1. DL manuals
  2. Fanotec
  3. Camera Accessories
  4. Ninja 4
  5. User Manual

Fanotec Ninja 4 User Manual

Manual is about: Spherical Panoramic Tripod Head

Summary of Ninja 4

  • Page 1

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 1 - fanotec ® spherical panoramic tripod head nodal ninja 4 manual.

  • Page 2

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 2 - contents introduction .............................................................................................3 nodal ninja 4 features ...........................................................................4 nodal ninja 4 exploded view ..........................

  • Page 3

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 3 - 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 ...

  • Page 4

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 4 - nodal ninja 4 features wehavecompiledalistofthefeaturesandbenefitsofnodalninja.Whenshoppingpanoramic 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 poin...

  • Page 5

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 5 -.

  • Page 6

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 6 - − 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 ? 1 mm longer than nn3). This helps to accommodate larger cameras like the d2x, d3 or mk ii, mk iii, and cameras with...

  • Page 7

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 7 - − 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 sl...

  • Page 8

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 8 - − reversible detent rings. − detentringscanbedisabledontheflywithoutanytool. − 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, grea...

  • Page 9

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 9 - nodal ninja 4 exploded view.

  • Page 10

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 10 - 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 hor...

  • Page 11

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 11 - rings available: 10/12 degrees, number of stops around n = 30/36 15/18 degrees, number of stops around n = 24/20 20/24 degrees, number of stops around n = 18/15 30/36 degrees, number of stops around n = 12/10 45/60 degrees, number of stops around n = 8/6 90/120 degre...

  • Page 12

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 12 - upper rail assembly overall dimensions of upper rail = ? 9 mm x ? 10 mm x ? 11 mm (? 12 ” x ? 13 ” x ? 14 ”). Adjustment distances from the upper rotator center point to the upper rail camera mounting point, minimum adjustment distance 33mm (1 1/2”), maximum distance...

  • Page 13

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 13 - hard shelled cases for nodal ninja 4 we have available very attractive hard shelled cases. These cases are padded with a foam lining. Dual zippered for added opening convenience..

  • Page 14

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 14 - basic assembly nn4 comes preassembled in two parts – upper and lower assembly. Place vertical arm assembly on lower rail assembly and secure with the vertical rail mounting knob. Place vertical arm assembly on lower rail assembly and secure with the vertical rail fri...

  • Page 15

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 15 - removing and replacing detents disassemble the lower rotator assembly by completely unscrewing the friction set knob on top (with markings). Using the enclosed hex key loosen the inner hex screw enough to release detent ring. Some units may have the hex key tool loca...

  • Page 16

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 16 - setting up with known nnp if you already know the “no parallax point” (nnp) of your camera and lens there are only two adjustments to deal with on nodal ninja to properly position it. The exception would be if your camera, or battery grip, has an offset tripod mount ...

  • Page 17

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 17 - setting the upper rail loosen the upper rotator knob and rotate the upper rail with camera/lens still attached so it points straight out (parallel with the ground) as shown to the right. This position is known as 0 degrees. Next loosen the camera mounting knob and sl...

  • Page 18

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 18 - using the camera mounting plate (ncp1) when mounting the camera plate (cp) make sure it is perpendicular to the camera body toassureasnugfit.Donottwistthecpto tighten, secure using the 1/4 screw with coin or screwdriver. Twisting the cp to tighten may damage the rubb...

  • Page 19

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 19 - mounting in landscape mode mounting your camera and lens in landscape mode allows for horizontal panning only. Nn4 will support lenses up to 100mm. When using lens of this length may be better to mount using the lens tripod mount..

  • Page 20

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 20 - quick release adapters fanotec’s arca style swiss quick release clamp thenewlowprofilearcastyleplatebyfanotecmountstothebaseofyourcamera. This plate can used with fanotec’s arca style clamp (asqrc-2) and/or most arca style clamps for mounting in a reproducible manner...

  • Page 21

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 21 - cameras / grips with off-axis tripod mounts if your camera has a tripod mount that is offset from the center of the barrel of the lens you will need the n3t30 or n3t30 offset t-adapter. First determine if the t-adapter will be needed. Look at the base of your camera ...

  • Page 22

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 22 - about parallax parallax defined parallax is the apparent shifting of a foreground object relative to a background object when viewed at different angles or perspectives. With panoramic photography, multi-shot images or images shot side by side create an issues know a...

  • Page 23

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 23 - finding the entrance pupil of a lens what is the nodal point or entrance pupil and why is it important? We would like to take moment and dispel misconceptions of the word “nodal point”. When referring to this no parallax point (npp) many still refer to it as the noda...

  • Page 24

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 24 - to locate the nnp of a lens have the camera/lens setup on nn3 as shown to the right. You want the camera as far back on the upper rail pointing towards the horizon and parallel with the ground. Position in front of the camera two objects – one nearer than the other. ...

  • Page 25

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 25 - lookinginsidetheviewfinder,oratthelcdscreen,rotatethecamerasothetwoobjectsare towards the left side of the frame. Note the exact position of the two lamps. Ideally place the lamps so they aren’t directly behind each – slightly offset them. Note the apparent distance ...

  • Page 26

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 26 - loosen the camera mount knob and move the camera forward approx ½ inch (10 mm) and tighten. Repeat until the lamps remain relatively unchanged as shown below. You do not want to any change in movement between the two objects. Simple recap – outside you could use two ...

  • Page 27

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 27 - warranty nodal ninja is a quality instrument. Under normal usage it will last many years. We feel soconfidentourproductwillstandthestandoftimeweissuea2yearwarrantyfromthe date of your purchase – one of the best in the industry. In the unlikely event a part wears or b...

  • Page 28

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 28 - returns werealizenodalninjamightnotworkforeveryone.Ifyoufindforanyreasonyouarenot happy with your purchase please contact us immediately for return instructions. We will accept items returned if “received back” no later than 14 days for nn4. We will refund the origin...

  • Page 29

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 29 - copyright information the materials contained in this manual and website as well as any translations may be downloaded or copied provided that all copies retain our copyright notice. No material may bemodified,editedortakenoutofcontextsuchthatitsusecreatesfalseormisl...

  • Page 30

    © 2005-2011 nodal ninja ® - 30 - contributors the following people helped to contribute to this user guide: − bill bailey – www.Circularworlds.Com − nick fan – www.Fanotec.Com − rosauro ona – www.Rosaurophotography.Com − john houghton – http://www.Johnhpanos.Com © 2011 nodal ninja ® all rights reser...