Shawn Wallwork
Posts: 7
Location: Placitas, United States
Registered: 7 Mar 2013
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Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 7 Mar 2013 at 22:20 GMT
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Hi All, great info on these forums, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I'm gearing up to start making immersive panoramas and have read quite a bit about the pano-head choices available. I've also read many past suggestions from members. [Unfortunately most (all?) of those threads are 'closed' so I can't ask if the posters still have the same opinion as they did in say 2004 (Smooth?)]
BG: I have an Olympus E-620 with a standard 14-22 Zuiko. I also have an assortment of other legacy Zeiss lenses left over from my film days.
I'm looking to create high-quality immersive panoramas, of both landscape (still) images and live events.
Question: What pano-heads should be my top three choices? Or what's your current favorite?
Thanks,
--Shawn
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No One
Posts: 536
Location: Sri Lanka
Registered: 14 May 2004
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 7 Mar 2013 at 23:07 GMT
updated: 7 Mar 2013 at 23:08 GMT
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It really pretty simple today, at least for the main stream. It's either Nodal Ninja gear or 360 Precision. While there are many other smaller players, none are as prominent in the general community. Sunway Foto is a third one (look on eBay) you might consider, looks like very good stuff, just never actually held one in my hands.
All of those are manual heads, if you have the budget and want to auto shoot panos look to Seitz and Claus Rodan (sp?)
Don't think you could go wrong with any of the noted vendors. Good Luck.
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Smooth
Posts: 4012
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 8 Mar 2013 at 4:09 GMT
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Shawn Wallwork said: so I can't ask if the posters still have the same opinion as they did in say 2004 (Smooth?)]
My advise in 2004 would have been Agnos (Italy) and their products still hold up to this day. That said, Nodal Ninja is the front runner with manual panohead today and I use plenty of their products.
I avoid certain brands for good reason. But don't worry about what I don't use, instead take the current recommendation on board. Nodal Ninja is you best option.
Regards, Smooth 
www.omnipix.com.au
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Shawn Wallwork
Posts: 7
Location: Placitas, United States
Registered: 7 Mar 2013
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 8 Mar 2013 at 4:42 GMT
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Thanks, that helps narrow it down quite a bit. Now I just have to figure out whether it's worth jumping up to the Ultimate M Series. It sounds like the lower end models aren't as firm/stable and can create more stitching problems than they're worth. Thoughts?
Cheers,
--Shawn
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Shawn Wallwork
Posts: 7
Location: Placitas, United States
Registered: 7 Mar 2013
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 8 Mar 2013 at 4:43 GMT
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Thanks for the reply. Glad to for the confirmation that I'm looking in the right direction with Nodal Ninja. (See my note to Smooth.)
Cheers,
--Shawn
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Smooth
Posts: 4012
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 8 Mar 2013 at 6:59 GMT
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All Nodal Ninja models are stable enough. But there is no doubting that the M1 is far superior. Buy whatever you can afford and justify.
If you are unsure, before you make a specific model purchase ask and somebody will offer you advise.
Regards, Smooth
www.omnipix.com.au
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Shawn Wallwork
Posts: 7
Location: Placitas, United States
Registered: 7 Mar 2013
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 8 Mar 2013 at 17:23 GMT
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After reading features, reviews, etc. I went with:
Nodal Ninja 4 with RD16-II rotator
The Nadar offset &
EZ Leveler II
Seem to offer the best cost/features I could justify. 
I'll let you know how it all turns out. Thanks again for the suggestions.
--Shawn
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Smooth
Posts: 4012
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Hugh
Posts: 14
Location: Towcester, United Kingdom
Registered: 24 Aug 2012
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Shawn Wallwork
Posts: 7
Location: Placitas, United States
Registered: 7 Mar 2013
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Re: Gearing Up. Current advice please.
Posted: 8 Mar 2013 at 21:12 GMT
updated: 8 Mar 2013 at 21:34 GMT
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Thanks for the links Jim. You're making this all way too easy! 
Question: Are there any more panos in your Great Loves series? That McCormick tractor shot is exceptional. The tones are great.
--Shawn
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