Suggest a pano head for me (looking at nodal ninja)

Athiril

http://nodalninja.com.au/products/

This is what im looking at, is the nodal ninja 3 Mk II good? fiddly? hard to set up? easy to use?

Or should I go with the nodal ninja 5L?

I plan on getting a Sigma 12-24mm and using it on my Canon 30D and on my EOS 500N film camera, as well as my Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 prime and a 28mm prime (manual lens).

What are you experiences?

I like to shoot stuff like this (handheld 28mm, 58 shots, canon 30D)

fotomachi · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 215 Location: Belgica

I use a NN with my Nikon D80. It is very easy to use, in my experience at least, though I don't use it that much. Many shots I can still make hand-held.

I have the NN3 btw. I like it most because of its low weight - a good travel mate Wink

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Rob Leslie · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 738 Location: UK Swindon

I’m interested to see the answers you get.
I don’t do a lot of stitch shots but when I do I have found a good tripod/ball head and the spirit levels are all I need.
I think the pano heads are more for those into doing multi rows? Not sure about that, I wait to see the replies.
I would question your choice of lens to do such work. Why if doing multi shots would you want a wide angle ‘Zoom’ lens which has questionable quality? The lens is well known for decentred focus an example of which can be seen on the Photodo review of the lens.
I am waiting for my FORTH copy of the Sigma 10-20mm. I have tried 3 and all were decentred.

PS I would love to see a 100% crop of some detail from your '58 shot' example. It must be HUGE.
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Athiril · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 5:06 am Post subject:

The Sigma 12-24mm is a LOT better than the 28mm lens I currently have on my 30D I picked up for $10, the 12-24 will beat it at all focal lengths, then I have my 50mm f/1.4 G.Zuiko for greater focal length Razz

These are my legs ill use the NN with - http://www.opticsplanet.net/zhumell-heavy-duty-tripod.html
http://www.fotoexpert.pl/goldphoto-yh324c-kamery-cyfrowe-produkt-3972.html

You still get very bad parallax errors on a normal tripod head, which is why these exist.

Resolution is 16351 x 5744
Photoshop wont open it today lol, keep getting cannot complete command due to program error.

So here is one of the original images from the stitch (yes I shot this in portrait orientation, with moving water over a horizontal plane, though I only got 6 places where I needed to fix water seems up).

http://www.photodan.com.au/IMG_0291.JPG

Rob Leslie · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 738 Location: UK Swindon

I think you must have made a mistake.
16351 x 5744 from '57 shots'

Sorry about the 12-24 lens I can only judge by the many examples I have seen.
_________________
Pentax K10D & K100D. Many Tamron Adaptall SP lenses, Fujinon f4.5 400mm. A loved Lens Baby 2, Lubitel triplet +++ and many many film cameras. Mainly a Digital user.
http://roblesliephotography.blogspot.com

Athiril · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 2:41 pm Post subject:

No, I didnt make a mistake. 58 shots

lulalake · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Near Austin Texas

Hi,
I have two pano heads, the Nodal Ninja (an older version of the NN3) and a Jasper engineering Pano head (URL below)

http://www.stereoscopy.com/jasper/panorama.html

They are both the same price.

In my opinion the Jasper is ahead of the NN in build quality, the NN However beats it out in several other aspects. The NN3 also has a boatload of accessories.

Now having said that I must contradict myself a bit.

If you are going to do only single row panos, I would suggest the Jasper. It’s heavier and the circular positioning stops are better marked than the NN. If you are going to do multiple rows the NN is the way to go.

Jules
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lulalake · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Near Austin Texas

What software are you using to stitch?

Thanks

Jules
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Rob Leslie · Joined: 20 Mar 2007 Posts: 738 Location: UK Swindon

Lulalake.
I have a problem with the inconsistency here.
I know the purpose of a good pano head and know the problems one can have doing stitches. The two units you have look very good.
I have had no problem doing 6-12 image shots with tripod, ball head spirit levels and some care yet we have examples of 58 image shots done 'hand held'
If one can do 58 image panos 'hand held' is the expense of these pano heads worth it?
I find this confusing and I don't like being confused about something.
_________________
Pentax K10D & K100D. Many Tamron Adaptall SP lenses, Fujinon f4.5 400mm. A loved Lens Baby 2, Lubitel triplet +++ and many many film cameras. Mainly a Digital user.
http://roblesliephotography.blogspot.com

lulalake · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Near Austin Texas

Athiril · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 3:21 am Post subject:

lulalake · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Near Austin Texas

Yes. I've had the same types of issues handheld, even at infinity. One frame will be tilted and the software has to compensate and it doesn't always do a great job.

I think the NN5 looks a bit sturdier and may be the answer.

Cheers

Jules
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Heisenberg may have slept here.

Athiril · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 4:28 am Post subject:

lulalake · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 533 Location: Near Austin Texas