KiWi™ Camera-Specific Panoramic Tripod Head Users Guide For all models of KiWi Panoramic Tripod Heads designed for specific 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™ Camera-Specific Panoramic Tripod Head Warranty Registration Please take a moment and fill out the warranty registration card included with your package. Please print clearly in capital letters and remember to affix postage. You can also register by faxing the completed card to 215-322-4186 or register on-line at: http:// www.kaidan.com/register.
Removing the Friction Cap The Friction Cap needs to be removed to either install or change the stainless steel detent discs. These discs provide the means for establishing and changing the number and spacing of the angular increments of the tripod head. Most KiWi models come with two discs, one for the standard lens and one for a wide-angle lens. Some KiWi models, such as the KiWi 990, come with additional discs for other lenses such as the Nikkor fisheye lens.
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 the end of paper clip into the detent disc ejection hole on the top of the bracket and push the detent disc out of the disc recess.
Adjusting the Detent Force If adjusting the Friction Cap does not provide enough tension, there is a spring plunger in the indexing hub that 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 Mounting the Camera? Mounting your camera to your KiWi is easy. Kaidan has provided mounting holes to make it simple. Just choose the appropriate mounting hole for the lens you wish to use. Most KiWi heads have two mounting locations for the standard and wide-angle lenses. Some KiWi heads, such as the KiWi 990, have three holes for additional lenses.(NOTE:See the Appendix D for the lens mounting location for your particular camera).
Mounting the Camera? (continued) The KiWi™ is designed to be used with either the standard wideangle camera setting or with a specific wide-angle or fisheye lens. (See List of Specfied Wide Angle Lenses in Appendix A ). The threaded mounting holes below 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.
Shooting the Panorama The KiWi™ has a female 1/4-20 thread on the bottom of the Indexing Hub for mounting to most standard tripods. Be sure that the KiWi 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 from excessive flexing. It may be possible that your tripod uses a larger 3/8 inch thread. If this is the case, you can purchase a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter at a camera store or photographic equipment supplier.
Shooting the Panorama (continued) Once the tripod is positioned and the KiWi is leveled, index the KiWi so as to point it at some identifiable feature. Instead of counting shots, it’s much easier to stop shooting when you notice that particular feature reappearing. If your camera has an exposure lock feature, you might want to experiment with it. Try to lock the exposure on a scene that is average in brightness. Once you’re set up, simply shoot, index and repeat as quickly as possible.
3 Finding the Nodal Point with 3rd Party Lenses How do I Locate my Camera’s Nodal Point? Follow these steps and you will be able to easily locate the nodal point for any camera and lens combination. Simply put, the nodal point is the point inside your camera where the light rays converge and flip over. When shooting an immersive panorama, it is necessary to rotate about this point to eliminate the image mismatch caused by parallax error. Parallax error can be easily demonstrated by this simple experiment.
The 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. Position the unit and tripod about four feet away, or as close as possible with the edge still in focus when looking through the view displayed on the LCD screen of the camera.
Appendix A List of Specified Wide Angle Lenses for Kiwi Camera Specific Panheads Panhead Wide Angle Lens KW-2000 Olympus Wide Conversion Lens WCON-08 (screw-on) KW-2700 Raynox 0.65x Wid e Angle Lens (Model# Pix-2200 Telephoto & Wide Angle 2-Lens kit) KW-2900 Fujifilm 0.
Appendix C Detent Discs included with each KiWi Camera Specific Bracket Model# Detent position(s), (lens) KW-A50 16 (std.) KW-290 9 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-2000/2020 14 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-2700 14 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-2900 14 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-600/620 14 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-700/800 14 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-900/950 14 (wide), 18 (std.) KW-990 2 (fisheye-mode#1), 5 (fisheye-mode#2), 14 (wide), 18 (std.
Appendix D: KiWi Model Specifics Standard Wide Angle Lens Setting Mounting Hole Wide Angle Lens Mounting Hole Fisheye Lens Mounting Hole Accessory Mounting Holes External Flash Socket Access Holes KiWi™-990 Nodal Point Index Label 12mm Lens = 38mm 15mm Lens = 34mm Line up center of screw with 34mm Accessory Mounting Holes 15 mm lens Line up center of screw with 38mm KiWi™-VL 12 mm lens
Standard Wide-Angle 700 800 Slot for third-party lenses and camera adjustment shoe KiWi™ 700/800 Flash Mounting Slot Camera Mounting Hole for Wide Angle Lens Camera Mounting Hole for Standard Lens Camera Mounting Slot for third party lenses KiWi™-290
Mounting configuration for the KW-290 with the standard lens and flash mounted. Mounting configuration of the Cannon A50 on the KW-A50 Kaidan Incorporated • 703 E. Pennsylvania Blvd • Feasterville, PA 19053 • U.S.A.
KiWi 280 Mounting Hole for standard lens setting Slot for third party lenses KiWi 280 mounting configuration (leveler not included) Kaidan Incorporated • 703 E. Pennsylvania Blvd • Feasterville, PA 19053 • U.S.A.
SLOT FOR THIRD PARTY LENSES STANDARD LENS MOUNT WIDE ANGLE LENS MOUNT KW-2000/2020 Wide Angle Lens Mounting Hole Accessory Mounting Holes (Flash, GPS) Standard Lens mounting hole Slot for third party lenses KW-600/620
Camera Adjustment Lug Addendum Because of the various sizes and camera body profiles, we have included a camera adjustment lug as an additional means of keeping your camera mounted in an vertical position. Shown below are examples of various ways to use the Camera Adjustment Lug to mount your camera.
Frequently Asked Questions What do digital camera manufacters mean by 35mm format equivalent lens? The CCD arrays in a digital camera are much smaller than the imaging area on 35mm film.The CCD size differs from camera to camera. So in order to eliminate any confusion, the focal length is often stated by the camera manufacturer as a 35mm format equivalent, because people are more familar with the 35mm lenses and what kind of image a certain lens will often produce.
