KiWi™ 900/950
User’s Guide
Photographic VR
Panoramic Tripod Head
Designed expresslyfor the Nikon Coolpix
900,900S and 950 Digital Cameras
1
SettingUpYourKiWi900/950™
UNPACKING THE BOX
The KiWi 900/950 is shipped in a single box and consists of the components de-
tailed below. Please make sure that all parts are included. Examine the parts for
anysignsofshippingdamage.In theevent ofshippingdamage,immediatelycon-
tact Kaidan to process claims.Ifanyitems are missing or you notice anydamage,
call Kaidan at 215-364-1778, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM EST, Mon-
Fri.
Nikon Coolpix Camera
Vertical Bracket
(not included)
Captive Camera Knob
& Mounting Holes for
standard and wide
angle settings
(Not visible)
Access Hole for
Flash Sync
Twin-axis Bubble Level
Friction Cap and
Angle Indicator
Indexing hub
Retaining Knob
The KiWi 900/950 also comes with two detent discs (14 and 18 positions, not
shown) and a camera adjustment shoe (attached to the vertical bracket).
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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 ofthe
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. Use the 14 position detent disc when using the optional Nikon 24mm
wide-angle lens for the Coolpix 900/950 camera.
To remove the Friction Cap, loosen the silver colored Retaining Knob which is lo-
catedon thesideoftheFriction Cap.It doesnot havetoberemovedfrom theCap,
but only backed out far enough to allow the Cap to be unscrewed from the axle.
You can lookinto the opening in the center of the cap to see when the Retaining
Knob is clear ofthe hexagonal-shaped axle.Rotate the cap counterclockwise and
remove it from the unit.
Retaining
Knob
Frict ion Cap
Vertical Bracket
Indexing Hub
Once the Friction Cap has been removed, separate theVertical Bracket from the
Indexing Hub.You might need to wiggle the pieces as you pull them apart.
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REMOVING &REPLACING THE DETENT DISC
Once the Indexing Hub is removed, the detent disc can be removed from its re-
cess in the bottom of the Vertical Bracket. The disc may slip out once the Index-
ingHubisremoved.Ifit sticksinsidetherecess,simplyinsert thetipofaballpoint
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.
With the disc removed, a different disc can be inserted to change the angular
spacing. The 14 position detent disc (included with your bracket) is for use with
theoptionalNikon wideanglelens(availablefrom Nikon for theCoolpix900/950).
To install a different disc, simply align the keyed slot and push the disc into the
recess. Make sure the disc is properly seated and flush to the bottom surface of
the Vertical Bracket.With the new disc inserted, reassemble by inserting the In-
dexing Hub back through the bearing in theVertical Bracket.
REPLACING THE FRICTION CAP
Replace the Friction Cap by threading the Cap back onto the axle. Continue to
thread the cap so that there is no free playbetween theVertical Bracket and the
Indexing Hub. The rubber washer on the bottom of the Friction Cap should be
slightlycompressed.When the drag feels adequate,turn the Friction Cap so that
the threaded shaft of the Retaining Knob is aligned with the closest flat on the
axle.Tighten the Retaining Knob to lock the Cap in place.
Rubber Washer
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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 gentlybottoms out.Then unscrew the plunger about one complete turn.
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2
ShootingPanoramas
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?
The KiWi 900/950 also comes with a Camera Adjustment Shoe to help keep your
cameramountedvertically.It alsomakesit easytoremoveandreplaceyour cam-
era in the same position. Before the camera is attached, loosen the knob on the
CameraAdjustment Shoe. Once the knob is loosened,the shoe can slide forward
or backwardstohelpposition thecamera.Youmayneedtoremovetheshoeand
reposition it against either the front or the backofthe camera,dependingwhich
configuration is selected.
Camera
Adjustment Shoe
(Knob is on the
other side)
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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 . When
using the camera with the standard lens, Figure A shows the proper mounting
with the adjustment shoe behind the camera.
Figure A:
Cam era adjust m ent
Shoe and knob
Cam era knob
View of Vert ical Cam era
Bracket with camera
at tached using the
standard cam era lens
Whenusingthecamerawiththeoptional24mmwide-angleNikonlensmounted,
Figure B shows the proper mounting with the adjustment shoe in front of the
camera.
Figure B:
Cam era adjust m ent
Cam era knob
Shoe and knob
View of Vert ical Cam era
Bracket with cam era
at tached using the 24m m
wide-angle Nikon lens
Note:theslot belowthecameramountingholeswillaccept thecameraknoband
can be used to locate the camera in accordance with the nodal points of other
3rd partylenses (see Chapter 3 for instructions).
Mounting Hole for using
wide angle Nikon lens
Mounting Holes for
other accessories
(Flash Bracket ,
Sunshade)
Mounting Hole for
standard cam era lens
Mounting Slot for
use with 3rd part y
lenses & t he Cam era
Adjustm ent Shoe
Access Hole for
external Flash Sync
connect ion
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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. If this is the
case,you can purchase a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter at a camera store or photographer
equipment supplier.
When ready to shoot, it is important that the unit is level. Observe the twin-axis
bubble level on the KiWi 900/950 while leveling the tripod. Of course,this task is
much easier if the tripod is equipped with a tilt head. If the tripod does not
have a tilt head, a QuickTilt™ leveler can be purchased from Kaidan for use with
the KiWi 900/950.
Once the KiWi 900/950 is level, double check to see if the camera is mounted
level in elevation. Use the Camera Adjustment Shoe and place it against the
camera. By placing the shoe snuglyagainst the camera, it will help to vertically
align and position the camera.
You’re now ready to begin capturing your first panorama.You should also, at
this time review the documentation of the panoramic stitching software that
is being used in order to get recommendations for exposure settings and other
camera settings.
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3
UsingOtherLenses
HOW DO ILOCATE MY CAMERA’S NODAL POINT?
Theprior instructionscover theNikon CoolpixstandardlensandtheNikonwide-
angle 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 anycamera 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’s necessaryto
rotate about this point to eliminate the image mismatch caused by parallax er-
ror.
Parallax error can be easily demonstrated by this simple experiment. Close one
eyeandholdyour indexfinger upright about sixinchesawayfrom your open eye.
Rockyour head from side to side. Notice how your finger moves with respect to
the background. This relative movement is due to the fact that you’re not rotat-
ingyour headaroundyour eye’snodalpoint,which issomewherein thecenter of
your eyeball. Instead, you’re rotating about your spine which is several inches to
therear andofftooneside.It isthisrelativeside-to-sidemotionthat wewillstrive
to eliminate when setting up a camera for VR panoramas.
STEP 1:THE EASY PART -THE SIDE-TO-SIDE ADJUSTMENT
Once the camera is fastened to the KiWi 900/950 Pan Head,the center ofthe lens
will be directly over the pivot axis. No side-to-side adjustment will be needed.
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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 re-
quired.Note:Thisstepismost easilyaccomplishedoutside.Findaverticaledgeor
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.
Looking at the camera’s LCD,find another vertical edge or object that is far away,
such as another building or telephone pole.Align the two objects and rotate the
Vertical Bracket so they are in the left hand side ofthe viewfinder.
Rotate the pan head so the two objects move over to the right hand side of the
viewfinder. Unless you’ve managed to unwittingly locate the right nodal point
position,you should notice the two objects will move with respect to each other
as theVertical Bracket is rotated from left to right.Slide the camera to the front
or rear as required to eliminate this relative movement.
Good.
No relat ive m ovem ent
between object when
rotat ing cam era from
side to side.
Looking through the viewfinder, align a close object (brick wall) with a faraway
object (telephone pole). As the camera is rotated from side-to-side, there should
be no relative movement between the two objects.
Bad.
Relative m ovem ent
between object when
rotat ing cam era from
side to side.
If, as shown to the right, the two objects move with respect to one another in
the viewinder, slide the camera fore or aft in order to eliminate this movement.
Here, the telephone pole has moved behind the brickwall.
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STEP 3:DETERMINING THE ACTUAL POSITION
IfyouwereusingaSLRcamerainthepreviousstepsyoucouldhavelookedthrough
theviewfinder 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
(imagingchip)isseeing.Therefore,in order toaccuratelydetermineat what posi-
tion along the slot does the nodal point lay, you’ll need to take a series of test
shots.
The best wayto do this is to start with the camera at the front most position of
theVerticalbracket.Usingtheobject-alignment techniquementionedpreviously,
take a sequence of left-right pairs of test shots. Each pair will have the vertically
aligned objects in the left and then the right side of the viewfinder. After each
pair of photos, slide the bracket rearward a small amount and repeat the pro-
cess. Slide the bracket the same increment each time (i.e. 10mm). Placing a tem-
porary strip of tape in order to measure and mark the increments should make
it easier to recordyour results.Be sure to record the scale setting for each pair of
images.
When you’re done,you should have a pair ofleft-right images for each position of
the camera along the slot. Transfer the images to your computer and inspect
each left-right pair.You’relookingfor thepair ofimagesthat hastheleast relative
movement between thenear andfar objects.Gobacktoyour recordedmarkings
and determine which location on the tape corresponds to the best pair of im-
ages.
In some casesyou might find that no pair ofimages is optimum.In that case,you
should look for the two pairs that are closest and reshoot a test pair between
those pairs. With a little trial and error you will be able to accurately determine
the nodal point for any lens.
Once you’ve found the position,you can mark that location with the CameraAd-
justment Shoe or leave a piece of tape as a marker for future reference.
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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.A
5 JUNE 2000
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