Homemade panoramic head
January 18th, 2009
After a short break removal, some Ikea trips and various internet connection problems (thank you to our friends at Belgacom) I propose a small article on the achievement of a panoramic head for less than 12 euros.
Until now I used my tripod with a head Bilora which has the advantage of proposing a graduated set very useful for the realization of panoramic photos. Note that the price of a single plate graduated from 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 an area much larger than a normal lens, thereby reducing the number of images required to obtain a complete picture or not.
As usual, the images are imported as RAW 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 price that Capture One).
A major advantage of Autopano Pro is perfect for managing the fisheye distortion and allow the 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, such as a landscape far enough, the software can easily reconstruct the image by correcting the movement of the camera as in the example following
The operation is complicated greatly when photographed should be very close to the goal, even with a tripod as the following example, or the joints between the tiles at the bottom are incorrect.
Must then edit the picture, delete items, add more, optimize, corrected again ... The operation is normally spread over 5 minutes in a few hours and then in desperation trying to make up for ad Photoshop with the clone tool.
The only way to avoid all these hassles is to meet the entrance pupil of the objective as the axis of rotation (the term node is a misnomer).
The fact comply with 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 )
It's been a while since I try to find the perfect panoramic head, there are many solutions available on the market but always at exorbitant prices, you can count between 300 and 800 euros for a cylindrical head, noted that the higher the combo box is objot heavier, the head is expensive.
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 went to see Brico (DIY store supplying Belgian) to find some ideas for making the head, according to some sites about homemade panoramic head.
The seat brackets seem to be a good idea, so for a total of 12 euros one starts with a square, a fixation, a few screws, bolts, washers and a lock of 5mm metal.
After 20 minutes, a few holes, some adjustments to the distance from the entrance pupil and the setting of a Manfrotto quick, we obtain the following result (image map):
First test of my office in Autopano gives me an RMS of 2.2 (root mean square, the higher the number the more the joint is quality) before my RMS value remained 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 climbing panoramas you're done! All thanks to some patience and 12 euros.
Publication Ling magazine
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 know the posting of 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 putting only page they did. Effective.
Strongly one sees others (articles!)
January 18th, 2009 at 10:03
Hi,
cool how you fish?)
you can add a picture of the whole?
you think that with a conventional wide-angle 16mm it can also do this kind of pano?
+ +
Antoine
January 18th, 2009 at 10:11
Support home-made: the class
The Office: wow - CLASS is your office pro? or personal?
The publication of the class. beautiful portrait, photos of the next page are your thought?
We will not say how this class: p
January 18th, 2009 at 10:25
Finally, the removal is the same for everyone ... 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 bucket.
The photo "Skye" is really beautiful. Beautiful compo, beautiful colors ...
A wonder why we do not pay more attention to our Earth.
Your office is quite nice. Projo practice to work?
As for the portrait, I like the frame (I do not know if the frame is original. I tend to like the kind that does not always follow the rule of photography. So a good off-center framing, I j ' love it.), things like drops of water on the cap, and the development of the eyes that makes this portrait deeper.
I was wondering about your desire to make some videos. This is it still relevant?
For my part, 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 behind the scenes of my photo sessions on my travels and my work.
Well, it's 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 buy 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 am a gun, two boxes 400D and 40D.
Obviously my budget is limited.
Advice?
I would end by saying that I am delighted to find some life to your blog quickly and 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 type of device. 85 is both the best a priori, its AF is very good too.
For 50 of the portrait that you should already be enough for you in terms of length, what's wrong for you in the stones?
ben> nice description of yourself, I keep this in my good books
... And congratulations for the publication on the portrait deserves!
alain
January 18th, 2009 at 24:54
Delphine: Thank you, I also like their layout and the freedom they offer to Photographer
Twan: I have the nikon 16 2.8 (equivalent but for 24 from 10.5 × 36, but I heard a lot about the sigma, which is much cheaper (both for the full frame).
Otherwise yes of course, is possible with any lens (even a 50mm) I use the fish simply for its ability to cover the largest field possible.
MickymX: What a classy comment!
the office is in my apartment and I work for different things, photos of the next page as the sound of my own 
Sophie: My ringflash is done but I'm not super impressed with the record, I'm going to do some tests and I post it!
The projo recovered from a buddy I used to just have a bigger screen than the PC (and accessories to complete call of duty).
To view the videos has always been to provide additional information to the photo, if I really immersed in the video it will cost me a bone and hours of discovery
I'll check out your video a 
For your purpose I want to say "keep the 50 mm" is just the 85mm a 35mm frame 50 which further, now if you feel too close to the 85 to 50 mm will be perfect, depending on the distance which you photograph.
Alain: Thanks!
January 18th, 2009 at 2:10
Thank you for the photo! It makes me think that since most of my current system I already have a L on the case, ca'll even easier for me to make something like yours ... (I do not know if you know what I want say)
(I'll lurker on the side ties / rails compatible arcaswiss on ebay)
January 18th, 2009 at 3:58
Very nice and thank you for publishing this little tip DIY
!
January 18th, 2009 at 9:10
Super interesting article!
January 18th, 2009 at 10:29
A while 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 quick word of encouragement, then, and I know that the issue was "raised" at some point in the comments, but if you need an assistant on the occasion would be pleased
January 19th, 2009 at 1:44
saw the head of pano, especially in fixed focus that would be a shame to deprive
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 fish in the pano I find it 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 a lot for a head.
In fact, it would not merwen designer plug-in gallery? if I ask him nicely, you believe that ...:)
It awaits your project with the 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
Congratulations for the picture ... 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 look like a studio ...:)
Well done anyway.
January 20th, 2009 at 4:27
Hi Ben,
You have restored want to do the Pano. I personally did it with Photostich gratos delivered with Canon or Photoshop CS3. So I'll 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, I who 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.
Bravo the public pr
Panographies
January 27th, 2009 at 24:38
Hi Ben,
Very good idea this little head.
Concerning your panos, advice you to do this kind of images with a fisheye, or it does not matter?
Basically, you think it is possible to do the same kind of image with a 30mm by assembling more pictures?
I guess most are assembled image is more complicated to assemble, but this is 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 sharing your experience!
Excellent post as usual!
Good week to you.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:21
Subsidiary 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) than the support pan!
Bravo!
April 6th, 2009 at 10:42
a friend has ordered Nodal Ninja 5 on it 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 is not rotatable 360 °
and bravo for boards
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:16
nice job
but how to attach the nut on the plate and screw manfrotto seems to be special? Americans?
or he must change all the screws?
thank you!
June 24th, 2010 at 10:05
Manfrotto plate has a hole in the center you slip a screw and a bolt and it's good
September 16th, 2010 at 4:19
Hi Benjamin,
Great job to both the patella, the publication and everything else ...
I leaned on a similar installation as the ball found in stores are expensive. I meet one uncertainty: distance from the entrance pupil. As I have a Nikon 16mm and do you have a mount for the stones, I was wondering if you wanted me to communicate well.
FYI, the assembly that you show us, I intend to add a pivot in the vertical axis to extend the ...
Thank you!