Coming soon: the new affordable Nodal Ninja 4

[nick fan]

Here comes the new affordable spherical panoramic tripod head from FANOTEC, the Nodal Ninja 4. It features a precise upper rotator with 15 degree stops, a design borrowed from the new Ultimate M1. It supports a wide range of lenses from ultra wide angles to 100mm (35mm equivalent focal length and 25% overlap) telephotos. Besides, the upper rotator can be installed with an offset of +/- 5, 7.5, or 10 degree from the horizon, making it perfect for single row spherical panoramas with various fisheye lenses.




The Nodal Ninja 4 can support up to 7.7lbs (3.5kg) large DSLR cameras and supports the advanced rotators RD8, RD16, and RD3L. Starting at $349.95, the NN4 is an affordable spherical panorama head that will take your photography to new heights.
The NN4 will be available for order in April. We are accepting pre-orders at
http://store.nodalninja.com/categories/Nodal-Ninja-4/

[nick fan]

Nodal Ninja 4 vs Nodal Ninja 5

• Slightly shorter vertical and upper rails than NN5.
• Easier to use upper rotator with 15 degree positive stops
• Support offset of +/- 5, 7.5, or 10 degree from the horizon
• Support use of FANOTEC lens rings with new QR clamp (coming soon)
• More affordable than NN5
• Same load rating to support up to 7.7lbs (3.5kg)
• Limit to 100mm focal length only (35mm equivalent and 25% overlap)

NN4 will use all accessories from NN3 and 5 series.

[hindenhaag]

Hi Nick,

Thx for additional infos. Small add on: the Camera Plate included is the CP-2.

http://www.nodalninja.com/Manuals/CP2_qrg.pdf

Heinz

[zerohui0_0]

is this plate Larger than the one provided with NN5 ?

[hindenhaag]

It is the same plate.

Heinz

[ckmcdonald]

Does the NN4 use the same detent rings as the NN5?

[superpants]

[*]Support use of FANOTEC lens rings with new QR clamp (coming soon)

Any ETA for this? Or any manuals or quick start guides for NN4 yet? WOuld these be available on the 18th?

Thanks

[hindenhaag]

Hi,

here is the Quick Start NN4: http://www.nodalninja.com/Manuals/NN4-QRG.pdf

Heinz

[ckmcdonald]

Got my NN4 yesterday.
I like it!!

Heinz, I didn't really expect the calibration settings to be exact on my NN4 with the numbers you provided from a NN5 (60/103) for the D200 / 18-200mm VRII @ 18mm but figured it would be a good place to start to shorten the iteration cycle. They were exact - I got perfect alignment first try!

Thanks - it saved me a little picture taking time. My batteries are all charged, my flash cards are all empty and it's a beautiful spring day ... I'm off to take some panos!

Calvin

[hindenhaag]

Pleasure Calvin,

thx for lettings us know. Helps me a lot too checking all the settings on NN4.

Enjoy your new equipment and success.

Heinz

[Destiny]

Hello Nick..and everyone one.... My name is Destiny.. and I was the first in the whole wide world to own the NN4
This is a fact that I am very proud of!
I have been testing the NN4 out for about a week now. It's the most wonderful pano head ever!
I use with it the Arca Style Quick Release System and that's just great....Camera On - Camera Off.. And I also have the Nadir Adapter. This is a really nice little thing, I love it so much but I am still working on how to use it properly though. I have never taken a Nadir shot that can be used on my pano's.. It's tricky I think.. But the Nadir Adapter will help me to achieve this. All this mounted on my RD16.

If anyone needs to know anything about the NN4, I will be more than happy to!

D..

[hindenhaag]

Hi Destiny and welcome to the forum,

Great to get to know that you are happy with your new equipment. Nice you are number 1! Got mine yesterday evening. Of course I tried it at once. Steps on in the NN Fanotec quality program. I am happy with these products since years.

Using the Nadir Adapter is not a very tricky thing. What sort of equipment do you use? Camera lens combination?

Anyway: first of all you have to measure the Pivot Distance: the distance from center of RD16 to center to fixing screw of the nadir adaptor, the turning point of the adaptor. First nadir shot: -90º with closed adaptor. Then move the tripod sideways in direction of third leg by 2x Pivot Distance. Just use the third leg to adapt your distance. Open up the nadir adapter and shoot the second nadir shot.

This will only work when you use a special set up of NN4 RD16 to your tripod. The lower rail has to be set to 90º to the "two front legs of the tripod". And it has to be "in line" with the third leg. Otherwise you can not mask out the tripod in a proper way.

The first nadir shot will show the tip of the third leg of the tripod on the left side. Important area! The second Nadir Shot will show the corner of the nadir adapter between the two legs of the tripod on the right hand side of the picture. Second important area! When you mask and stitch the two nadir shots, you have to check that there is space between the corner of the tip of the third leg and the corner of the Nadir Adapter. If they touch, move the tripod beyond 2x Pivot Distance. If it is far beyond the old position of lens axis - center of Rotator in N1 - may be you have to use a "viewpoint correction"

Most of us use PTGuiPro. You can download a trial at www.PTGui.com. Just load the two nadir shots, in same orientation, go to >mask, and mask out the tripod. Then stitch. Check if there are black or checkered areas left in the two important areas. Then you have to move the tripod beyond 2x Pivot distance.

http://homepage.mac.com/hindenhaag/f...NNadaptor1.jpg

Thx to offer help to forum members. We keep in contact with Australia!

Feel free to ask,
regards,
Heinz

BTW Bill: Think you have to open up a NN4 Line on the forum

[Vincèn]

BTW Bill: Think you have to open up a NN4 Line on the forum

Very good point

[Three60mktg]

Hi Destiny and welcome to the forum,

Great to get to know that you are happy with your new equipment. Nice you are number 1! Got mine yesterday evening. Of course I tried it at once. Steps on in the NN Fanotec quality program. I am happy with these products since years.

Using the Nadir Adapter is not a very tricky thing. What sort of equipment do you use? Camera lens combination?

Anyway: first of all you have to measure the Pivot Distance: the distance from center of RD16 to center to fixing screw of the nadir adaptor, the turning point of the adaptor. First nadir shot: -90º with closed adaptor. Then move the tripod sideways in direction of third leg by 2x Pivot Distance. Just use the third leg to adapt your distance. Open up the nadir adapter and shoot the second nadir shot.

This will only work when you use a special set up of NN4 RD16 to your tripod. The lower rail has to be set to 90º to the "two front legs of the tripod". And it has to be "in line" with the third leg. Otherwise you can not mask out the tripod in a proper way.

The first nadir shot will show the tip of the third leg of the tripod on the left side. Important area! The second Nadir Shot will show the corner of the nadir adapter between the two legs of the tripod on the right hand side of the picture. Second important area! When you mask and stitch the two nadir shots, you have to check that there is space between the corner of the tip of the third leg and the corner of the Nadir Adapter. If they touch, move the tripod beyond 2x Pivot Distance. If it is far beyond the old position of lens axis - center of Rotator in N1 - may be you have to use a "viewpoint correction"

Most of us use PTGuiPro. You can download a trial at www.PTGui.com. Just load the two nadir shots, in same orientation, go to >mask, and mask out the tripod. Then stitch. Check if there are black or checkered areas left in the two important areas. Then you have to move the tripod beyond 2x Pivot distance.

hi guys, i am new to NN.

I just got my NN4, with RD16 today. I was so excited that i immediately lay my hands on it.

I am using D90 , with 18-105mm lens. I tried to take the nadir shot. But don't seem to get it right. Not sure where i got wrong.


Q1. How do i measure the pivot distance?

"First nadir shot: -90º with closed adaptor" .

Q2. Where do i take this first nadir shot?

Q3. If i move the tripod by the pivot distance, will it not cause any unnecessary movment that will disrupt the images?


"This will only work when you use a special set up of NN4 RD16 to your tripod. The lower rail has to be set to 90º to the "two front legs of the tripod". And it has to be "in line" with the third leg. Otherwise you can not mask out the tripod in a proper way."

Q4. Will you be able to elaborate on this? i don't quite get it.
Q5. What is the 90º? you referring to?


"special set up of NN4 RD16 to your tripod"

Q6. What is the special set up?


sorry guys hope i am not asking too many questions.

[hindenhaag]

Hi,

Keep cool and welcome to the forum,

I know there are a lot of questions about this theme, I add some pics to explain it.

http://homepage.mac.com/hindenhaag/f...NNadaptor1.jpg