Bravetiger
Posts: 3
Location: United States
Registered: 9 Oct 2007
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Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 0:08 GMT
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I am searching for a pano head that will be the most versitle with our existing equipment and provide the best performance under $800 or $900. We will be doing mostly cylindrical panos to start with then moving up to spherical, with a number of Canon bodies including EOS 1d mkII and EOS 40d, with a number of lenses from wide to tele.
There are so many pano head out there my head is spinning 360 degrees, ha!! ok I'm starting to laugh at my own jokes. I am looking for something that is sturdy, fairly quick to setup and compatible with multiple lenses.
The Nodal Ninja III looks like a good entry level, for a great price. I'm not sure about the stability though.
King Pano also seems like a low priced solution, but again stability is in question.
The Bogen 303SPH looks good and its Bogen, but I've heard bad things about stability.
The 360 Precision adjuste looks like the ticket, but is out of my price rance.
Now there is the Agno's MrotatorTCP kit, which I don't know too much about other than it is favored with experienced pano shooters.
Then there is the Kaidan Quickpan professional, which I'm leaning towards, but am not sure of their customer service.
Then another favorite company being RSS (really right stuff)
There are a number of other heads including peace river and such.
After doing my research I am confused, I don't know of any places to rent these and try them.. and my budget will allow me to buy once and stick with it.
So for around $8-900 what would you folks recommend and why please? I appreciate any knowledge you can impart on this pano-newb.
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MK Panorama
Posts: 174
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Registered: 27 Jul 2004
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 4:51 GMT
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Please have a look to www.vr-head.com = e.g. the ROUNDSHOT VR-Head, you need a good solid VR head for your heavy EOS 1 D Mark II !!!
Have a nice day
Marc
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John Houghton
Posts: 3487
Location: Hitchin, United Kingdom
Registered: 17 Jan 2005
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Pete Loud
Posts: 397
Location: United Kingdom
Registered: 14 Oct 2006
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Guest
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 10:21 GMT
updated: 7 Mar 2009 at 22:25 GMT
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it would help if you could tell us a little more about what you will be using the head for - pro/amateur? - location/real estate/car interiors/landscape etc etc?? Also volume of work has a bearing on your decision - will you use it once a day/week/month??
You obviously have your reasons for setting that budget but it seems slightly odd to me that you are obviously willing to spend on the cameras but want to restrict yourself when buying the head. Suggests that either you are not going to do that much work with it or that it will be in a low paying market area.
That's not a criticism - I just don't know your circumstances and like most people I have my favourite but it might not do what you want. Personally I would say that if you think that the 360 P Adjuste does the job then why not buy it? It might "blow" your budget but I would guarantee that the savings in time (money?) etc using it would more than justify it. I have a 360 P original (now Absolute) and don't regret buying it for one moment - even though it was more than I wanted to spend at the time. I've just recently completed two jobs requiring 20-30 panos being shot in half a day in a large and complicated building complex with tricky lighting situations and the ability to accurately bracket for tonemapping and stitch with a template turned what could have been a very tedious job into a much more pleasant experience.
usual disclaimer - I'm just a satisfied user and have no other connection to 360 P
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Bravetiger
Posts: 3
Location: United States
Registered: 9 Oct 2007
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 16:23 GMT
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roundshot & John Houghton The Roundshot VR head looks great, but is out of my budget.
Pete Loud the nodal samurai looks like a good cheap solution, th use of pins seems stable but setting the camera in portrait orientation would seems like it may sag especially with a longer lens. Also with using multiple lenses looks like I would need a new arm for each lens to get the correct nodal length.
irieman Yep I guess it would have been helpful to be more explicit about what I will be shooting and why. I work for a newspaper and we are looking to shoot panos of everything from large sports venues, interiors and landscapes. Most of these panos will end up on the internet, but we would like the best quality possible for archives and the ability to zoom into the panos. We won't be recouping any money for these panos, hence the $8-900 limit... you should have seen the look on my bosses face when I told him that much  So long answer short it would be for pro use but within a budget.
To make things even more confusing for me I've been looking more at the RRS (Really Right Stuff) Omni-Pivot
www.reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/items.asp?Cc=PanoPkg...
I'm interested in that because they have a reputation for being rock solid, I am concerned about older models having no click stops, also I am concerned with no head leveling like the Manfrotto 303 or even Nodal Ninja III
The Kaidan Quickpan professional looks good but the head bubble level is extra and looks like no head leveling.
The Agnos Mrotator TCp seems to have no head level their website gives little info
The Manfrotto 303 sph seems to have everthing but I've heard bad things about stability.
Perhaps the better question is what features are most important and what features are just gimicks.
Thanks for the replies and thanks for any advice or recommendations.
Good pano-karma going out to those helping a young pano-padawan.
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DorinDXN
Posts: 2853
Location: Timisoara, Romania
Registered: 14 Nov 2006
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 16:37 GMT
updated: 10 Oct 2007 at 16:40 GMT
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Hi Bravetiger, please don't let the level thing to restrict your option.
In real world you need to have only one photo leveled as refference, or to have some vertical/horisontal references to level the pano after.
Considering this if you have only a hotshoe spirit level mounted on your camera (even under some angle) is enough. More important is what other posters said and to take advantage of each panohead offer about durability, easy to carry, easy to use so..and to choose accordingly
hope this helps,
Dorin
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eagle
Posts: 80
Location: Kona, Hawaii,
Registered: 16 Jan 2006
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 16:52 GMT
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Agree with Dorin.
I don't use the level on the pano head. I ignore it altogether.
I use a double spirit level on the camera hotshoe.
BTW, I use the Agnos head and am very happy with it.
Thanks,
eagle
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Tim Eastman
Posts: 133
Location:
Registered: 13 Nov 2006
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 17:12 GMT
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RRS makes very nice stuff, but they don't offer a rotating base with detents, in my mind a serious shortcoming. If you are going to be doing a large number of panos, the stitching program, ( and you ) will be much happier with a detent base.
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bigwade
Posts: 826
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Registered: 19 Oct 2005
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 18:09 GMT
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@Bravetiger,
Ever made a pano yet ? HQ ? full 180x360 ?
Any idea how much time it costs to understand making it.
(Hardware and Software)
Any idea how much time it costs producing it ?
Any idea if a repeatable head will help to reduce that time ?
It does ! (now the boss will be happy)
The 360PAj. is the cheapest solution, not in buying it, but afterwards in production.
A Seitz-VR+NN3 is second and automated.
No idea, but maybe you (and your boss) are looking more like a iPix solution.
Have Fun !
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Guest
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 18:16 GMT
updated: 7 Mar 2009 at 22:25 GMT
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Ahh - I see your problem. I would second what everyone else is saying re detents. Repeatability and accuracy are essential if you don't want to spend hours in the stitch/retouch phase. A quick search on ebay revealed <cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nodal-Ninja-3-Spherical-Panoramic-...
for what would be about $450 shipped - rough guess and you could then add a Manfrotto levelling base if you are worried about that. I use one and they are rock solid - but then I'm putting that 360P on top which weighs a ton - with a lighter camera you may not need it. Perhaps you should dedicate one camera as your pano producer and tailor your requirements to that one only. That way you won't have to try the one size fits all approach and can also go for the lighter (40D?) option which you will appreciate if you have to lug it all around 8>
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Smooth
Posts: 3773
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 19:06 GMT
updated: 10 Oct 2007 at 19:15 GMT
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I favour the Agnos Mrotator range.
But without knowing exactly what you are using as far as camera and lens/es it is very hard to point you to the modal best suited.
I use a Canon 5D with Battery Pack and a selection of fisheye lenses (very heavy combo) on a www.agnos.com MrotatorTCPShort tinyurl.com/3bt7uy .
It is very hard to fault. Click stops are great, it is virtually unbreakable and has many, many options available to it, including the RingT tinyurl.com/3b38bd lens grips.
The "Pro" versions are supplied with Manfrotto 323 Quick Release system.
If you plan to use longer zoom lenses you would be more suited to the MrotatorTCP tinyurl.com/3bt7uy
What I can tell you is the following:
Service is first class (barring some language issue's). Quality is first class. Delivery times were within a week to Australia from Italy. The "New" RotatorT base is awesome and a big improvement over the first release. The click stops are more definite, the lock is a really good feature, the "Zero" mark is now facing towards the operator.
Lighter camera or going light weight I do recommend the www.nodalninja.com Nodal Ninja 3. Just released also is the NEW Agnos MrotatorU tinyurl.com/2sb2x6 that would be nice if you would like click stops on both rotator and upper arm. The MrotatorU can be paired with either the RotatorT or RotatorM. Build quality of both the Nodal Ninja and MrotatorU is of a high standard.
Everybody knows that Bill from www.nodalninja.com Nodal Ninja offers first class service.
Put it this way, I have never wanted for more (except maybe an automated panohead)
Mention my name if you are ordering from either and see just how good the service is.
Regards, Smooth 
www.smooth360.info
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Pete Loud
Posts: 397
Location: United Kingdom
Registered: 14 Oct 2006
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800
Posted: 10 Oct 2007 at 19:58 GMT
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Hi Bravetiger,
Thanks for taking my posting seriously, I was being more than half serious, but I was primarily trying to say that what you require need not be in the $800 range, (and to tweak the ninja's tail
In fact I have a design for a counter-balance for the Nodal Samurai such that unbelievably heavy cameras, with long lenses can be balanced so that a small stepper motor can be used to adjust the elevation. The reality is that you are unlikely to want to use a long lens for a pano.
Even if you do use a number of different cameras I feel that if the Nodal Samurai can cope with a Canon 350D, a very heavy 6x6 and 1922 plate camera it would not be a big problem to cope with a few modern DSLR's. Even if it needed an extra arm so what? That would only cost another 50 cents.
I have to agree with a couple of the other comments. You have come into the subject from the wrong angle. First you must establish your photographic objectives, not your budget. Once you know the shots that you want to take then look for the solutions which will enable you to do that. Then decide if your budget can meet the solutions. This is where I diverge from many of the regular contributors to Panoguide. To me, many contributors seem to have commercial interests or to have friends with commercial interests. I just want the bit of kit which will do the job most cost effectively.
I hate to say it, but for you, with a company budget, I suspect the answer is that over-priced u-know-what ' '
Cheers, Pete
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Bill Bailey
[NodalNinja]
Posts: 599
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Registered: 27 Jan 2005
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800 = NN5
Posted: 11 Oct 2007 at 0:36 GMT
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Hey Bravetiger,
Many people share the same boat as you and as such Nick (inventor of Nodal Ninja) has been developing the new "Nodal Ninja 5" for some time. The pre-release of NN5 is VERY close to being released (approx. 3-4 weeks out).
I can't say much yet but other than it's like a NN3 on steroids  , bigger and longer arms making it stronger (supporting 7+kg's) and more precise. There are many upgraded features over NN3 and will very easily support larger cameras like the MK II, D2X, D3 etc. as well as DSLR's with battery packs. AND it will sell at more than half your budget. We can't say much more about it at this time but if you can keep your wallet closed until it's released I can guarantee you'll be happy. If not I'll even refund your S&H AND even pay you to ship it back.
Pete Loud said: You could try the Nodal Samurai
Gesh - Nodal "Samurai" is an obvious play on the name Nodal "Ninja". Not sure you're making many friends here. I see you even registered the co.uk. version of the name which could imply commercial intent. Even placing the keyword "Ninja" in the source coding. Kind of like an annoying bully in the park some guys like to kick up a bit sand. You say on our website "I'm a quiet guy who leads a hermit-like life" - hermits have also been known to kick up sand. But in trying to keep it fun here is a related website: www.nodalsamurai.com/
irieman said: A quick search on ebay revealed Nodal Ninja 3 for what would be about $450 shipped
The item referenced was actually from our reseller in Italy which is listed at £164.99 £11 (post fees) total = £175.99 ($359.356 USD). Prices are a bit higher in Europe as these resellers must absorb added costs to bring them to market. Customers can always do the math and buy from the website if they feel it's lesser expensive. But careful if you do some countries have been known to charge 17%+ in VAT and customs fees. Bravetiger is in the US so VAT doesn't apply (only tax if located in AZ).
Smooth said: Everybody knows that Bill from www.nodalninja.com Nodal Ninja offers first class service.
Thanks for that Smooth 
So in closing - if you can wait just 3-4 weeks you will have the opportunity to buy one of our long awaited for NN5's.
Cheers
Bill
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Bravetiger
Posts: 3
Location: United States
Registered: 9 Oct 2007
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Re: Best versatile Pano head under $800 = NN5
Posted: 11 Oct 2007 at 4:32 GMT
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Amazing Nodal Ninja V scoop! You've heard it here first.
Bigger better stronger sounds like just the ticket! However I need to get the head within a couple weeks 
I've also convinced my boss to spend the extra cash for the 360 precision adjuste!
So I've decided on either the Nodal Ninja V or the 360 Precision Adjuste, whichever one I can get first is the one I will get.... I'm lucky its not my money or I would have gotten the Nodal Ninja III perhaps with a Manfrotto rotator or the Agnos Mrotator TCP. If time were not a constraint I would get the Nodal Ninja V, on pure speculation it sounds like it will be a great head, with great customer service and being based in the states. The thing is we have time constraints and need to purchase soon.
I was about to pull the trigger on the Kaidan Quickpan Professional but later decided simpler would work out better for me and the department. The Nodal Ninja, Mrotator and 360 Precision Adjuste all look like fine products, easier to use and highly crafted.
I'm looking forward to using either the NN V or the 360 Precision. Thanks all for the advice and information!!!, it is much appreciated
Now that I have such a great head, I now have the pressure to shoot great panos. I'm sure I will be back with more questions and hopefully I will be able to contribute... My Photoshop "kung fu" is quite good and I hope to be quite good at shooting panos.... one day.
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