marcr1230
Well-known
I was experimenting this afternoon with panoramic photos thru stitching
one key finding - you need to level your panning plane
on my tripod - I have an acratech ball head
basically there is a base level mounted on the tripod that pans or rotates
and on that there is a ball head.
to get a good panorama - you need to level the panning plane, and then ball head (camera mount) parallel to the panning plane
ball head has a built in bubble level - but the panning plane no
so a bit of trial and error - also, you can't access a flat surface on the panning plane since it is bonded to the ball head...
best solution - trial and error with an iPhone laying on top of the camera mounting plate - using the iPhone's level app (Compass) and rotating 90 degrees...
the panorama came out fine
stitching done in Affinity Photo
one key finding - you need to level your panning plane
on my tripod - I have an acratech ball head
basically there is a base level mounted on the tripod that pans or rotates
and on that there is a ball head.
to get a good panorama - you need to level the panning plane, and then ball head (camera mount) parallel to the panning plane
ball head has a built in bubble level - but the panning plane no
so a bit of trial and error - also, you can't access a flat surface on the panning plane since it is bonded to the ball head...
best solution - trial and error with an iPhone laying on top of the camera mounting plate - using the iPhone's level app (Compass) and rotating 90 degrees...
the panorama came out fine
stitching done in Affinity Photo
shawn
Veteran
If you can swap out the clamp on your ball head with a panoramic clamp. It makes it *much* easier to level everything as you just need to level the clamp with the ball head itself. Something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panoramic-head-fluid-panning-clamp-w-dovetail-RRS-SunwayfotoKirk-Arca-ball-head-/261540741701?hash=item3ce50b0245:g:QMcAAOSwq5lTql4u
Shawn
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Panoramic-head-fluid-panning-clamp-w-dovetail-RRS-SunwayfotoKirk-Arca-ball-head-/261540741701?hash=item3ce50b0245:g:QMcAAOSwq5lTql4u
Shawn
marcr1230
Well-known
not bad - the price is right, with this you need to level using the tripod legs , right?
it would be nice if you had one with something (a ball?) underneath the head, but where you could adjust the horizon and vertical separately so the panning plane can be leveled without adjusting the legs and without the infinte ability to unlevel everything via a free moving ball
Amedeo ?
it would be nice if you had one with something (a ball?) underneath the head, but where you could adjust the horizon and vertical separately so the panning plane can be leveled without adjusting the legs and without the infinte ability to unlevel everything via a free moving ball
Amedeo ?
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I use an Acratech most of the time. I use a tripod that has a bubble on it, separate from the head. I level the tripod to that bubble, by shortening one or two legs. Then I can just level the camera once, and it will stay level all the way around. This does call for a second bubble on the camera, in the accessory shoe, or just placed on the camera.
shawn
Veteran
With that as your clamp you level with the ball head, not the legs. The pivot for panorama is built into the clamp.
Shawn
Shawn
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
With what as your clamp? And what clamp? If I were to level with the ball, without the column under the ball being vertical, the camera won't stay level when panning.
Could you be thinking of a different head? I have the Acratech Ultimate.
shawn
Veteran
"With what as your clamp?"
That clamp I linked to above for marcr1230. My response was to his question about needing to level with the tripod legs. You only need to do that if you are using the panning on the base of the ball head. That takes time to setup.
If you have a panning clamp (like what I linked to above) you do not need to level a tripod at the legs. You use the ball head itself to level the camera and then rotate the camera at the clamp. The camera stays level all the way around. It is a *much* easier way to setup and rotate for panoramas.
As long as the clamp is replaceable on your ballhead, or you use a panning clamp with an arca base in your existing clamp, you can make shooting panoramas a lot easier this way.
Shawn
That clamp I linked to above for marcr1230. My response was to his question about needing to level with the tripod legs. You only need to do that if you are using the panning on the base of the ball head. That takes time to setup.
If you have a panning clamp (like what I linked to above) you do not need to level a tripod at the legs. You use the ball head itself to level the camera and then rotate the camera at the clamp. The camera stays level all the way around. It is a *much* easier way to setup and rotate for panoramas.
As long as the clamp is replaceable on your ballhead, or you use a panning clamp with an arca base in your existing clamp, you can make shooting panoramas a lot easier this way.
Shawn
Attachments
marcr1230
Well-known
so I'd have to take the clamp (mounting plate) off my current ball head, and attach this so the panning plane sits on the top of the ball head ?
shawn
Veteran
That, or you get a panning clamp/plate that has an arca base built into it. In that case you clamp the panning clamp/plate into your existing ballhead clamp and then rotate on that.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360-Tripod-Quick-Release-Clamp-Plate-Panoramic-Head-Panning-Base-US-STOCK-8F3R-/171970247618?hash=item280a39bbc2:g:JSEAAOSwMmBV5U3A
That is what I was originally planning on doing but then I had another piece of hardware to bring with me. Easier to just swap out the clamp for the panning clamp and be done with it. The panning clamp has a lock so it won't rotate.
Shawn
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360-Tripod-Quick-Release-Clamp-Plate-Panoramic-Head-Panning-Base-US-STOCK-8F3R-/171970247618?hash=item280a39bbc2:g:JSEAAOSwMmBV5U3A
That is what I was originally planning on doing but then I had another piece of hardware to bring with me. Easier to just swap out the clamp for the panning clamp and be done with it. The panning clamp has a lock so it won't rotate.
Shawn
plummerl
Well-known
This is the same panoramic head that I have, from two years ago. The price then was a bit higher. It's a very well made piece of hardware. You can either use it with the supplied plate or detach the plate and use it without.
marcr1230
Well-known
I ordered this one - a little more expensive, but I got free next day delivery instead of waiting up to 2 weeks - I'm guessing they are all either the same or very similar
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5F6S20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5F6S20
plummerl
Well-known
Exactly the same, the only difference is that the one off EBAY (the one I have) is delivered with a camera plate, with markings.
marcr1230
Well-known
interestingly - I just was browsing the website of my tripod ball-head (acratech)
and they say it "Works like it has a built in leveling base for single row panoramics"
so I called them - and apparently you can remove the clamp, and invert the whole thing, so the ball head attaches to the tripod and the panning plane is on top, then attach the clamp
so - I cancelled my order as apparently I have what I need
and they say it "Works like it has a built in leveling base for single row panoramics"
so I called them - and apparently you can remove the clamp, and invert the whole thing, so the ball head attaches to the tripod and the panning plane is on top, then attach the clamp
so - I cancelled my order as apparently I have what I need
ColSebastianMoran
( IRL Richard Karash )
Reminds me of first reading Ansel Adams. He starts with setting up the tripod, one leg pointed away from you towards scene, then level the tripod. And goes on from there.
I still try to level my tripod, always helps. Then mount the camera and swing through the whole range to check for level.
I still try to level my tripod, always helps. Then mount the camera and swing through the whole range to check for level.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
As a cheap solution to this issue I bought some small bubble levels and super-glued them to the tripod yoke, basically as near as possible to the top of each leg. I adjust each leg until all three levels are "bullseye" centred, then I can level the ball head.
On uneven terrain it's not dead accurate without a fair degree of fiddling, but it works pretty well.
On uneven terrain it's not dead accurate without a fair degree of fiddling, but it works pretty well.
Dwig
Well-known
I often use a ball head which can be mounted "upside down". The male screw can be removed and inserted into the female thread at the bottom resulting in the rotation section being above the ball section. That way I can use the ball to level the rotation axis.
Alternately, you can get simple rotation platforms to mount on top of your current head like this one:
https://www.manfrotto.com/products/...head-accessories/basic-panoramic-head-adapter
Alternately, you can get simple rotation platforms to mount on top of your current head like this one:
https://www.manfrotto.com/products/...head-accessories/basic-panoramic-head-adapter
