New Pole System From Fanotec

If you are looking to take your panoramas (and general photography) to new heights take note.
Here are some photos that give you an idea of the direction Nick at Fanotec is going with new pole designs. The poles were a big hit at the conference and brought a great deal of attention.

[flash]http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/poleFlash.swf[/flash]
The 6 meter pole being extended to its full 6 meter length. I had a D300 with Samyang lens on an R1 sitting atop the 6 meter pole. The carbon fiber construction makes it very strong and lightweight. It is very easy for one person to raise and lower this pole.

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0186_650.jpg
The 6 meter pole can be separated yielding an inner 3 meter pole. Pictured above is the inner 3 meter pole shown next to the completed 6 meter pole. Once the pole is separated there is an adapter plate which mounts to base of 3 meter pole.

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0187_650.jpg
There are also smaller poles (2.4 meter) with 4 sections. They are standalone units which can be stacked together.
Shown above 1 2.4 meter pole with 3 meter pole and 6 meter pole.

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0177_650.jpg
http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0174_650.jpg
The Camera and R1 attaches very securely to the end of the poles

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0179_650.jpg

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0178_650.jpg

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0191_650.jpg

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0192_650.jpg

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0180_650.jpg
You can easily attach one of our advanced rotators (RD8 or RD16) to the base of the pole. This will allow you to "feel" the stops as you rotate the pole.
The tripod is for display purposes only and not a product of Fanotec.

http://www.nodalninja.com/images/poles/006_0189_650.jpg
adapters for the quick release system and base cover which can be used if opting not to use rotator.

There is no pricing on the poles just yet but true to form they will be competitively priced. Hoping to have them available by late summer early fall.

Bill

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

I am also working on a 9-section pole which can go above 10m. Still doing more tests to find the best balance between weight, size and price.
The pole will be a modular design. Users can buy 3 sections at a time. So they can build a 3-section, 6-section or 9-section when their needs arise.
I will also make adapters for normal tripods to use as a base for the pole.

Nick

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Some ideas for very long poles:
- Easily removable knot established to one of sections. Knot has three places for connecting strings from top downwards to legs of tripod or another base. For tripod's legs need also quick-detachable knots with a simple tensioner of strings (similar to system of a fast lacing of sports footwear).
- For very rigid support need more techy knot, which has the bearing in a basis. Instead of ropes uses additional sections for support by assistants of the photographer. If assistants is not available, need detachable thorns and ribbon bases for connecting to supporting poles.
- On each section to fix a velcro-ring, for cables (remote, zig-view, a motor-head etc).

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

....And for very-very long poles need to include to set a small parachute for DSLR, prayer book and "Good luck!" - sticker for car window :001_smile: Too strong winds walk at height.

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodeus

....And for very-very long poles need to include to set a small parachute for DSLR, prayer book and "Good luck!" - sticker for car window :001_smile: Too strong winds walk at height.

no, we are not going into the professional/specialist market. We want to build a system easily manageable by average users. So, we will stop at ~10-12 meter high.

nick

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

It was the joke, Nick :001_smile:

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodeus

It was the joke, Nick :001_smile:

I think he works too much :biggrin:

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Let's all encourage Nick to keep on working too much. The results are amazing.

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick fan

no, we are not going into the professional/specialist market. We want to build a system easily manageable by average users. So, we will stop at ~10-12 meter high.

nick

That's 32 to 38 feet for all us Americans -- that's plenty high. That's starting to get helicopter high....

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

One of the replies mentioned "The tripod is for display purposes only and not a product of Fanotec". Can you reveal the name of the tripod manufacturer? I've searched the web a bit and haven't seen anything similar. Thanks.

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by kclark

One of the replies mentioned "The tripod is for display purposes only and not a product of Fanotec". Can you reveal the name of the tripod manufacturer? I've searched the web a bit and haven't seen anything similar. Thanks.

That is a modified Velbon Ultra Maxi-Mini
http://www.velbon.co.uk/newvelbon/pa...amaximini.html

center column replaced by a custom one for better stability.

nick

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Hi,

I have found a similar model from gitzo a time ago, very solid and stable. Comes with a plate with 3/8 mount screw, legs can be adjusted in 3 positions. The rotator sits in a higher position becoming more safe to dust.

I will send pics tomorrow. http://www.kamera-express.nl/Product....aspx?id=28064

Cheers

Heinz

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Thank you both for your replies about the tripod legs! Both of these options look interesting.

Nick, do you make a custom center columns for the velbon? Or is it just a matter of locating the right column and getting out the hack saw :001_smile:

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by kclark

Thank you both for your replies about the tripod legs! Both of these options look interesting.

Nick, do you make a custom center columns for the velbon? Or is it just a matter of locating the right column and getting out the hack saw :001_smile:

You can use epoxy to glued the center column.
I can also make a few center column if more people show interests.

nick

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Nick,

It would be very handy to have a bubble level somewhere near the photographer's eyes. It can be detachable or mounted permanently...

Andrey

PS. would love to put my hands on this new pole!

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

It would be very handy to have a bubble level somewhere near the photographer's eyes. It can be detachable or mounted permanently...

Permanently attached to my monopod.

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/pid/2894

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1drey

Nick,

It would be very handy to have a bubble level somewhere near the photographer's eyes. It can be detachable or mounted permanently...

Andrey

PS. would love to put my hands on this new pole!

Sure. there will be bubble level for poles. Besides, I will release adapter for using our R1/10 external bubble level on short poles. I am also trying to make a handle for the poles.

nick

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Manfrotto sell a simple strap on bubble level, probably their cheapest item at about €16 suitable for many pole diameters try here http://harrysproshop.com/Tripods/aut...autopoles.html of course a nice one from Nodal Ninja would look better! :biggrin:

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Having the pole balanced while raised also insures level - not sure having an external level is really needed - maybe more so for shorter lengths. Wonder what Wim's thought on this would be.

Bill

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Bailey

Having the pole balanced while raised also insures level - not sure having an external level is really needed - maybe more so for shorter lengths. Wonder what Wim's thought on this would be.

Hello Bill,

I think the need for an external level is a matter of how much you want to be in control of the NPP of the lens.

When you balance the camera+lens on top of the pole in the gravity center then, if you have a good feeling for small variations in forces and if there is no wind, then each shot will be in approx. the same off set NPP position of the lens (*).
(*) Because the gravity point of the camera+lens is not in the NPP of the lens the pole will lean a bit forwards when the gear is balanced, hence the NPP of the lens is always off set.

To get the best possible control I prefer to have an external level attached to the pole, then if there is some wind, or if I don't want to fully depend on my feeling for small forces, keeping the lens in the proper position (**) is much more faster and accurate.
(**) For a monopod it is better not to shift the lens forwards out of NPP to avoid stitching errors caused by parallax but on a high pole, when objects or surfaces are not close by, it is possible to shift the lens 1-2 cm forwards to get a very small footprint in nadir, hence often there is no need to shoot a nadir patch and some cloning in Photoshop can fill the footprint.

As a side effect of the forward shift of the lens the gear is a little better balanced but still the pole will lean forward, hence the out of NPP position of the lens is more then neccesary to avoid the need of a nadir patch. This is another reason why I always use a external level attached to the pole.

Wim

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Perhaps the next stage is to set a gyro at the top of the pole.

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

Perhaps the next stage is to set a gyro at the top of the pole.

A gyro is a double-edged sword. It helps to stabilize the pole. However, it also becomes more difficult to restore to vertical position if the pole is tilted. The weight of gyro and battery can also add to the burden on the pole. a 0.5kg extra loading is significant for a 6 m pole.

Well, I can experiment your idea when I have more time.

nick

Re: New Pole System From Fanotec

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick fan

A gyro is a double-edged sword. It helps to stabilize the pole. However, it also becomes more difficult to restore to vertical position if the pole is tilted. The weight of gyro and battery can also add to the burden on the pole. a 0.5kg extra loading is significant for a 6 m pole.

Well, I can experiment your idea when I have more time.

nick

Probably best not to turn it on till in position. As you say it resists change of position in weird ways.

Nick,

I am very interested in this design - how would one go about taking the Nadir shot and the Zenith shot?

Thanks

zenith is easy. just clone the sky or use the new content aware fill in PS CS5. You can use a neg tilt and shift the lens forward of the NPP by 10-20mm. This will make the nadir very small and easy to patch.
For perfectionists, they can use R1 and tilt the camera up to take the zenith shot.

nick

Hi Nick,

I know your are trying very hard to serve the customers wishes and I know you are the "one" who likes to fill gaps. Discussions on other forums about how to take a pano inside cars. "Use a tripod outside, go through the window with a horizontal arm, and off you go"

An additional use of the small pole to your new "champion" like adaptor might be a "horizontal converter", 90° vertical to 90° horizontal, adapting to your "champignon" and using the pole to get inside the car through the window. At the end of the pole an extra plate being able to turn to zenith nadir and horizontal. I know you are tricky Nick and a question like this will ask your possibilities to proof you are trying harder.

Thx for setting up a new factory to serve your clients at its best.

Regards,

Heinz

Quote:

Originally Posted by hindenhaag

Hi Nick,

I know your are trying very hard to serve the customers wishes and I know you are the "one" who likes to fill gaps. Discussions on other forums about how to take a pano inside cars. "Use a tripod outside, go through the window with a horizontal arm, and off you go"

An additional use of the small pole to your new "champion" like adaptor might be a "horizontal converter", 90° vertical to 90° horizontal, adapting to your "champignon" and using the pole to get inside the car through the window. At the end of the pole an extra plate being able to turn to zenith nadir and horizontal. I know you are tricky Nick and a question like this will ask your possibilities to proof you are trying harder.

Thx for setting up a new factory to serve your clients at its best.

Regards,

Heinz

Well, I am aware that there is a need for horizontal pole. ;-)

nick

Availability?

Any update on when the new poles will be available for purchase, please?

Regards

Andrew

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H

Any update on when the new poles will be available for purchase, please?

Still work in progress, keep tuned as it'll be announced here first when they'll become avalaible :001_smile:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincèn

Still work in progress, keep tuned as it'll be announced here first when they'll become avalaible :001_smile:

Thanks Vincèn, but can you offer any predictions as to when that will be, please? Are we talking weeks or months? I need a pole, but don't want to purchase a competing, and perhaps inferior, product if the Nodal Ninja offerings are imminent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H

Thanks Vincèn, but can you offer any predictions as to when that will be, please? Are we talking weeks or months? I need a pole, but don't want to purchase a competing, and perhaps inferior, product if the Nodal Ninja offerings are imminent.

Andrew,

I understand your frustration but unhappy I don't have more infos than you, and waiting as impatient than you to get my hands on them :D

Vincèn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincèn

Andrew,

I understand your frustration but unhappy I don't have more infos than you, and waiting as impatient than you to get my hands on them :D

Vincèn

Thanks Vincèn, but Bill, Nick, if you are reading this, you have whetted our appetites by showing the poles in Tucson and in this forum - any thoughts on availability, please?

Regards
Andrew

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew H

Thanks Vincèn, but Bill, Nick, if you are reading this, you have whetted our appetites by showing the poles in Tucson and in this forum - any thoughts on availability, please?

Regards
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Sorry, I can't predict the release date. Last month, we were to start production of the rubber handle of the 4 section pole. But the vendor just damaged my mold at the beginning of production.
So I only know the release date when everything is ready.

Nick

hope to see this available soon!

Quote:

Originally Posted by etegration

hope to see this available soon!

Our short pole will be shipping soon.
http://store.nodalninja.com/products...-Series-1.html

Longer poles coming in Oct/ Nov.

Nick

1 Attachment(s)

Yes, I agree with the pole spirit level. Suggest 1 - 1 1/2 inch diameter circle spirit level type. We use another telescoping pole product and the our spirit level is usually fitted near waist elevation... or 3 feet ( 1 meter ). This permits us to look down at the spirit level while 1 hand is about shoulder height... other hand is positioned under the level (also holding the remote wireless shutter release).

Please excuse the stick drawing

Camera
^->pole top 15 - 18 feet elevation (5m to 6m)
|
|
|
| eye level
|
| one hand
|
|spirit level
| one hand/shutter release
|
|
|
|
^pole bottom

From the top it looks something like this:

Attachment 111

Now that the poles seem to start being available you may want to add a new section to the forum.
In the meantime I'd be glad if you could answer some question that came to my mind when I looked at the store offer.
Why do I have to specify a camera model when ordering? Is there any specific mount or accessory that comes with the pole?
Can I have the pole with just a 3/8 bolt on top? And (most important) why isn't that pole suitable for vertical operation?
Thank you, guys.

Jürgen

Quote:

Originally Posted by juergen

Why do I have to specify a camera model when ordering? Is there any specific mount or accessory that comes with the pole?

Each pole is delivered with a wireless remote for your camera, so it's to be sure to include right cable for your camera ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by juergen

Can I have the pole with just a 3/8 bolt on top?

It's included with pole :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by juergen

And (most important) why isn't that pole suitable for vertical operation

Not enough robust for that, the P2 and P3 will be able to support horizontal use ;)

Vince

Merci, that makes it much clearer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by juergen

why isn't that pole suitable for vertical operation?

Hi,

I think you mean horizontal operation.
firstly, typical tripods and monopods are designed to accept compressive stress only. When a pole is used horizontally, stress can be tensile. The joints can fall apart if the glue holding them fails. I use Loctite industrial grade expoxy for the joints. It can hold >10kg tensile stress in my tests. But there is no guarantee after years of use of the pole. So special device for extra safety is needed for horizontal application.
secondly, in order to keep the deflection to less than 10cm/ 4", a much more rigid (larger diameter) pole is needed for horizontal application.

BTW, the wireless remote included is worth $25.

Nick