Panoramic Heads

[Tareq]

Hi all,

I want to ask, what pano heads do you recommend to use? for Gitzo GT1540T and GT5540T

[René Damkot]

Looks like you've answered your own question :lol:
http://img.skitch.com/20080722-m2na1t8bnd79bndtrqk52upgy9.jpg

[Tareq]

Looks like you've answered your own question :lol:
http://img.skitch.com/20080722-m2na1t8bnd79bndtrqk52upgy9.jpg

How?

[inthedeck]

Search...that will lead you to the results. Just type in Pano Heads.

[René Damkot]

How?

Scroll down the page, there you'll find "Similar Threads"...

[inthedeck]

^^ Yeah, that too. :oops:

[Tareq]

I typed Pano in search and i got only 3 threads in Accessories and i read them all, but are there answers or just some recommending some brands to choose between?
say i don't want to get Manfrotto heads, i want to keep myself with Gitzo or RRS or Markins or Kirk, any of them can be good but i hope to get one which is the best or more practical to use.

Do you think usng normal heads [such as RRS BH-XX or Markins MX0/Q3] can be enough or you prefer to go with special heads for panos?

[inthedeck]

Tareq...follow this link -- click here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/search.php?searchid=1507680)

Just searched for panoramic heads.

[Tareq]

Tareq...follow this link -- click here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/search.php?searchid=1507680)

Just searched for panoramic heads.

POTN Admin Duck Reports

" Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms.
If the problem persists it could mean search engine is temporarily offline."

[inthedeck]

hmm...oh well, just search for keywords 'panoramic heads' and you'll get lots of threads.

[mattograph]

A different take....

Who needs pano heads anymore. The photomerge software has gotten so good, you can ALMOST do them handheld....

(emphasis on almost.......)

[Tareq]

hmm...oh well, just search for keywords 'panoramic heads' and you'll get lots of threads.

Ah ok, thanks :)

[Tareq]

A different take....

Who needs pano heads anymore. The photomerge software has gotten so good, you can ALMOST do them handheld....

(emphasis on almost.......)

So taking your words i can say that all those Pano heads are not so necessary and they were used in the past because no many good panos softwares?

I just waiting my ballheads and then i will give it a try before i think if i need another tool for pano or not.

[Wilt]

So taking your words i can say that all those Pano heads are not so necessary and they were used in the past because no many good panos softwares?

No, in the past, panoramic heads were used for FILM images which where then added together as composite frames that held multiple images

[mattograph]

So taking your words i can say that all those Pano heads are not so necessary and they were used in the past because no many good panos softwares?

I just waiting my ballheads and then i will give it a try before i think if i need another tool for pano or not.

I am not an expert, but the new photomerge in elements 6 is fantastic. I have only played with the tutorials, but it seemed so much easier than before.

I can't say that the pan head isn't worth it, though -- not my area of expertise.

[Wilt]

No matter how good the merge software, you will be better off using a head which allows you to pivot the lens+camera about the nodal point of the lens, to reduce the amount of 'distortion' caused in the taking of the images when simply pivoted about the focal plane, for example

[Tareq]

No, in the past, panoramic heads were used for FILM images which where then added together as composite frames that held multiple images

OK, new things to learn, thank you very much :D

[Tareq]

I am not an expert, but the new photomerge in elements 6 is fantastic. I have only played with the tutorials, but it seemed so much easier than before.

I can't say that the pan head isn't worth it, though -- not my area of expertise.

In fact i keep myself with Photoshop CS2/CS3, i can use PSE 5 or 6 but i don't like to get confused using many editing photos softwares, and photoshop is the most powerful anyway.

[Tareq]

No matter how good the merge software, you will be better off using a head which allows you to pivot the lens+camera about the nodal point of the lens, to reduce the amount of 'distortion' caused in the taking of the images when simply pivoted about the focal plane, for example

In fact thats what i was thinking about, i don't have many opportunity to go back to shoot some shots to get them right if i can't produce good enough panos from softwares, so that i am looking to do it right in fields before i try using any software, sorry for those many questions but i will travel later this year so i want to be full ready and i don't want to miss any chance or do mistakes because i don't have all right enough tools to use so then no way to go back travel for another trials.

[mattograph]

No matter how good the merge software, you will be better off using a head which allows you to pivot the lens+camera about the nodal point of the lens, to reduce the amount of 'distortion' caused in the taking of the images when simply pivoted about the focal plane, for example

Oh great. Something else to buy!

[Wilt]

A friend of mine swears by Panorama Factory

http://www.panoramafactory.com/

I did a trial test on two hand held shots taken with a digital P&S where I was not even intending on a panorama shot, and it stitched them together quite impressively!

[Wilt]

Oh great. Something else to buy!

I don't like our fearless leader and the job he is doing, but I am helping to stimulate the economy by getting others to spend their tax rebates! ;)

[mattograph]

I don't like our fearless leader and the job he is doing, but I am helping to stimulate the economy by getting others to spend their tax rebates! ;)

Unfortunately for me, I spent my tax rebate last october!:)

[Wilt]

Unfortunately for me, I spent my tax rebate last october!:)

A good photographic product should be able to convince you to spend your tax rebate more than once!

[mattograph]

A good photographic product should be able to convince you to spend your tax rebate more than once!


Please check my new sig!!!

[Tareq]

Please check my new sig!!!

Members here should do the same in their sigs ;)

[Wilt]

Please check my new sig!!!

You honor me, sir!

[JakPot]

I'm using Nodal Ninja with PTGui to stitch 360x180 panos. The NN3 is small and is good for a 5d w/ 15mm fisheye. I can use the 17-40 on it too, but I don't get the ability to tilt camera up 90 degrees to shoot the zenith (or sky shot).

The NN5 can handle bodies up to the 1D size, and even 70-200s (& large format cameras for that matter).

NN3 runs about 200, NN5 is around 400 i think.

[Tareq]

I'm using Nodal Ninja with PTGui to stitch 360x180 panos. The NN3 is small and is good for a 5d w/ 15mm fisheye. I can use the 17-40 on it too, but I don't get the ability to tilt camera up 90 degrees to shoot the zenith (or sky shot).

The NN5 can handle bodies up to the 1D size, and even 70-200s (& large format cameras for that matter).

NN3 runs about 200, NN5 is around 400 i think.

I saw that product from NN, looks interesting but i cant decide yet.

[René Damkot]

For software: You might want to check this out as well: Click (http://hugin.sourceforge.net/).

RRS makes a real nice pano setup.

[JakPot]

For software: You might want to check this out as well: Click (http://hugin.sourceforge.net/).

RRS makes a real nice pano setup.

Hugin is another good program, and it's free. It's not as easy to use IMO as PTgui and others.

[Tareq]

Just software is not a big problem, i just worry with the tool i will use in locations for panoramas.

[GSansoucie]

Somewhere out here a guy from the UK made his own contraption. It was one that did all three axis, but I believe it could be adapted to do a simple pano.

His name escapes me, but I can see avatar photo in my mind (and that would be hard to search on).

I will, no doubt, remember about 2.3 seconds after I hit the post button.

[GSansoucie]

OK, I remembered about 6.7 seconds after posting, since I'd just bought a Harley I should have remembered earlier. . .

Hogster, here's the link to his thread:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=526921

[jdizzle]

I don't do panoramas anymore but, if anyone is interested in buying a pano head, I have one for sale that is in mint condition. Hit me with a pm. :)

[René Damkot]

Might be helpful if you at least give a hint as to what pano head ;)

[Tareq]

Just i talked to one company and seems i may end up to their pano system [well known company or brand], but i am not in rush, and in all cases the pano system itself is out of stock, seems so popular product then.

[jdizzle]

Might be helpful if you at least give a hint as to what pano head ;)
Haha! I forgot to mention that. :oops: It's a Bogen Manfrotto 303 if anyone wants to know. :)