Fanotec Ninja 4 User manual

© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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Fanotec®Spherical Panoramic Tripod Head
Nodal Ninja 4
Manual
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© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................3
Nodal Ninja 4 Features...........................................................................4
Nodal Ninja 4 Exploded View .................................................................9
Parts List......................................................................................10
Upper Assembly ............................................................................................10
Lower Assembly ............................................................................................10
 PartSpecications .......................................................................11
Lower Rail Assembly.....................................................................................11
Upper Rail Assembly.....................................................................................12
Hard Shelled Cases for Nodal Ninja 4..................................................13
Basic Assembly ....................................................................................14
Removing and Replacing Detents .......................................................15
Setting up with Known NNP .................................................................16
Setting the lower rail ....................................................................16
Setting the upper rail ...................................................................17
Using the Camera Mounting Plate (NCP1)...........................................18
Mounting in Landscape Mode ..............................................................19
Quick Release Adapters.......................................................................20
Fanotec’s Arca Style Swiss Quick Release Clamp......................20
Cameras / Grips with Off-axis Tripod Mounts.......................................21
About Parallax ......................................................................................22
Finding the Entrance Pupil of a Lens....................................................23
Warranty ...............................................................................................27
Returns .................................................................................................28
Copyright Information ...........................................................................29
Contributors ..........................................................................................30

© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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Introduction
Congratulations on your recent purchase and welcome to the exciting and growing world of
panoramic photography. Panoramic photography is one of the fastest growing segments in
photography. With developments in hardware and software this technology allows for the
creation of seamless stitching of multiple images. From simple two shot panoramic images
or complex 100+ shot super mega pixel mosaics, the Nodal Ninja is hardware designed to
work in conjunction with your camera and lens to eliminate parallax when shooting adjacent
images. Our panoramic tripod head is a quality piece of equipment designed to give you
many years of use.
Nodal Ninja 4 is the new affordable spherical panoramic tripod head from FANOTEC that
will take your photography to new heights. It features a precise upper rotator with 15 degree
stops, a design borrowed from the new Ultimate M1.
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)
Note: NN4 will use all accessories from NN3 and 5 series.

© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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Nodal Ninja 4 Features
WehavecompiledalistofthefeaturesandbenetsofNodalNinja.Whenshoppingpanoramic
tripod heads you need as much information as you get. We feel Nodal Ninja offers the best
performance with features against price. Here is a summary of the strong points of Nodal
Ninja 4.
−The NN4 is an affordable spherical panorama head that will take your photography to
new heights.
−It supports a wide range of lenses from ultra wide angles to 100mm (35mm equivalent
focal length and 25% overlap) telephotos.
−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 sheye
lenses.

© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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−The Nodal Ninja 4 can support up to 7.7lbs (3.5kg) large DSLR cameras and supports
the advanced rotators RD8, RD16, and RD3L.
−Longer arms – (about ?1mm longer than NN3). This helps to accommodate larger
cameras like the D2X, D3 or MK II, MK III, and cameras with battery packs and even
many medium and large format cameras.
−Allows your camera to be mounted in landscape mode.

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−Allows your camera to be mounted in portrait mode.
−Fits all tripod heads – uses both 3/8” & 1/4” thread mount adapter.
−Small Rotator Base - less foot print to edit out when doing full spherical panos.
−Closed rail design – assures your expensive camera won’t slip off accidentally.
−Detachable upper arm detents to rotate about any desired increment.
−Large easy to turn knurled edge adjustments knobs (great with gloves in cold weather).
−Allows the use of many Quick Release Adapters.
−As small as 10 degree click stops in lower arm rotator are possible.

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−Reversible detent rings.
− Detentringscanbedisabledontheywithoutanytool.
−More precise rotator base with locking function.
−Made to higher precision tolerances than earlier models.
−Demarcations in increments of 2.5 degree on both upper and lower rotators, great for
doing high resolution mosaics at longer focal lengths.
−Rail stops for “remembering” camera and lens settings.
−Leveling – built-in quality bubble level for exact leveling.
−Lower and upper arm rulers for precise measuring of Entrance pupil settings.
−Compact – breaks down to only ?2mm x ?3mm (?4”x?5”).
−Weight – only ?6grams.
−Attractive foam lined zippered hard shell carry case.
−Customer support.
−Two year manufacture warranty.

© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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Nodal Ninja 4 Exploded View

© 2005-2011 Nodal Ninja®
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Parts List
Upper Assembly
−1 – Upper Rotator Tightening Knob (part# N5UTK)
−2 – Metal Washer (part# N5MW1)
−3 – Upper Arm Rotator Detent Pins 4ea (part# N5URDP)
−3a – Upper Arm Rotator Hex Screws 4ea (part# N5URHS)
−4 – Vertical Rail (part# N5VR)
−5 – Upper Horizontal Arm (part# N5UHR)
−6 – Rail Stop Screw (part# NRS)
−7 – Camera Mounting Knob (part# N5CMK)
−8 – Metal Washer (part# N5MW1)
−9 – Camera Mounting Plate (part# NCP-1)
−10 – Rail Stop Plate (part# NRS)
−11 – Upper Arm Support Screw
Lower Assembly
−12 – Lower Horizontal Rail (part# N5HR)
−13 – Rail Stop Plate (part# NRS)
−14 – Lower Detent Release Knob with Rubber O-Ring (part# N5LRRK )
−15 – Lower Rotator Tension Knob (part# N5LRTK)
−16 – Vertical Rail Mounting Knob (part# N5VRMK)
−17 – Metal Washer (part# N5MW1)
−18 – Lower Rotator Lock Knob (part# N5LRLK)
−19 – Rail Stop Screw (part# NRS)
−20 – Lower Rotator Outer Housing (part# N5LROH)
−21 – Lower Rotator Hex Screws 2ea (part# N5LRHS)
−22 – Lower Rotator Detent Pin (part# N5LRDP)
−23 – Reversible Detent Ring (part# N5(degrees))