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KiWi Panoramic Tripod Head
User’s Guide - V1.01 - 30 Sep 2004
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KiWi Panoramic Tripod Head Overview Welcome to the Kaidan KiWi and Panoramic Photography Thank you for purchasing a Kaidan lightweight travelling companion. KiWi™ Panoramic Tripod Head. The KiWi is built around a sturdy This manual is designed to help you and precise Rotator Base with inter- understand how to use your KiWi to changable ClickDiscs. There are create quality panoramas. This docu- interchangeable camera brackets that ment will be revised occasionally and slide and lock onto the R
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The KiWi Family Introducing the KiWi Components KiWi Rotator Base & Accessory Pouch Standard Camera Bracket Rotator Base The primary component in the KiWi family is The Standard Camera Bracket is designed the Rotator Base. The base uses interchange- to support most digital and film cameras in a able indexing discs called ClickDiscs that portrait orientation. Used primarily to shoot provide various click-stop positions. The base single-row or cylindrical panoramas, the contains an integral c
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KiWi ClickDiscs How to install and remove ClickDisc indexing discs Disassembly 1) The Rotator Base is held together with a recessed set screw which is located at the zero degree position on the barrel. Use the set screw wrench lo- cated in the blue accessory pouch and loosen the set screw (do not remove) by turning several revolutions counter-clockwise. 2) With the set screw ClickDisc Accessory Pouch with 6 Rotator Base Assembly loosened, remove the axle ClickDiscs and Set Screw Wren
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KiWi ClickDiscs How to install and remove ClickDisc indexing discs Assembly 1) Install the appropriate ClickDisc into the cavity on the top of the barrel. Be sure to orient the tab of the ClickDisc into the notch of the barrel. Push the ClickDisc into posi- Horizontal Plate tion. 2) Place the horizontal plate Barrel w/ClickDisc Installed over the barrel and reinsert the axle. Make sure that the plastic washer is on the axle. Set Screw Wrench 3) Push down on the knob of the axle to compr
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KiWi Rotator Base Tripod threaded bushing adapter The KiWi comes with a tripod adapt- er bushing which accommodates both 1/4-20 inch and 3/8-16 inch threaded tripod mounts. 1/4 inch Tripod If your tripod has a 1/4 inch threaded mount, leave the brass bushing in the center hole in the bottom of the rota- tor as shown at lower left. 3/8 inch Tripod Adapter If your tripod has 3/8 inch threaded Bushing mount, remove the brass bushing by unscrewing it in a counterclockwise direction and scre
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Spring Plunger Indexing How to adjust the spring force and click-stop action. The KiWi uses a spring plunger which is threaded into the horizontal plate. This plunger works with the ClickDisc to provide a solid and smooth click-stop action. The force of the plunger and the feel of the detent action can be adjusted by threading the plunger in and out of the horizontal plate. You can use a wide-blade screwdriver or a thin coin to adjust the plunger. The more you thread the plunger in (cl
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Standard Camera Bracket - Camera Mounting Mounting your camera on the Standard Camera Bracket To mount your camera, first select the camera in the same location. Slide Camera Knob appropriate slot in the bracket that these adjusters into the best spot on will best locate the tripod mount- your camera to ensure a square and Camera Shoe ing thread on your camera. You may secure mounting. need to reposition the camera knob. To remove the knob simply slide it The Standard Camera Bracket along th
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Twin-Axis Camera Bracket (Optional) Mounting your camera on the Twin-Axis Camera Bracket The Twin-Axis Camera Brack- Twin-Axis bracket makes it easy to et is offered as an optional choice loosen the adjustment axes and quickly when purchasing a KiWi. You can remove the various elements. There also purchase it separately. The Twin are convenient measurement scales in Axis Bracket has two separate axes both axes to ease reassembly. of adjustment. This makes it easier to slide the camera into
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Quick Release Camera Mounts (Optional) Arca Swiss Style Quick Release Plates Both the Standard Camera Bracket and the Twin-Axis Bracket can be ordered or upgraded with a Quick Release Mount. These mounts are simply bolted on the respective bracket and make it easy to remove and replace your camera in seconds. The Standard and Twin-Axis Cam- era Brackets have optional Quick Release Camera Brackets. Based on the popular Arca-Swiss standard, the Quick Release Brackets provide an elegant a
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Nodal Point What is it and how do I find it? This is one of the most frequently that you’re not rotating your head asked questions when it comes to around your eye’s nodal point, which stitcher-based panorama creation. is somewhere in the center of your Once you understand the basics, you’ll eyeball. Instead, you’re rotating about be able to easily locate the nodal point your spine which is several inches to for any camera and lens combination. the rear and off to one side. It is this relat
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Nodal Point (continued) What is it and how do I find it? viewfinder, find another vertical edge where you look through a separate or line that is far away, such as another viewfinder and not through the actual building or telephone pole. Align the lens. The process is basically the same. two objects and rotate the pan head Locate the Side-to-Side adjustment as so they are in the left hand side of the discussed in Step 1. When it comes to viewfinder. the Fore-Aft adjustment, you won’t be able t
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Shooting Panoramas How do I begin? How much Overlap? obtain the best results. is pretty common since many cameras have mounting screws that are not in the center of Taking the Photos the base. Many cameras have screws off to one The amount you turn the camera for each end of the camera or at the edge of the camera shot varies. It is dependent on a number of and this can cause the camera to not be pulled factors such as the field of view (the angle) When you’re ready to shoot, make sure that
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Shooting Panoramas (continued) How do I begin? it takes. Let me also reiterate what's not as and if you have any questions or problems using important as some people think. our equipment, please let us know. The overall level of the head/camera is not as critical in order to produce good stitched results. As long as the camera is not tilted or rotated and as long as the camera is positioned so that the optical axis is parallel to the rotation plane, you can tilt or position the entire head
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Warranty and Product Return Information Copyright © 2004 Kaidan, Inc. All Rights Reserved. First Edition, Sep 2004. KiWi, exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, or limitations on how long an • Damage or loss incurred during uninsured shipping to Kaidan. In this case, QuickPan is a trademark of Kaidan, Inc. Other products mentioned herein may implied warranty lasts, so the above exclusions or limitations may not apply to Kaidan cannot issue any type of refund. Customer will be respons
