panoramic head
Lather, Rinse, Repeat: monopod-based spherical micro-bracket
Submitted by cheathamlane on Fri, 2007-04-20 15:46.Jim Scott's been working hard on his SMB (Spherical MicroBracket)! This is a lightweight DIY aluminum bracket for monopod-based panorama shooting.
AotPR part 7 - 'The Proof is in the Pudding'
Submitted by Ian Wood on Fri, 2007-02-09 03:57.'Ere, anybody wanna see some piccies?
The head works, the mobile phone connects to it and works as a remote control, the camera fires!
AotPR part 6a - I haven't the remotest control...
Submitted by Ian Wood on Tue, 2007-01-09 14:31.Just a quick update to say that a NXT-compatible mobile phone just turned up, hopefully in time for Patrick's get-together tonight...
Ian
AotPR part 6 - My God, I've created a monster!
Submitted by Ian Wood on Fri, 2006-12-29 17:59.It's alive!
The last few months of 2006 were really busy, with a whole series of projects ending at the same time, so although I'd managed to eke out some time to work on the motorised head, I'd not found the time or energy to write it up. :-(
Anyway, the head is semi-finished with all movements working and the programming side coming along. It's not been tested outside as the weather here in SW England has been appalling recently. And I was away on holiday in Madeira the week before Christmas, precisely to get away from the drizzle (insert smug grin).
DIY: Homemade Panoramic head... $35.00!
Submitted by cheathamlane on Thu, 2006-11-23 20:16.Here's a nice DIY project, which will net you a ~12-ounce stainless panhead. This is from the Make blog, September 2006. Good work!
AotPR part 5 - more bits
Submitted by Ian Wood on Tue, 2006-09-26 21:24.A few more bits turned up this week, bringing total expenditure up to around £400.
Items coming through the letterbox included: two timing belts and associated pulleys, some more aluminium profile, more t-slot nuts, half a dozen angle brackets for the alu profile, assorted capscrews (screws with hex-driver heads) and a BIG needle-roller thrust bearing for the main mount.
Picture-wise, we've got some photos of the bits, plus the construction for the 'yaw' motor assembly.
AotPR part 4 - Adding a Camera
Submitted by Ian Wood on Sat, 2006-09-16 23:19.Having built the successful prototype and started using it to test the programming needed, I dug out the aluminium profile and started building something more functional...
Click to see video.
fig I: gearing and pulley with aluminium structure
AotPR part 3 - Programming
Submitted by Ian Wood on Thu, 2006-09-14 22:30.OK, we've built Frankenstein's Panohead, how do we tell it what to do? Obvious - drag some icons around on a grey grid!
Attack of the Panoramic Robots part 2 - more pics.
Submitted by Ian Wood on Sat, 2006-09-09 19:22.Closeup photos of the current prototype.
Geartrain driving the main rotation of the head.
Attack of the Panoramic Robots! or, The Search for a Motorised Panohead
Submitted by Ian Wood on Sat, 2006-09-09 02:32.For several years now, I've wanted to be able to shoot remotely-operated panoramas. Specifically panos from elevated positions, say 4-6 metres above the ground.
'Wait', I hear you say - 'what about pole panoramas where you stick a camera on the top of a long pole and turn it around?'. A great idea, but it doesn't work in small spaces due to positional difficulties. And I often shoot in the evening, with shutter speeds in the seconds - a challenge when it comes to poles that tend to, um, wobble a bit...
The unlikely solution? LEGO Mindstorms NXT.
