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	Frequently Asked Questions on NN3 For FAQ’s on NN5 click here NOTE: As we add questions from customers the below numbers may change.

Q. Are there any reviews on the new NN3 unit? A. We have some early reviews: In-depth review by Rosauro Ona. Reviews posted in the PanoGuide.com forum. Eric Rougier - Making a Smaller Hole in the Nadir Josh Korwin of XYZ Computing Thierry Rebours - (French) Cameraportal - (Dutch) Pixelmania - (Dutch) Q. Will the lower rail setting change with my camera when I use a different lens? A. No - the lower rail setting remains constant (example the D200 is always 53mm, 5D is always 48mm). The only settings that changes is the upper rail setting. This setting is dependent upon the focal length of the lens. We give advice on how to find the entrance pupil (aka nodal point) for a lens in the manual. Q. How can I find the settings for my camera? A. As folks share with us their findings we will try to post them here. Q. Do I need a level on the cameras shoe? A. No you don’t. You really only need one level - the one with NN3. Using multiple levels can be very complex and difficult. Q. Hey - what happened to the cases you were selling? A. They are back by popular demand. You can order them here. Q. How do I know if my lens will work on NN3? A. It’s best to simply measure it. You will get full tilt up on wide angle zoom lenses that measure 105mm (4 1/8 inches) or less from the “nodal point” of the focal length used to the camera mounting threads. With the use of the N3T20 T-Adapter you will get an “additional” 40mm (1 1/2 inches) of length however this may limit the ability to get a full 90 degree rotation up. These measurements are taken off the upper rail of NN3. Also some larger fisheye lenses like the FC-E9 will not fit. RE: NN3 is it okay to apply a bit of grease to the detent plates for smoother rotation? Hmm, don't use grease UNLESS you DON'T want to change the detent plates, the grease could get everywhere! If you do use grease ONLY use a very minimal amount. The detents will run smoother upon use. We enclose extra detent plunger pins with every NN3 should these pics eventually wear in time. Replacement of the detent plunger pin is very easy. Locate the hex screw under the horizontal turntable, use the enclosed hexagon key to unscrew it and replace the plunger. Be careful not to loose the detent plunger spring when replacing the pin. Q. Can I use a Canon 10-22mm Lens? A. Yes but this lens will only allow for partial rotation up (about 45 degrees). We did find this lens gets full rotation up if mounted on the Digital Rebel at the 10mm focal length. To shoot the zenith with this lens you will either need to move the camera/lens forward on the upper rail about 1 inch to get full rotation or simply shoot it manually. You could also shoot two rows - one row at 30 degree tilt down and one row with 30 degree tilt up to catch the zenith. Q. Are the click stops positive and repeatable with good precision? A. The click stop tension can be tightened to the desired strength giving you good precision. Simple use the tightening screw on the underside of the lower rotator. This screw tightens a little internal spring causing more tension to the ball that drops into the detent plate. Do this in concert with properly adjusting the tension on the rotator base (see FAQ #2) as well. Both these adjustments together allow for greater customization. Q. I noticed some leveling issues and a slight wobble at the rotator base in my Nodal Ninja, and my lower rotator knob sometimes unscrews, is this normal? A. No - this is not normal. You may simply need to tighten the rotator base. There is a wrong way and right way. Once properly tightened the unit should be both secure and should not unscrew (although we always recommend turning it in a clockwise manner) here is the procedure: a) Loosen the knob with "Nodal Ninja 3" marking, next loosen the inner lock screw on the knob. Once the knob is loosened, the silver lock screw is easy to loosen. You can loosen the screw with your finger. b) Tighten knob until you achieve the desired rotation tension or friction. You can note the amount of friction by holding the base rotator and turning the lower arm around in a "clockwise manner", as this prevents unscrewing of the base unit until locked with inner lock screw. It doesn't take much tightening at all. c) After the larger NN3 knob is tightened, tighten the inner (silver) lock screw with a screw driver or coin). This "locks" the tension of the rotator knob and it should not unscrew. You might have to do this a couple times to get the proper feel. Double check the tension against the click stop feel and readjust as needed. If the unit still has a tendency to unscrew try placing an extra Teflon washer (included with each NN) under the rotator knob (with Nodal Ninja markings) and repeat above steps. Proper tightening should enable the user to find a friction point that you feel comfortable with. This is actually a customizable option. Q. Can you adjust the tension of the click stops. A. Yes - on the underside on the rotator base you’ll see a little set screw. Use a small standard screwdriver and turn clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen. NN3 uses a hex screw (hex tool included with each unit). Q. I am using the Nikon D80 and apparently this camera has very shallow threads. I cannot mount the camera securely, how can I get around this? A. We have a work around for folks using the Nikon D80 (and some Nikon D40’s) or other camera with shallow threads. Take a couple of the enclosed washers in your package and place them under the square washer before mounting your camera (see image). This should work for you. Q. How quickly can the unit be set up? A. Under 30 seconds. NN3 comes pre-assembled and you only need to attach the upper assembly to the lower assembly then mount on your tripod. Q. Can I use a flash? It is not recommended you use a flash when taking panoramas. Not only does this pose exposure problems between images but creates added “torque” on the upper rail assembly which may cause a slight tilt on the horizontal axis. Q. What size thread mount screw does the Nodal Ninja use? A. NN3 uses a 3/8” to 1/4” adapter so will mount on virtually any tripod head. Q. Is there a scale (of degrees) that allows you to know how much you're tilting up/down? I see a scale but does that translate into degrees? A.Yes there are demarcations (little lines) in 5 degree increments. Q. Do you have a list of cameras and lens with their respective nodal point settings to make it easy for your customers to find the nodal point without having to dick around hunting for it? A.This list would be miles long with hundreds of camera/lenses variables. Some have attempted such a feat but then you have to ask about the reliability of the data. Plus any change in lens focal length would change the nodal point. We encourage folks to learn finding the nodal point yourself. Once you learn this it really is very easy and quick to find the nodal point of any lenses at virtually any focal length. Just do a Goggle search for “finding the nodal point of a lens”. Q. How stable is this unit in the wind (assuming a good rigid tripod)? A. Just as stable as any other rig. NN being made of metal assures a sturdy configuration. A good sturdy tripod is essential in windy environments. Some tripods have hooks under the neck to allow you to attach backpacks or other items of weight to add to the stability. Q. How much does it sag with a heavy camera/lens combo? A. No sag assuming you tighten the knobs appropriately and don’t put sand bags on the camera. Looks like the NN3 can handle up to about 4 lbs Q. Is there room to change the battery without removing the camera from the mount? A. yes - on almost all cameras. Some prosumer cameras needing the off-axis camera bracket may not. Q. Can I use my telephoto lens? A. NN3 will accommodate many telephoto lens. The lens must not be larger in diameter than the base of the camera when mounted. You can only use telephoto lens mounting in landscape mode using either N3T20 or N3T30 T-adapter. We have found lenses beyond about 300mm in length not recommended due to weight factors. You need to keep things at about 4lbs or less. Q. If I have to remove the camera to change the battery how big of a deal is that? A. The camera comes off VERY easily with only one mount screw. Q. I'm not 100% clear on how many of the white Teflon washers should be used. A. Just keep all Teflon washers where they were originally placed – like on the rotators, knurled knobs and the wing nut. The Knurled knob that secures the vertical arm to the lower rail uses two of these Teflon washers. Q. I live in Canada. Do you know if I should expect to pay in added fees like VAT? A. Good question - I’m really not sure. We haven’t heard of any complaints on added VAT. I can say we ship items via USPS Global Priority to Canada as a “commercial sample” . Maybe call your local post to inquire. As we have a reseller in Canada I would also encourgae you to contact them direct - click here Q. How can I lessen the footprint in my pano? A. Here is a great tutorial by Eric Rougier using the Nikon D70 + Nikon 10.5mm on NN3 - click here. Q. Can I mount a Flash while using NN3 on my camera. A. It’s not recommended because the added weight, and positioning of the weight could cause “torque” on the upper rail possibly causing a tilt to the vertical rail. Q. Do you a sample setups and users manual online for the older versions of Nodal Ninja? A. Yes - look near the bottom of the user manual page. Q. Is it possible to tighten the rotator base enough so that it will not rotate at all? This would be for the case of creating horizontal pole panoramas, where the poll would be rotated instead of the bracket. A. You could tighten the rotator base enough to make it a great effort to rotate. While you can't lock it in I'm sure you can tighten it enough to serve your purpose. We have other using NN3 for pole photography. Q. I noticed the detent ring sometimes sticks and if difficult to take out, any thoughts? A. A very few NN3’s have been known to have this issue. To change the detent ring, first loosen the center screw then the plate is easy to change. After installing the new detent ring retighten the screw. Q. What ring should I use for my 18mm on a Canon DSLR? A. Canon DSLR’s (like the Rebel and 30D) have a focal length multiplier of x1.6, Nikon’s are x1.5. So your 18mm is actually 28.8mm (18x1.6). At the 28mm focal length with approx. 20-30% overlap between images ideally you would take 10-16 shots around or one shot approx. every 36 degrees.

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