Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 23 Mar 2008 at 14:06 GMT
updated: 24 Mar 2008 at 18:48 GMT
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As a continual effort to provide quality pano head to the community, Fanotec has updated its popular Nodal Ninja 3, making it even better value for money.
The new Nodal Ninja 3 MKII has improved lower rotator over its predecessor.
Improvements include:
* New tension knob without inner lock screw, tension is easily adjusted by simply tightening the knob. Bearing is incorporated in the knob for smooth rotation.
* New precision click ball replaces detent pin. This allows for a more positive feel and increased wear life.
* New precision CNC machined detent rings for better precision.
* Improved detent ring retention mechanism for easy change of detent ring.
* New rubberized metal knurled knobs. This not only allows for a better gripping but also creates a better feel and enhanced look.
More info can be found at www.nodalninja.com
Nick Fan
Founder of Fanotec
Designer and Manufacturer of Nodal Ninjas
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Shantic
Posts: 274
Location: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Mexico
Registered: 12 Apr 2005
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 23 Mar 2008 at 18:23 GMT
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NICE!! will you have an "upgrade" option for older NN3 ? (maybe just the parts that need replacing ?)
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mhc1
Posts: 159
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Registered: 29 Dec 2005
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 23 Mar 2008 at 21:51 GMT
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Great Nick,
how to obtain this Upgrade ??
BTW: is there a longer vertical arm also possible ??
Ciao
Mike
www.360de.de
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 24 Mar 2008 at 13:40 GMT
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I have done some tests. The new rotator works quite well for the old detent rings. We will offer the new rotator for NN3 users later. The price is $40. Also, if you are able to do some drilling and tapping (M4), I can send you the parts to modify your NN3 lower rail to accommodate the new detent rings.
Furthermore, we will soon release 4 advanced rotators for use with NNs.
One is with 4,6,8,10 stops which can be selected on the fly. It will be sold for $99.95. Quality similar to NN5 default rotator.
3 other rotators will have superior quality, machined from imported premium quality aluminum alloy. one has 6,8,10 stops which can be selected on the fly and has a built-in much improved leveling base. The other 2 are like Manfrotto 300N with simplified design, improved precision and less weight. One has 8 selectable detent settings. The other has 12 settings! Pricing will be announced later.
nick
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 24 Mar 2008 at 13:45 GMT
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mhc1 said: BTW: is there a longer vertical arm also possible ??
Hi Mike,
I am sorry that I have no plan to make a longer vertical arm. Longer arm only makes NN3 less stable.
nick
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gus
Posts: 373
Location: United Kingdom
Registered: 19 Jun 2007
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 24 Mar 2008 at 14:48 GMT
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Nick Fan said: We will offer the new rotator for NN3 users later. The price is $40. Also, if you are able to do some drilling and tapping (M4), I can send you the parts to modify your NN3 lower rail to accommodate the new detent rings.
nick
Hi Nick, please be sure to announce when the upgrade for the new rotator will be available to NN3 users on this forum. Are we talking days, weeks or months?
gus
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rudders
Posts: 331
Location: North Yorkshire & Northern England, United Kingdom
Registered: 21 Aug 2005
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 24 Mar 2008 at 19:08 GMT
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Looking good Nick. Let us know when we can order the upgrade.!
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 25 Mar 2008 at 3:53 GMT
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upgrade rotator will be available in mid of April.
nick
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mhc1
Posts: 159
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Registered: 29 Dec 2005
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 27 Mar 2008 at 7:43 GMT
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Nick,
yes - I used an "extentsion" (a 8cm cylinder with threads) it takes a little from the stability. But it´s mostly because the arm is no longer one piece.
Would the NN5 arm fit in any way onto the NN3 or 2 ?
ciao
mike
www.360de.de
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 27 Mar 2008 at 12:56 GMT
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mhc1 said: Would the NN5 arm fit in any way onto the NN3 or 2 ?
No, they are quite different. The longer the arm, the larger the torque and hence less stability.
nick
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Tim Eastman
Posts: 49
Location:
Registered: 15 Nov 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 21 Apr 2008 at 19:47 GMT
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Clarification on rotator upgrades:
Nick:
Could you clarify the situation regarding upgrades for NN3 owners? It seems that we can buy a new rotator that is similar to the old, but without the locking screw on top and a different type of detent plunger. Will this new arrangement obviate the need for the shim washers? Also mentioned was modifying the NN3 lower arm to accommodate the MK II rotator.
The other option sounds like a rotator more similar to the NN5, which looks to be a large improvement over the NN3 rotator. If it has detents that can be changed on the fly it would be worth the extra $ 50.00 ( ? )
All these options have me a little confused! Do I have it roughly right?
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 22 Apr 2008 at 2:41 GMT
updated: 22 Apr 2008 at 2:43 GMT
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Tim Eastman said: It seems that we can buy a new rotator that is similar to the old, but without the locking screw on top and a different type of detent plunger. Will this new arrangement obviate the need for the shim washers?
no more washer needed. I would say the biggest upgrade is the click ball detent plunger. We tried commercial ones. but they are not precise enough.
Also mentioned was modifying the NN3 lower arm to accommodate the MK II rotator.
if you want to upgrade the detent rings, you need to modify the lower rail. Drilling 2 holes and tapping 2 M4 socket. if you are able to do that. I will send you the new retention pins for free.
The other option sounds like a rotator more similar to the NN5, which looks to be a large improvement over the NN3 rotator. If it has detents that can be changed on the fly it would be worth the extra $ 50.00 ( ? )
the other options are big improvement over NN5 rotators still. At least from the manufacturing point of view, they are much more difficult to make. you can change the detent on the fly. Does this worth the extra? Only you can answer. For the 4 detent selectable rotaor, it is like you get a basic rotator plus 3 detent rings. these 3 detent rings in NN3/5 cost you extra money. so when you factor in the cost of extra detent rings, the additional cost is not much. It just reflect the cost of manufacturing and the benefit of ease of use. Oh, yeah, these optional rotators can work for other panos heads or similar device. They are standalone units with proper bearing and lubrication.
for you info, the new rotators are like the Manfrotto 300N and the Agnos MrotatorT with detents on the cylindrical surface so that one can change on the fly. We will have the samples very soon. so hold on the rotator upgrade until you see the other options. There are Pros and Con for each chioce. The defacult rotators are more compact and lighter with 1-2 detent rings.
nick
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Mark Schuster
Posts: 691
Location: Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
Registered: 25 Jan 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 22 Apr 2008 at 11:01 GMT
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Nick,
The new tension knob is no doubt welcome but wouldn't it be better if it had a 'rubber tyre' around its rim so as to reduce the risk of damage to the LCD on larger cameras should the upper arm tension knob slip and the camera swing downwards so that LCD and main tension knob come into contact?
Just a thought.
Mark
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 22 Apr 2008 at 16:13 GMT
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Mark Schuster said: Nick,
The new tension knob is no doubt welcome but wouldn't it be better if it had a 'rubber tyre' around its rim so as to reduce the risk of damage to the LCD on larger cameras should the upper arm tension knob slip and the camera swing downwards so that LCD and main tension knob come into contact?
Just a thought.
Mark
The slipping (if there is any) is very slow. It should not generate enough force to damage the LCD. The new rubber ring is an improvement over the knurled metal knob in this regard. Well, if one is careless, there are lots of other risks of damages to the gear or even himself/herself. 
nick
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Nick Fan
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 245
Location: Hong Kong
Registered: 26 May 2006
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Re: New Nodal Ninja 3 MKII
Posted: 24 Apr 2008 at 2:13 GMT
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Nick Fan said: so hold on the rotator upgrade until you see the other options. There are Pros and Con for each chioce. The defacult rotators are more compact and lighter with 1-2 detent rings.
nick
I have been thinking of the upgrade options for a bit more.
if you don't change detent ofen, it is best to get the NN3II rotator upgrade. It is inexpensive, light, small and fits the original case of NN3. The other options are more expensive, bulky and heavier and does not fit the old case of NN3/5. what is more the advanced rotators will not be available in 2-3 months.
nick
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