Kaidan KiWiTM 2900 User manual

KiWi™2900
User’sGuide
PhotographicVR
PanoramicTripod Head
DesignedexpresslyfortheFujiMX-2900Digital
Camera

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.
Information in this manual is su ject to change without notice and does not
represent a commitment on the part of Kaidan. No part of this manual may e
reproduced or transmitted in any form or y any means, electronic or mechani-
cal, including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval sys-
tems, or translated to another language, for any purpose other than the licensee’s
personal use and as specifically allowed in the licensing agreement, without the
express written permission of Kaidan.
Kaidan Warranty and Return Policy
A • Limited Warranty
In the event of a defect in materials or workmanship, Kaidan will repair the
product with new or re uilt parts for a period of three-hundred and sixty five
(365) days from the date of original purchase. Such work will e performed free
of charge. Follow the Product Return Procedure (Section D following).
Likewise, any software purchased from Kaidan also comes with a one year
warranty if your disc or media is defective or damaged. This warranty is ex-
tended only to the original purchaser and is not transfera le. A purchase receipt
or other proof of original purchase will e required efore warranty performance
is rendered.
This warranty only covers failures due to defects in materials or workman-
ship which occur during normal use. It does not cover damages or failures which
are caused from accident, misuse, a use, neglect, mishandling, misapplication,
alteration, faulty installation, modification, service y anyone other than an au-
thorized representative of Kaidan, Acts of God, or y products not supplied y
Kaidan.
This warranty covers any damage incurred during original shipment of prod-
uct to customer. Any item resold, or distri uted y, and not explicitly manufac-
tured y Kaidan will e covered y their respective company’s product warranty.
B • Warranty Exclusions
There are no express warranties except as listed a ove.
Kaidan shall not e lia le for special, incidental, consequential or punitive
damages, including, without limitation, loss of goodwill, profits or revenue, loss
of the use of this product or any associated equipment, cost of su stitute equip-
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All express and implied warranties, including the warranties of merchant-
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ranty period set forth a ove. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation
of consequential damages, or limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts,
so the a ove exclusions or limitations may not apply to you.
This warranty and any claims which arise with the Kaidan product(s) are
governed y the laws of the state of Pennsylvania. By purchasing this product,
customer acknowledges and agrees to these Limits and Exclusions. If a pro lem
with your Kaidan product develops during the warranty period, immediately
contact Kaidan for assistance.
C • Product Return Policy
All Kaidan products come with a 30-day return policy (a minimum 10 percent
re-stocking fees will apply) from date of purchase, with the exception of software
or videotapes.
Both of the aforementioned items are copyrighted and su ject to the laws
concerning intellectual property. Kaidan will replace defective software/video-
tapes free of charge upon return receipt of defective item(s). Products returned
under this policy, excluding replacement of defective items, must e shipped at
purchaser’s expense. Purchaser must ship product with an approved tracea le
service, such as FedEx, and with appropriate levels of shipping insurance for the
item eing returned. Kaidan will not e held responsi le for returned items lost
or damaged in transit.
Kaidan ill issue a refund to customer’s account if the follo ing condi-
tions are satisfied:
1) Receipt of item(s) in a restocka le condition.
Criteria for Restocka le Condition is as follows:
• All parts are included in ox; hardware, manuals, discs, nuts/ olts, tools.
• No signs of damage; scratches, ent parts, missing pieces, markings, alter-
ations, or additions to the product.
• All packaging materials are intact; foam, peanuts, card oard, u le ags.
• No signs of excess usage or wear to the product.
Items of Non-restocka le condition are su ject to the following:
• Restocking Fee/s - a minimum of 10 percent and possi le additional fees
ased on the condition of the product (how the product est meets the criteria
a ove), at Kaidan’s discretion.
Non-Restocka le Condition - constitutes the following:
• Missing parts; hardware, manuals, discs, nuts/ olts, tools, and packaging
materials; foam, peanuts, card oard, u le ags.
• Signs of damage; scratches, ent parts, missing pieces, markings, alter-
ations, additions to the product.
• Signs of excess usage or wear to the product.
• Damage or loss incurred during uninsured shipping to Kaidan. In this case,
Kaidan cannot issue any type of refund. Customer will e responsi le to su -
mit claim with their shipping company.
• If damages occur in shipping, customer must su mit claim with shipping
company prior to any action y Kaidan.
Items Part of Special Bundle
If item(s) are part of a special undle offer, return of part of the undle will
void any special pricing and the item(s) remaining in the possession of the cus-
tomer will revert to their regular Suggested Retail Price (SRP). The credit, to
customer, will reflect the difference of the actual product SRP from the amount
of credit due customer.
Shipping Costs
All shipping costs, VAT, duties and return costs are sole responsi ility of cus-
tomer. If customer purchases thru Kaidan distri utor or reseller, customer is
responsi le for all shipping and VAT costs incurred y that distri utor or reseller.
These charges are non-refunda le.
For instructions on the return of your product, follow the Product Return
Procedure elow
D • Product Return Procedure
When returning a product, customer must first contact Kaidan (or the dis-
tri utor/reseller) and o tain a Return Material Authorization Num er (RMA#).
After receiving the RMA#, customer will e instructed to return product directly
to Kaidan. Returned goods must e shipped with an approved tracea le service,
such as FedEx, and with appropriate levels of shipping insurance for the item
eing returned. Kaidan will not e held responsi le for returned items lost or
damaged in transit. RMA num ers are valid for 15 days, and the product(s)
must e received y Kaidan efore the RMA expires. We are una le to accept for
return any product(s) received after the expiration of the RMA.
Return Packaging
The product packaging must reflect customer name, address, RMA# as well as
Kaidan information:
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]

1SettingUpYourKiWi2900™
WarrantyRegistrationPleasetakeabriefmomentandfilloutthewarrantyregistrationcardin-
cludedwithyourpackage.Pleaseprintclearlyincapitallettersandremember
toaffixpostage.Youcanalsoregisterafterfillingoutthecardbyfaxingitto
215-322-4186orregisteron-lineat:http//ww.kaidan.com/register.html.
UNPACKINGTHEBOX
TheKiWi 2900isshippedinasingleboxandconsistsofthecomponentsdetailed
below. Please make sure thatall parts are included.Examine the parts forany
signsofshippingdamage.Intheeventofshippingdamage,immediatelycontact
Kaidan to process claims. If anyitem is missing oryou notice any damage,call
Kaidanat215-364-1778betweenthehoursof9:00AMand6:00PMEST,Mon-Fri.
TheKiWi 2900 also comeswith twodetentdiscs (14and 18positions,notshown)
anda CameraAdjustmentShoe(attachedto theVerticalBracket).
VerticalBracket
CaptiveCameraKnob
&Mounting Holesfor
standard andwide
anglesettings
(Notvisible)
AngleIndicator
Friction Cap and
RetainingKnob
Twin-axis Bubble
Level
Fuji MX-2900Camera
(notincluded)
IndexingHub

Page-4
REMOVING THE FRICTION CAP
TheFrictionCapneedstoberemovedinordertochangedetentdiscs.Thediscs
providethemeansforestablishingandchangingthenumberandspacingofthe
angularincrementsofthetripodhead.Thetwodiscsthatcomestandardwith
theKiWi 2900provide for14and18shotsperrevolution.Use the 18 position de-
tentdiscwhencapturingimageswiththenormalwide-anglesettingofthecam-
era.Use the 14 position detent discwhen using the optional Fujifilm 0.8Xwide-
anglelensfortheFujiMX-2900camera.
ToremovetheFrictionCap,loosenthesilvercoloredRetainingKnobwhichislo-
catedonthesideoftheFrictionCap.ItdoesnothavetoberemovedfromtheCap,
butonlybackedoutfarenoughtoallowtheCaptobeunscrewedfromtheaxle.
YoucanlookintotheopeninginthecenterofthecaptoseewhentheRetaining
Knobisclearofthehexagonal-shapedaxle.Rotatethecapcounterclockwiseand
removeitfromtheunit.
Retaining
Knob
FrictionCap
OncetheFrictionCaphasbeenremoved,separatetheVerticalBracketfromthe
IndexingHub.Youmightneedtowigglethepiecesasyoupullthemapart.
IndexingHub
VerticalBracket

Page-5
REMOVING &REPLACING THE DETENT DISC
OncetheIndexingHubisremoved,the detent disccan be removed from its re-
cessinthebottomoftheVerticalBracket.Thediscmayslip outoncetheIndex-
ingHubisremoved.Ifit sticksinsidetherecess,simplyinsertthetipofaballpoint
penora pin smallenoughtofitintothedetentdiscejectionholeonthetopof
thebracketandpushthedetentdiscoutofthedetentdiscrecess.
With the disc removed,a different disc can be inserted to change the angular
spacing.The 14 position detentdisc (includedwithyourbracket) is foruse with
theoptionalFujifilm0.8Xwideanglelens(availablefromFujifilmfortheFujiMX-
2900camera).
To installadifferentdisc,simplyalignthekeyedslotand pushthe disc into the
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 of the Friction Cap should be
slightlycompressed.Whenthedragfeelsadequate,turntheFrictionCapsothat
thethreaded shaftofthe Retaining Knob is alignedwiththeclosestflatonthe
axle.TightentheRetainingKnobtolocktheCapinplace.

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

Page-7
2ShootingPanoramas
HOW MANY SHOTS?
TheKiWi2900isdesignedtobeusedwith:
•Thenormalwide-anglesettingofthecameralens
•TheoptionalFujifilm0.8Xwideanglelens(screwon)
•OtherthirdpartylensesusablewiththeFujiMX-2900camera
Thenormalwide-anglesettingofthecamerawillrequirethe18positiondetent
disc.The Fujifilm 0.8Xwide angle lens requires the use of the 14 position detent
disc.
MOUNTINGTHECAMERA?
The KiWi 2900 also comes with a Camera Adjustment Shoe to help keep your
cameramountedvertically.Italsomakesiteasytoremoveandreplaceyourcam-
erainthesameposition.Beforethecameraisattached, loosentheknobonthe
CameraAdjustmentShoe.Oncetheknobisloosened,theshoecanslideforward
orbackwardstohelppositionthecamera.Youmayneedtoremovetheshoeand
repositionitagainsteitherthefrontorthebackofthecamera,dependingwhich
configurationisselected.
Camera
AdjustmentShoe
(Knob isonthe
otherside)

Page-8
Mountingholefor
wide anglelens
TAKING THE PHOTO TheKiWi2900hasafemale1/4-20threadonthebottomoftheIndexingHubfor
mountingtomoststandardtripods.Whenreadytoshoot,makesurethatthe
KiWi2900issecurelyattachedtothetripod. Useatripodthatissturdy,ideally
onethathasacentersupportsystemofbracestohelpkeepthecameraand
KiWi2900fromexcessiveflexing.Itmaybepossiblethatyourtripodusesa
larger3/8inchthread.Ifthisisthecase,youcanpurchasea3/8to1/4adapterat
acamerastoreorphotographerequipmentsupplier.
Whenreadytoshoot,itisimportantthattheunitislevel.Observethetwin-axis
bubblelevelontheKiWi2900whilelevelingthetripod.Ofcourse,thistaskis
mucheasierifthetripodisequippedwithatilthead.Ifthetripoddoesnot
haveatilthead, aQuickTilt™levelercanbepurchasedfromKaidanforusewith
theKiWi2900.OncetheKiWi2900 islevel,doublechecktoseeifthecamerais
mountedlevelinelevation.UsetheCameraAdjustmentShoeandplaceit
againstthecamera.Byplacingtheshoesnuglyagainstthecamera,itwillhelp
toverticallyalignandpositionthecamera.
Youarenowreadytobegincapturingyourfirstpanorama.Youshouldalso,at
thistime,reviewthedocumentationofthepanoramicstitchingsoftwarethat
isbeingusedinordertogetrecommendationsforexposuresettingsandother
camerasettings.
MOUNTING THECAMERA?(CONTINUED)
TheKiWi2900isdesigned to beusedwitheitherthestandardwide-anglecam-
era setting orwith the add-on Fujifilm 0.8X wide angle lens.The two threaded
mountingholesbelowtheslotontheCameraBracketwill positionthecamera
at its proper nodal point setting for either configuration.The diagram below
showsthepropermountingholesforthecamera.
Note:The slot above the camera mounting holeswill accept the Camera Knob
and can be used to locate the camera in accordance with the nodal points of
other3rdpartylenses(seeChapter3forinstructions).
Mountinghole
forstandard wide
anglesettingof
camera
Mounting Holesforaccessories
(i.e.,GPS,flash unit)

Page-9
TAKING THE PHOTOS
TheKiWi2900hasafemale1/4-20threadonthebottomoftheIndexingHubfor
mountingtomoststandardtripods.Whenreadytoshoot,makesurethatthe
KiWi2900issecurelyattachedtothetripod. Useatripodthatissturdy,ideally
onethathasacentersupportsystemofbracestohelpkeepthecameraand
KiWi2900fromexcessiveflexing.
Itmaybepossiblethatyourtripodusesalarger3/8inchthread.Ifthisisthe
case,youcanpurchasea3/8to1/4adapteratacamerastoreorphotographer
equipmentsupplier.
Whenreadytoshoot,itisimportantthattheunitislevel.Observethetwin-axis
bubblelevelontheKiWi2900whilelevelingthetripod.Ofcourse,thistaskis
mucheasierifthetripodisequippedwithatilthead.Ifthetripoddoesnot
haveatilthead, aQuickTilt™levelercanbepurchasedfromKaidanforusewith
theKiWi2900.
OncetheKiWi2900 islevel,doublechecktoseeifthecameraismountedlevel
inelevation.UsetheCameraAdjustmentShoeandplaceitagainstthecamera.
Byplacingtheshoesnuglyagainstthecamera,itwillhelptoverticallyalignand
positionthecamera.
You’renowreadytobegincapturingyourfirstpanorama.Youshouldalso,at
thistimereviewthedocumentationofthepanoramicstitchingsoftwarethat
isbeingusedinordertogetrecommendationsforexposuresettingsandother
camerasettings.

Page-10
3
HOW DOILOCATE MY CAMERA’SNODAL POINT?
Followthese steps andyou will be able to easilylocate the nodal pointfor any
cameraandlenscombination.
Simplyput,thenodalpointisthe pointinsideyourcamerawherethe lightrays
converge and flip over. When shooting an immersive panorama,it is necessary
torotateaboutthis pointtoeliminatetheimage mismatchcaused byparallax
error.
Parallaxerrorcan be easilydemonstratedbythis simple experiment.Closeone
eyeandholdyourindexfingeruprightaboutsixinchesawayfromyouropeneye.
Rockyourheadfromsidetoside.Noticehowyourfingermoveswithrespectto
thebackground.Thisrelativemovementisduetothefactthat youarenotrotat-
ingyourheadaroundyoureye’snodalpoint,whichissomewhereinthecenterof
youreyeball.Instead,you’rerotatingaboutyourspinewhichis severalinchesto
therearandofftooneside.Itisthisrelativeside-to-sidemotionthatwewillstrive
toeliminatewhensettingupacameraforVRpanoramas.
STEP 1:THE EASY PART -THE SIDE-TO-SIDEADJUSTMENT
OncethecameraisfastenedtotheKiWi2900PanHead,thecenterofthelenswill
bedirectlyoverthepivotaxis.Noside-to-sideadjustmentwillbeneeded.
FindingtheNodalPoint
Whenusing3rdPartyLenses

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,suchas a doorwayoredgeofa building.Positiontheunitand tripodabout
fourfeet away, or as close as possible with the edge still in focus when looking
throughtheviewdisplayedontheLCDscreenofthecamera.
Lookingatthecamera’sLCD,findanotherverticaledgeorobjectthatisfaraway,
suchasanotherbuildingortelephonepole.Alignthetwoobjectsandrotatethe
VerticalBracketsotheyareinthelefthandsideoftheviewfinder.
Rotatethepanheadsothe twoobjects moveovertotherighthand sideofthe
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(telephonepole).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.