot.ch

This is in my eyes the best out there. 100% solid even in stormy weather. Wonderful built quality. I have it and love it. Stitching with it with my 1DsMk2, 5D and M8.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=107102\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Christopher,

You got me interested.

One question though, what tripod head to you have to use to adapt their VR head? Their site doesn't mention anything on this.

It doesn't look like the VR head can be mounted on a regular Arca Swiss type head, can it?

Regards,
Bernard

Christopher

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1499
    • http://www.hauser-photoart.com
setup for pan/stitching
« Reply #9 on: March 18, 2007, 06:31:13 am »

Quote
Christopher,

You got me interested.

One question though, what tripod head to you have to use to adapt their VR head? Their site doesn't mention anything on this.

It doesn't look like the VR head can be mounted on a regular Arca Swiss type head, can it?

Regards,
Bernard
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Ok here is what I use. A Gitzo tripod, than a leveling plate. ( Does not matter which one, I have a few.) Than on top the [a href=\"http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/lang/de/pid/2359?livid=80&lsf=80&child=3]Manfrotto 300N[/url] on top of it goes the roundshot VR. I choose this setup, because with the 300N I can choose exactly the angle I want to turn after every shot, and so gives me a lot of control. It also is a very good combination. I had it in haevy rain and stormy weather and it worked just fine. It also is still accaptable for longer hikes. I really test a lot out there, but most of them weren't really good. I have no doupt that the roundshot setup also could handle a medium format camera.
Logged
Christopher Hauser
[email=chris@hauser-p
Pages: [1]   Go Up