Kaidan 900 User manual

KiWi™900/950
User’sGuide
PhotographicVR
PanoramicTripod Head
DesignedexpresslyfortheNikonCoolpix
900,900Sand950DigitalCameras

Copyright Information
Copyright © 2000 Kaidan, Inc. All Rights Reserved. First Edition, Septem er
2000. KiWi is a trademark of Kaidan, Inc. Other products mentioned herein may
e trademarks of their respective companies. Patents Pending.
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Procedure elow
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When returning a product, customer must first contact Kaidan (or the dis-
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Kaidan Incorporated
703 E. Pennsylvania Blvd • Feasterville, PA 19053 • U.S.A.
Attention: Return Department per RMA# ______
Contact Information: Voice: 215-364-1778 • Fax: [phone]
http://www.kaidan.com • E-mail: [email protected]

Page-3
1SettingUpYourKiWi900/950™
UNPACKINGTHE BOX
The KiWi 900/950is shipped ina single boxandconsistsofthecomponentsde-
tailedbelow.Pleasemakesurethatallpartsareincluded.Examinethepartsfor
anysignsofshippingdamage.Intheeventofshippingdamage,immediatelycon-
tactKaidantoprocessclaims.Ifanyitemsaremissingoryounoticeanydamage,
callKaidanat215-364-1778,betweenthehoursof9:00AMand 6:00 PMEST,Mon-
Fri.
TheKiWi 900/950alsocomeswithtwodetentdiscs(14and18positions,not
shown)andacameraadjustmentshoe(attachedto theverticalbracket).
VerticalBracket
CaptiveCameraKnob
&MountingHolesfor
standard andwide
anglesettings
(Notvisible)
AngleIndicator
Friction Cap and
RetainingKnob
Twin-axis BubbleLevel
Access Hole for
Flash Sync
NikonCoolpixCamera
(notincluded)
Indexinghub

Page-4
REMOVING THE FRICTION CAP
TheFrictionCapneedstoberemovedinordertochangedetentdiscs.Thediscs
providethemeansforestablishingandchangingthenumberandspacingofthe
angularincrementsofthe tripod head.Thetwodiscsthatcomestandardwith
the KiWi 900/950 provide for14 and 18 shots per revolution.Use the 18 position
detentdiscwhen capturing images with the normal wide-angle setting of the
camera. Use the 14 position detent disc when using the optional Nikon 24mm
wide-anglelensfortheCoolpix900/950camera.
ToremovetheFrictionCap,loosenthesilvercoloredRetainingKnobwhichislo-
catedonthesideoftheFrictionCap.ItdoesnothavetoberemovedfromtheCap,
butonlybackedoutfarenoughtoallowtheCaptobeunscrewedfromtheaxle.
YoucanlookintotheopeninginthecenterofthecaptoseewhentheRetaining
Knobisclearofthehexagonal-shapedaxle.Rotatethecapcounterclockwiseand
removeitfromtheunit.
OncetheFrictionCaphasbeenremoved,separatetheVerticalBracketfromthe
IndexingHub.Youmightneedtowigglethepiecesasyoupullthemapart.
Retaining
Knob
FrictionCap
IndexingHub
Vertical Bracket

Page-5
REMOVING &REPLACING THE DETENT DISC
Oncethe Indexing Hubis removed,the detent disc canbe removed from its re-
cessinthebottomoftheVerticalBracket.ThediscmayslipoutoncetheIndex-
ingHubisremoved.Ifit sticksinsidetherecess,simplyinsertthetipofaballpoint
penora pin small enoughtofitintothedetentdiscejectionholeonthetopof
thebracketandpushthedetentdiscoutofthedetentdiscrecess.
With the disc removed,a different disc can be inserted to change the angular
spacing.The 14 position detent disc (includedwithyourbracket) is foruse with
theoptionalNikonwideanglelens(availablefromNikonfortheCoolpix900/950).
Toinstalla differentdisc,simplyalignthe keyedslotandpush the disc intothe
recess.Makesurethediscisproperlyseated andflushtothebottomsurfaceof
theVerticalBracket.Withthenewdiscinserted,reassemblebyinsertingtheIn-
dexingHubbackthroughthebearingintheVerticalBracket.
REPLACING THE FRICTION CAP
Replace the Friction Cap by threading the Cap back onto the axle. Continue to
threadthecapsothatthereisnofreeplaybetweentheVerticalBracketandthe
Indexing Hub. The rubberwasheron the bottom ofthe Friction Cap should be
slightlycompressed.Whenthedragfeelsadequate,turntheFrictionCapsothat
thethreadedshaftoftheRetainingKnobis alignedwiththe closestflatonthe
axle.TightentheRetainingKnobtolocktheCapinplace.
RubberWasher

Page-6
ADJUSTING THE DETENT FORCE
Thespringplungerthatprovidesthedetentactioncanalsobeadjustedtovary
theforce.Useaflatbladescrewdrivertomovetheplungerinandoutasdesired.
A convenientway to adjust the plunger is to screw the plunger all the way in
untilitgentlybottomsout.Thenunscrewtheplungeraboutonecompleteturn.

Page-7
2ShootingPanoramas
HOW MANY SHOTS?
TheKiWi900/950isdesignedtobeusedwith:
•Thenormalwide-anglesettingofthecameralens
•TheoptionalNikon24mmlens(screwon)
•OtherthirdpartylensesusablewiththeCoolpix900/950camera
Thenormalwide-anglesettingofthecamerawillrequirethe18positiondetent
disc.The24mmNikonlensrequirestheuseofthe14positiondetentdisc.
MOUNTINGTHECAMERA?
TheKiWi900/950alsocomeswithaCameraAdjustmentShoetohelpkeepyour
cameramountedvertically.Italsomakesiteasytoremoveandreplaceyourcam-
erainthesameposition.Beforethecameraisattached, loosentheknobonthe
CameraAdjustmentShoe.Oncetheknobisloosened,theshoecanslideforward
orbackwardstohelppositionthecamera.Youmayneedtoremovetheshoeand
repositionitagainsteitherthefrontorthebackofthecamera,dependingwhich
configurationisselected.
Camera
AdjustmentShoe
(Knobisonthe
otherside)

Page-8
MOUNTING THECAMERA?(CONTINUED)
The KiWi 900/950 is designed to be used at the standard wide-angle setting or
with the additional 24mm wide-angle Nikon lens.The two threaded mounting
holes directly above the slot on the camera bracket will position the camera at
itspropernodalpointsettingforeitherconfiguration.
The diagram below shows the propermounting holes for the camera . When
usingthecamerawiththestandardlens, FigureAshowsthepropermounting
withtheadjustmentshoebehindthecamera.
Whenusingthecamerawiththeoptional24mmwide-angleNikonlensmounted,
Figure B shows the propermounting with the adjustment shoe in frontof the
camera.
Note:theslotbelowthecameramountingholeswillacceptthecameraknoband
can be used to locate the camera in accordance with the nodal points of other
3rdpartylenses(seeChapter3forinstructions).
FigureA:
ViewofVertical Camera
Bracketwith camera
attachedusingthe
standardcameralens
Figure B:
ViewofVertical Camera
Bracketwith camera
attachedusingthe24mm
wide-angleNikon lens
Cameraadjustment
Shoe andknob Cameraknob
Cameraadjustment
Shoe andknob
Cameraknob
MountingHolefor
standardcameralens
MountingSlotfor
usewith3rdparty
lenses&the Camera
AdjustmentShoe AccessHolefor
external FlashSync
connection
MountingHolesfor
otheraccessories
(FlashBracket,
Sunshade)
Mounting Holeforusing
wide angle Nikon lens

Page-9
TAKING THE PHOTOS
TheKiWi900/950hasafemale1/4-20threadonthebottomoftheIndexingHub
formountingtomoststandardtripods.Whenreadytoshoot,makesurethat
theKiWi900/950issecurelyattachedtothetripod. Useatripodthatissturdy,
ideallyonethathasacentersupportsystemofbracestohelpkeepthecamera
andKiWi900/950fromexcessiveflexing.
Itmaybepossiblethatyourtripodusesalarger3/8inchthread.Ifthisisthe
case,youcanpurchasea3/8to1/4adapteratacamerastoreorphotographer
equipmentsupplier.
Whenreadytoshoot,itisimportantthattheunitislevel.Observethetwin-axis
bubblelevelontheKiWi900/950whilelevelingthetripod.Ofcourse,thistaskis
mucheasierifthetripodisequippedwithatilthead.Ifthetripoddoesnot
haveatilthead, aQuickTilt™levelercanbepurchasedfromKaidanforusewith
theKiWi900/950.
OncetheKiWi900/950 islevel,doublechecktoseeifthecameraismounted
levelinelevation.UsetheCameraAdjustmentShoeandplaceitagainstthe
camera.Byplacingtheshoesnuglyagainstthecamera,itwillhelptovertically
alignandpositionthecamera.
You’renowreadytobegincapturingyourfirstpanorama.Youshouldalso,at
thistimereviewthedocumentationofthepanoramicstitchingsoftwarethat
isbeingusedinordertogetrecommendationsforexposuresettingsandother
camerasettings.

Page-10
3UsingOtherLenses
HOW DOILOCATE MYCAMERA’SNODAL POINT?
ThepriorinstructionscovertheNikonCoolpixstandardlensandtheNikonwide-
angle lens.Since the Coolpix900 series has a threaded barrel,you can screw on
other 3rd party lenses.These lenses will have a different mounting location,or
nodal point, along the bracket, and you’ll need to discover this location.Follow
thesestepsandyou’llbeabletoeasilylocatethenodalpointforanycameraand
lenscombination.
Simplyput,the nodalpointisthepointinsideyourcamerawherethe lightrays
convergeandflipover.Whenshootinganimmersivepanorama,it’snecessaryto
rotateaboutthispointtoeliminatetheimagemismatchcausedbyparallaxer-
ror.
Parallaxerrorcan be easilydemonstratedbythis simple experiment.Closeone
eyeandholdyourindexfingeruprightaboutsixinchesawayfromyouropeneye.
Rockyourheadfromsideto side.Noticehowyourfingermoveswithrespectto
thebackground.Thisrelativemovementisduetothefactthatyou’renotrotat-
ingyourheadaroundyoureye’snodalpoint,whichissomewhereinthecenterof
youreyeball.Instead,you’rerotatingaboutyourspinewhichisseveralinchesto
therearandofftooneside.Itisthisrelativeside-to-sidemotionthatwewillstrive
toeliminatewhensettingupacameraforVRpanoramas.
STEP 1:THE EASY PART -THE SIDE-TO-SIDE ADJUSTMENT
OncethecameraisfastenedtotheKiWi900/950PanHead,thecenterofthelens
willbedirectlyoverthepivotaxis.Noside-to-sideadjustmentwillbeneeded.

Page-11
STEP 2:THE SLIGHTLY HARDER PART -FORE-AFTADJUSTMENT
Put the Captive Camera Knob in the long slot of the Vertical Bracket. This will
allowyou to slide the camera (along with the CameraAdjustment Shoe) as re-
quired.Note:Thisstepismosteasilyaccomplishedoutside.Findaverticaledgeor
line,suchasadoorwayoredgeofabuilding.Position the unitandtripod about
fourfeetaway,or as close as possible with the edge still in focuswhen looking
throughtheviewdisplayedontheLCDscreenofthecamera.
Lookingatthecamera’sLCD,findanotherverticaledgeorobjectthatisfaraway,
suchasanotherbuildingortelephonepole.Alignthetwoobjectsandrotatethe
VerticalBracketsotheyareinthelefthandsideoftheviewfinder.
Rotatethepanhead so the twoobjectsmoveoverto the righthandsideofthe
viewfinder. Unless you’ve managed to unwittingly locate the right nodal point
position,youshouldnoticethetwoobjectswillmovewithrespecttoeachother
astheVerticalBracketisrotated fromlefttoright.Slidethecameratothefront
orrearasrequiredtoeliminatethisrelativemovement.
Looking throughtheviewfinder,alignacloseobject(brickwall)witha faraway
object(telephone pole).Asthecameraisrotatedfromside-to-side,thereshould
benorelativemovementbetweenthetwoobjects.
If,asshowntotheright,thetwoobjectsmovewithrespecttooneanotherin
theviewinder,slidethecameraforeoraftinordertoeliminatethismovement.
Here,thetelephonepolehasmovedbehindthebrickwall.
Good.
No relative movement
betweenobjectwhen
rotating camerafrom
sidetoside.
Bad.
Relativemovement
betweenobjectwhen
rotating camerafrom
sidetoside.

Page-12
STEP 3:DETERMINING THEACTUAL POSITION
IfyouwereusingaSLRcamerainthepreviousstepsyoucouldhavelookedthrough
theviewfinderinordertodeterminethenodalpoint.However,withtheCoolpix
900series,theviewfinderisnotviewingtheexactsameimageaswhattheCCD
(imagingchip)isseeing.Therefore,inordertoaccuratelydetermineatwhatposi-
tion along the slot does the nodal point lay,you’ll need to take a series of test
shots.
Thebestwaytodothisistostartwiththecameraatthefrontmostpositionof
theVerticalbracket.Usingtheobject-alignmenttechniquementionedpreviously,
takeasequenceofleft-rightpairsoftestshots.Eachpairwillhavethevertically
aligned objects in the left and then the rightside ofthe viewfinder.Aftereach
pair of photos,slide the bracket rearward a small amount and repeat the pro-
cess.Slide the bracketthesame incrementeachtime(i.e.10mm).Placing a tem-
porarystripoftapeinordertomeasureandmarktheincrementsshouldmake
iteasiertorecordyourresults.Besuretorecordthescalesettingforeachpairof
images.
Whenyou’redone,youshouldhaveapairofleft-rightimagesforeachpositionof
the camera along the slot. Transfer the images to your computer and inspect
eachleft-rightpair.You’relookingforthepairofimagesthathastheleastrelative
movementbetweenthenearandfarobjects.Gobacktoyourrecordedmarkings
and determine which location on the tape corresponds to the best pairof im-
ages.
Insomecasesyoumightfindthatnopairofimagesisoptimum.Inthatcase,you
should lookforthe two pairs thatare closest and reshoot a testpair between
thosepairs.Withalittletrialanderroryouwillbeabletoaccuratelydetermine
thenodalpointforanylens.
Onceyou’vefoundtheposition,youcanmarkthatlocationwiththeCameraAd-
justmentShoeorleaveapieceoftapeasamarkerforfuturereference.

Page-13
KW-900/950ADDENDUM
Wehaveincludedafrictionpadcorkstrip to be usedwith
theCoolpix950camera only.See Fig.Abelowforthe correct
placement.NOTE:Ifyou areusingtheCoolpix900 camera
thecorkdoesnotneedtobeinstalled.
5 JUNE 2000
FIG.A