KiWi™ 900/950 User’s Guide Photographic VR Panoramic Tripod Head Designed expressly for the Nikon Coolpix 900, 900S and 950 Digital Cameras
Copyright Information Copyright © 2000 Kaidan, Inc. All Rights Reserved. First Edition, September 2000. KiWi is a trademark of Kaidan, Inc. Other products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Patents Pending. Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Kaidan.
1 Setting Up Your KiWi 900/950™ UNPACKING THE BOX The KiWi 900/950 is shipped in a single box and consists of the components detailed below. Please make sure that all parts are included. Examine the parts for any signs of shipping damage. In the event of shipping damage, immediately contact Kaidan to process claims. If any items are missing or you notice any damage, call Kaidan at 215-364-1778, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM EST, MonFri.
REMOVING THE FRICTION CAP The Friction Cap needs to be removed in order to change detent discs. The discs provide the means for establishing and changing the number and spacing of the angular increments of the tripod head. The two discs that come standard with the KiWi 900/950 provide for 14 and 18 shots per revolution. Use the 18 position detent disc when capturing images with the normal wide-angle setting of the camera.
REMOVING & REPLACING THE DETENT DISC Once the Indexing Hub is removed, the detent disc can be removed from its recess in the bottom of the Vertical Bracket. The disc may slip out once the Indexing Hub is removed. If it sticks inside the recess, simply insert the tip of a ballpoint pen or a pin small enough to fit into the detent disc ejection hole on the top of the bracket and push the detent disc out of the detent disc recess.
ADJUSTING THE DETENT FORCE The spring plunger that provides the detent action can also be adjusted to vary the force. Use a flat blade screw driver to move the plunger in and out as desired. A convenient way to adjust the plunger is to screw the plunger all the way in until it gently bottoms out. Then unscrew the plunger about one complete turn.
2 Shooting Panoramas HOW MANY SHOTS? The KiWi 900/950 is designed to be used with: • The normal wide-angle setting of the camera lens • The optional Nikon 24mm lens (screw on) • Other third party lenses usable with the Coolpix 900/950 camera The normal wide-angle setting of the camera will require the 18 position detent disc. The 24mm Nikon lens requires the use of the 14 position detent disc.
MOUNTING THE CAMERA? (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 its proper nodal point setting for either configuration. The diagram below shows the proper mounting holes for the camera .
TAKING THE PHOTOS The KiWi 900/950 has a female 1/4-20 thread on the bottom of the Indexing Hub for mounting to most standard tripods. When ready to shoot, make sure that the KiWi 900/950 is securely attached to the tripod. Use a tripod that is sturdy, ideally one that has a center support system of braces to help keep the camera and KiWi 900/950 from excessive flexing. It may be possible that your tripod uses a larger 3/8 inch thread.
3 Using Other Lenses HOW DO I LOCATE MY CAMERA’S NODAL POINT? The prior instructions cover the Nikon Coolpix standard lens and the Nikon wideangle lens. Since the Coolpix 900 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 these steps and you’ll be able to easily locate the nodal point for any camera and lens combination.
STEP 2: THE SLIGHTLY HARDER PART - FORE-AFT ADJUSTMENT Put the Captive Camera Knob in the long slot of the Vertical Bracket. This will allow you to slide the camera (along with the Camera Adjustment Shoe) as required. Note: This step is most easily accomplished outside. Find a vertical edge or line, such as a doorway or edge of a building.
STEP 3: DETERMINING THE ACTUAL POSITION If you were using a SLR camera in the previous steps you could have looked through the viewfinder in order to determine the nodal point. However, with the Coolpix 900 series, the viewfinder is not viewing the exact same image as what the CCD (imaging chip) is seeing. Therefore, in order to accurately determine at what position along the slot does the nodal point lay, you’ll need to take a series of test shots.
KW-900/950 ADDENDUM We have included a friction pad cork strip to be used with the Coolpix 950 camera only. See Fig. A below for the correct placement.NOTE: If you are using the Coolpix 900 camera the cork does not need to be installed. FIG.
