Homemade panoramic head
January 18th, 2009
After a short break move, some Ikea trips and various problems of Internet connection (thank you to our friends at Belgacom) I propose a small article on the achievement of a panoramic head for under 12 euros.
Until now I used my tripod with a head Bilora which has the advantage of offering a degree plate very useful for making panoramic photos. Note that the price of a single degree plate in Manfrotto is twice as expensive as the price of a full head Bilora!
To achieve the panos, I used to work with the 16mm fisheye mounted on the D3. The fisheye has the advantage of covering a much larger field than a conventional lens, thereby reducing the number of images required to obtain a complete picture or not.
As usual, the RAW images are imported as Capture One and then be mounted in Autopano Pro is for me one of the most powerful software in assembly for a reasonable price: 99 euros excluding VAT (same rate that Capture One).
A major advantage of Autopano Pro is perfectly manage the fisheye distortion and allow work directly on the RAW files which may be useful for more dynamic in a pano.
In some cases, the use of a tripod is not necessary, as for example a landscape far enough, the software can easily reconstruct the image by correcting the movements of the camera as in the example following
The operation is complicated greatly when photographed should be very close to the lens, even with a tripod as the following example, or the joints between the tiles at the bottom are incorrect.
We must then edit the panorama, remove points, add more, optimize, corrected again ... The operation is done in principle in 5 minutes spread over several hours and then in desperation trying to catch the blow by Photoshop tool duplication.
The only way to avoid all these hassles is to respect the entrance pupil of the objective as the rotation axis (the term node is a misnomer).
The fact of respecting the rotation around this point will help to avoid moving his views and thus avoid the problems of fitting in the editing software. (More information is available on the site of Arnaud Frich )
This is a moment I'm looking to find the perfect panoramic head, there are many solutions available on the market but always at exorbitant prices, count between 300 and 800 euros for a cylindrical head, noted that the higher the combo box is objot heavier, more expensive is the head.
In my case (Nikon D3 and 16mm Fisheye) the specification was fairly simple, no adjustment necessary rail (with a fixed focal length there is no displacement of the entrance pupil) the head must be very robust, relatively compact and have a quick, all for the lowest price possible.
So I made at Brico (DIY store supplying Belgian) to find some ideas for making the head, according to some sites about homemade panoramic head.
The brackets chair seem like a good idea, so for a total of 12 euros one starts with a bracket, mounting bracket, some screws, bolts, washers and a lock of 5mm metal.
After 20 minutes, a few holes, some adjustments to the distance of the entrance pupil, and fixing a Manfrotto quick, we obtain the following result (clickable image):
First test in my office who gives me Autopano an SMR of 2.2 (root mean square, the higher the number the more is the assembly quality) before my RMS optimization were always higher than 5.0 (between 5.0 and 10 are considers that the pano has errors).
Installation time in autopano in automatic mode, less than 5 minutes (depending on the number, image size and power of the computer) short, spend hours to assemble panoramas you're done! All thanks to some patience and 12 euros.
Ling magazine publication
I end this article on a nice release for the magazine Ling a portrait to illustrate an interview with José Veys which campaigns for biodiversity through vegetable growing old.
Interview for the site obturations.com
I also take this note to let you put online a small "questions - answers" on the blog post Merwen who regularly comments on my blog. read the interview
January 18th, 2009 at 5:48
Congratulations on this release!
Beautiful portrait, I like the setting they did not page. Effective.
Strongly that sees others (articles!)
January 18th, 2009 at 10:03
Hello,
cool you have any fish?)
you can add a photo of the whole?
you think that with a 16mm wide angle to classical it can also do this kind of pano?
+ +
Antoine
January 18th, 2009 at 10:11
Support home-made: the class
The Office: wow - CLASS, it is your office pro? or personal?
The publication class. beautiful portrait, pictures of the next page are your thought?
We will not say how this class is: p
January 18th, 2009 at 10:25
Finally, the removal is for everyone the same ... It is often met with little unexpected.
Very good idea to make yourself some hardware. When you see the price sometimes, it's scary. I always galley to make a ringflash. I must say that I am not a great handyman.
I do not use a panoramic head but if one day you begin to make a ringflash, easy to do, I'm all ears.
The photo "Skye" is really beautiful. Beautiful compo, nice colors ...
Makes you wonder why we do not pay more attention to our Earth.
Your office is rather nice. Projo practice to work?
As for the portrait, I like the frame (I do not know if the frame is original. I'm rather in love what does not always follow the rule of photography. So a good off-center framing, I j ' love.), amenities like water drops on the hat, and the development of the eyes that makes this portrait deeper.
I was wondering about your desire to make some videos. This is still relevant?
From my side, I posted a short video. There will surely be more to come. It makes me selfishly memories, but it can also share with those interested the scenes of my photo sessions, on my travels and my work.
Well, this is a first attempt, we must be indulgent with me.
http://www.vimeo.com/2814759
I take this opportunity to get some advice on my choice to purchase a new goal.
I have in my possession a 50 1.8. I would invest in another goal to make the portrait. I hesitate between 85 1.8 and the 100 f2. I have tried neither one nor the other.
I canon, two housings 400D and 40D.
Obviously my budget is limited.
Advice?
I would end by saying I am delighted to find some life on your blog and strongly the next article ...
January 18th, 2009 at 11:13
Sophie for the portrait you may well find yourself with too long a 85mm or 100mm on this kind of device. 85 is both the best a priori, its AF is very good as well.
For 50 of the portrait that you should already be enough for you in terms of focus, what's wrong for you in this stone?
ben> nice description of yourself, ca I keep in my book
... And congratulations for the publication on the portrait largely deserved!
alain
January 18th, 2009 at 24:54
Delphine: Thank you, I also like their layout and the freedom they offer to the photographer
Twan: I have the nikon 16 2.8 (equivalent to 10.5 but 24 × 36, but I've heard a lot about the sigma, which is much cheaper (both for the full frame).
Otherwise yes of course, this is achievable with any lens (even a 50mm) I use the fish simply for its ability to cover the greatest possible scope.
MickymX: What a classy comment!
the office is in my apartment and I'm working for different stuff, the photos on the next page of my own as its 
Sophie: My ringflash is done but I'm not super impressed with the record, I will continue to run some tests and I post it!
The projo recovered from a buddy I used to just have a bigger screen than the PC (and accesoirement to finish call of duty).
Videos for the purpose has always been to provide additional information to the picture, if I really immersed in the video it's going to cost me a bone and hours of discovery
I'll check out your video has 
For your purpose I want to say "keep the 50 mm" the 85mm is just a 35mm frame 50 which further, now if you feel too close to the 85 to 50 mm is perfect, everything depends on the distance which you photograph.
Alain: Thanks!
January 18th, 2009 at 2:10
Thank you for the picture! it makes me think that since most of my current system I have one already on the case L, ca will be even easier for me to make something like yours ... (I dunno if you know what I want say)
(I'll lurker on the side ties / rails compliant arcaswiss on ebay)
January 18th, 2009 at 3:58
Very nice and thank you for publishing this little practical advice for DIY
!
January 18th, 2009 at 9:10
Very interesting article!
January 18th, 2009 at 10:29
A while since I read your blog, nice to see a Belgian photographer who has substantially the same course as me, the same field of choice for the photo, etc. etc..
Just a word of encouragement, then, and I know that the issue had been "raised" at some point in the comments, but if you need an assistant to the opportunity it would be pleased
January 19th, 2009 at 1:44
saw the pano head, especially in fixed focus it would be a shame to miss
and congratulations for your publications
January 19th, 2009 at 10:54
Hi Ben,
Congratulations for this interview and this publication.
Not a bad idea pano head. A good trick to try and cheap (even in Switzerland ...)
Thank you again for all the advice to the son of your pages ...
January 19th, 2009 at 7:20
Superb and beautiful desktop publishing
Personal good, the pano to fish ca I find a little too round or so should not be abused.
I have to put a tutorial for wordpress because I have a little trick that works pretty good for making a head.
In fact, it would not merwen the designer of the plug-in gallery? if I asked nicely, you believe that ... :)
We wait your project with DJ
A +
January 19th, 2009 at 7:22
Oh and your new header is right in your hair color
January 19th, 2009 at 7:41
Bravo for the portrait in the rain ...!
I'll wait for the installation ... the last time I followed you, I bought a light box and my apartment is beginning to resemble a studio ... :)
Congratulations anyway.
January 20th, 2009 at 4:27
Hi Ben,
You've restored want to do the Pano. Personally I did Photostich delivered with blackjack with Canon or Photoshop CS3. So I will look into Autopano!
By the way thank you for your link to our ITW
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:05
Ben,
it's nice to see a photographer of your caliber to be in widescreen, which I donut in a few years now.
Good choice of 16mm fisheye for work not requiring rapid shoot, the Nikon 10.5 is also a very good optical quality, and even better.
Congratulations pr adver
Panographiquement
January 27th, 2009 at 24:38
Hi Ben,
Very good idea that little head.
Concerning your panos, advice you to do this kind of images with a fisheye, or it does not matter?
Basically, you think he can do the same kind of image with a 30mm by assembling more shots?
I guess most are assembled images is more complicated to the assembled, but is this possible?
Anyway thank you for this little trick, I think to try that as soon as possible
See you soon
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:06
Thank you for having shared your experience!
Excellent post as usual!
Good week to you.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:21
Bonus question: how you do the fitting vertical portion-box? It is not clear, you would have pictures of almost +?
February 13th, 2009 at 1:55
Great idea (and cheaper) that support pan!
Bravo!
April 6th, 2009 at 10:42
a friend has ordered five nodal ninja is on as you are better prices
June 14th, 2010 at 12:58
hello,
can you tell me what ball you are using?
I ordered a Bilora, and it is not rotating 360 °
and bravo for boards
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:16
nice work
but how to attach the nut on the platinum thread manfrotto seems to be special? American?
or it must change the whole alive?
Wed!
June 24th, 2010 at 10:05
The platinum manfrotto has a center hole you slide a screw and a bolt and it's good
September 16th, 2010 at 4:19
Hi Benjamin,
Good job to both the patella, the publication and everything else ...
I leaned on a spherical assembly similar because they are commercially available are expensive. I meet one uncertainty: distance from the entrance pupil. As I have a Nikon 16mm and you've done this for mounting stones, I was wondering if you wanted to communicate it to me.
FYI, the assembly shows you, I intend to add a pivot in the vertical axis to extend the ...
Thank you!