Segmented Panoramas with MF Rangefinder Cameras?

[TimVermont]

I would like to make segmented panoramas with either my Fuji GSW690 or G645W. Does anyone have practical experience with heads like the Nodal Ninja? What other solutions are out there? I’m looking for something small enough to travel with. Thanks!

 

[Pinholemaster]

Really Right Stuff makes wonderful panoramic heads and rails for any camera.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/pano/index.html

You won't be able to visually center the camera on its nodal point, but you can get close with testing.

 

[Jim Noel]

I would use the 6x9 simply because it is wider to begin with.
As for mounting under the nodal point, it is possible to test for it and then make, or have made, an adapter to move the tripod hole under the correct point of the camera. The adapter might be as simple as a piece of sturdy aluminum with two holes in it - one for the original tripod mount and one for the new one.

 

[max_ebb]

I've been pretty successful doing 3 frame segmented panoramas just by eyeballing it, leaving some over lap, and then cropping to get the prints to match up perfectly (or near perfectly).

 

[TimVermont]

Thanks everyone!

Jim,
That does seem like the simplest route, as I already have a pan base. The 645 is so compact though....

I plan to tape a ground glass across the film rails, set the lens at infinity and use the image of two poles to try to find the nodal point. Any reason this won't work? Of course I could just email Fuji.....

 

[Helen B]

The correct point of rotation for this type of panorama is the entrance pupil, not one of the nodal points. It is fairly easy to estimate the position of the entrance pupil: stop the lens down enough so that you can see the iris, then estimate where the iris appears to be (not where it actually is) when you look into the front of the lens. I find that it helps to put my finger on the lens barrel and move it into the plane of the entrance pupil.

If you do get data for the lens, use the location of the entrance pupil, not of the front (first) nodal point.

Best,
Helen

 

[toyotadesigner]

Any reason this won't work? Of course I could just email Fuji.....

It works, I've calibrated my panohead with this method.

But forget Fuji - no information from them, no data sheets, nothing. The tech support for Europe told me that even if they send a request to Japan they don't get any reply or information for 'old' cameras.

If you use a Manfrotto pano head I can send you the data.

 

[luvcameras]

See my Fuji 6x9 Rangefinder page...you can make ~27mm x 82mm panoramic images ( 3:1 ratio ), just by cropping down a Fuji GSW690 image. Thats a larger negative the XPAN produces. Or crop down to a 33mm x 83mm for a 2.5:1 ratio....

See
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/fuji670.htm

Dan

 

[sanking]

What is the prctical advantage of centering the nodal point over the axis of rotation?

I have made a number of stitched panoramas with my Fuji GW690III just by leveling the tripod and the ball head, and then rotating by degrees to a fixed point. They came together almost perfectly in stitching so I am just trying to understand what I could gain by adjusting the nodal point?

Sandy King