Help for shoting Nadir -second generation

Translated from French

A new spherical panorama head

This new head is an evolution from a former model that was conceived for the Nikon Coolpix 990 and then adapted to the Canon 300D Rebel/ Sigma 8 mm.

The rotation around the vertical axis is now done with the help of the Slim Rotator wich is compact and accurate.

As the external diameter is only 22 mm the obstruction in the Nadir region is dramatically reduced.

SG new head, Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 8 mm and new improved LASER holder.

The panorama head is shown here in the normal position; the entrance pupil (No parallax point) is locaed on the rotation vertical axis. But the camera is pointed downward as to shot Nadir. This shot shall actually done after next step when the head shall be flipped over.

The head was flipped over and the camera is pointed to the Nadir: the tripod and the camera have been translated sideways from the position where all the other shots were taken.

The LASER pointer is aiming to the floor spot (Nadir) that was just below the tripod center before translation.

The center column is checked to be vertical in all cases by means of a spirit level.

Two opposite views are recommended to be shot. Thanks to PRGui 5 these two images can be inserted with the set of others images allowing a complete spherical image without any tripod or panohead obstruction at all and without Photoshop retouching! This process is described here in detailed steps.

Double LASER (aka Super Philopod)

Preamble:

This is an upgrade from a former version with a single pointer. For the shooting of Nadir with a tripod as shown above, this sophisticated means (with two LASER pointers) is not mandatory. The principal use of the double LASER is when shooting Nadir while hand holding the camera or alternatively when the camera is mounted on a tripod but not on a level and uniform terrain.

Principle:

The two pointers can be adjusted separatly to point at any direction. The concept is self-explained on a larger image.

The previous other shots were done and the Nadir was aimed in order to get the tow LASER spots confused into only one dot on the ground.

Away from the tripod the pointer duo is pointed again toward the same point on the ground and simultaneously the lens is pointed vertically (spirit buble level) downward to the Nadir.

The distance to the ground is set such as the two dots are again confused in one single spot.