Automatic Computerized Panohead

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

I had intentions of posting this info earlier, but ... time washes away rapidly... so now it is here (thanks to Igor for requesting the info)

This is the set I am buying, but as of now, haven't received it yet. Should be here during next week though.

Head and tripod $300

Head/Tripod PDF info

BlueTooth wireless unit for the head. Around $150
Link to the Producer

Free software to use when using the head for panorama/photo shoots:
http://trac.gbiloba.org/papywizard/wiki
http://trac.gbiloba.org/papywizard/wiki/UserGuide2.x

Relevant discussions of the Merlin heads:
http://www.autopano.net/forum/f20-merlin,orion-and-papywizard
http://www.autopano.net/forum/p37570-2009-01-24-23-56-43#p37570
http://www.autopano.net/forum/p44171-2009-05-01-13-28-37#p44171
(and a lot more in the first of the above 3 links)
http://www.brewzone.com/2008/11/diy-pano-head

As you can make off the discussions, the software from papywizard can be run from a Bluetooth compatible laptop or from Nokia internet tablets. The one's used for this are Nokia N770 and Nokia N800. Either one of those can be found on e-bay or other internet vending sites, from around 100 dollars (used) up to the new prices.

The VIDEO (youtube)

The head uses 8x AA batteries. 8 batteries last for around 10 panoramas according to what I have been able to figure out by scavenging the net, and that is not enough for professional use. I am thinking about using 2 motorbike batteries (6 volts), serially connect these, have electronic control for the output at max 1000ma, and that should keep the head working all day without running out of energy. To make things even better, I am thinking about getting solar charger panel, that should be able to keep the motorcycle batteries fully charged ALL the time, something like THIS or THAT

As I understand it, the Austrian company might have the head without tripod (less problem/cost for transport) including the bluetooth unit, but without the Nokia and also without the software.

Hopefully people find this info helpful and interesting enough to dig deeper into it. There are other controllers available as well, without the need for the bluetooth equipment or the Nokia tablet or a laptop on-site.

I hope for this to be a good solution, since it allows for gigapanos to be shot as well, and should be good for use in relation to HDR photography. Will make some updates as time passes, and I have had a chance to actually try it out.

Trausti

[Deckg]

Hi, very intested in this setup, I have a gigapan epic but it has some serious limitations re. the nodal point for larger lenses.

Where did you buy this set from?

Cheers,

Derek

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Hi Derek.

I bought it from a fellow panographer in Holland. He had 2 of them, and he is keeping the other one for himself.

As stated above, I haven't received it yet, but I very much look forward to see how it will perform.
It can shoot 660 (or more?) shots per hour, and even though there are other and faster heads, I think it's more than enough for most assignments, and price-wise it's a clear winner.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Got the equipment, perfect condition. Need to find a quick release plate with a screw that fits the hole on the head and my tripod... or have it machined somewhere if I can't find one (not that many photo equipment shops here). Also have to attach the camera and align it to the right position on the head... and figure out how the Nokia works and how the Papywizard program works for controlling the head.... and I also have to find a cable that can be connected between the camera and the head. That might be tricky to find here... but I can always have it made for me (there is a cable for Canon with it, but I use Olympus... ).

Have to steal time for this in one of the coming days. Can't wait to get it up and running... but have to wait. That's life.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Slow progress (mostly due to lack of time).

Found an adapter insert for the bottom of the head, so it finally got on top of the tripod. I needed to add different presets to the papywizard program on the Nokia, and in theory that should be an easy thing to do, but knowing nothing about linux and it's command line structure, I got stuck. Help was/is very quick in the support forums found here, and it was eventually solved to my full satisfaction this morning. It would be great if there was a solution out of the box, where one would simply press a button after feeding in the photo sequence needed, and the head would simply start shooting the photos. ... such a solution does not exist as of now, and that is a shame. I am searching for electronic engineer, will have one over next week, and apart from him (if he is the right one) working on 2 different prototypes of panorama/photography related inventions of mine, I will have him work on the Merlin head, with a solution I have ready in my mind... that a professional should be able to create in real life... enabling my vision of 1 button solution.

The Merlin/Orion head is a very nice construction and terribly precise. I will make some tests on the precision... try to make different shots with different bracketing ... not so easy to do now, since the camera is not properly aligned to the head... need to have a specially made arm fitting the camera/lens combination. Unfortunately the head is not made for panorama photography, and that is a problem... that can of course be solved in different ways. The vertical arm is fixed, and does not allow for any horizontal movement... so if the lens is wide (physically), there will be a problem fitting it onto the rotating arm and have it aligned. My Zuiko 8mm is a border-line case... I can (most likely) fit the camera/lens if I get a custom made arm for it, but making a new crown with a new arm would make good sense. The head is not suitable for use with big cameras with big lenses.... for that the vertical arm is simply too short. A good metal workshop could easily cut the arm in 2 parts, extend cables and alu-weld extension patches to make the arm longer... and there would be no limit on camera/lens combinations. I have no need for that personally... but others who are into gigapixel panos would absolutely benefit from such operations.

Another drawback is that the head only has shutter cable output for Canon (EOS series)... so I will have to mix a couple of cables together to make the auto shutter work with my Oly. Of course the head SHOULD have had a generic USB shutter system output (shoulda, woulda, coulda).

Weight of the head is 2 kilos (4 lbs), including the 8 (AA) batteries, and as such quite heavy when combined with camea and lens... a strong/steady tripod is absolutely recommended.

And as for price: Normal price of the head + tripod is $299 but there is now an offer where that same combo costs only $175 http://www.opticsplanet.net/sky-watcher ... ripod.html That is insanely cheap, and I can only recommend those who are interested in these heads (and ready to deal with modifications and initial "issues") to order NOW.

I am actually thinking about ordering another head from there... just in case I react on my wish to experiment in new directions... and also based on the incredibly low price.

For my setup of 6 pictures around and 1 up, it takes exactly 1 minute and 45 seconds. Not bad, but a manual setup wold be faster... but more prone to misalignment of the tripod, causing parallax errors.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkdP5OdYwjo

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

As I type this, the head is shooting a pano.... actually quite a nice experience seeing the equipment doing the job - while one self can be a natural lazy bastard

To the best of my knowledge... there are only 80 panographers using these heads around the world... 100 at most. Last night I jerry-rigged the cables, so today I can make some tests with the camera.... (which is what I am trying to do now).

You can get yourself a setup like this for $300-$500 + freight + taxes
http://www.adorama.com/SKWS21300.html + used Nokia n770 from ebay

Or, if you have a bluetooth enabled laptop, you can save yourself the cost of a Nokia, and run the program from the computer. That way, the cost would be down to 175+shipping+taxes.... and it would also save you from the headache of installing and setting up the program on the Nokia (linux command line thingies).

But I must admit that it is a convenient prospect of not having to drag a laptop around to use as a remote... but then again... I normally have a laptop with me, to check the pictures before leaving a location... so it would not be a "problem" if I didn't have the Nokia. Another thing is that the Nokia has incredible battery life when correctly set up for saving energy... something a laptop can not possibly compete with.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

No USB... and that's just plain stupid. The connection is through a 2mm mini-jack. I cannibalized a cable remote I recently bought from China (3 dollars worth), cut the cable that came with the head and solded them together after figuring out the connection. If you have a cable remote, you should not have problem figuring out the connection, and you can ask in the autopano forums, where all answers are to be found.

Another thing I am to test with this head, is to make a platform for it, drop it on the front seat of my car... or centrally, and let it do it's thing.

No problem with car panos! I'm sure it's perfect for it.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Today I got a 12v 7ah battery, a car battery charger and a small tripod for the head. The small tripod survived the trip home from the shop, after that I killed it... ripped off it's head and made my own "system", including a fixed bolt and epoxy... will provide pictures later. Connected the battery to the battery holders under the cover, and put it to the test in one of my cars.

It worked... and triggered the alarm of the car... and worked... and triggered the alarm .... etc. Moved it to the roof of the car, and there it did NOT trigger the alarm, but it went really crazy, spinning around at max speed, and didn't react as it should. So there is obviously a problem with the blue tooth frequency and the car alarm... not good.... but I hope it's limited to MY car, and no other car. Yesterday I did take a pano in my other car, which doesn't have an alarm, and had no problems.

The prospect of being able to take a complete car pano in 3 minutes (6+6 images), with good overlap and good results, is great news to me. Earlier I have tried to shoot car-interior panos, but without success. Things simply moved too much. With this head, it's just perfect. I will absolutely post a video on Youtube to demonstrate how easy it is, and provide the result in a project file.

The results I got from the tests I did (that worked... despite the darn alarm) were very impressive... but with stitching errors, since I have still not gotten a machined arm to connect the head to the camera... apart of the wooden one that is prone to errors.

5 minutes per car to shoot, 5 minutes in post production... 10+20 minutes if I shoot in raw and have to do HDR (no experience there... so .... don't hang me up on the details).

In my preliminary opinion, car panos should ONLY be done with equipment like this one. Nothing else.

It is professional, automatic and delivers good results.

I have to find a place that can machine a new arm for me, that will preferably fit with the quick release shoe from Nodal Ninja... and a new crown would be great addition as well.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Glad to know you are joining the revolution

Any issues/questions of technical charater will be answered here: http://www.autopano.net/forum/f20-merli ... papywizard

They are very hepful people, and responsible for these heads being used for panos... so ask them away!

Where did you buy yours from?

[gmeleski]

Hi,

Do you have any pictures of your setup you could post?

What Camera (Brand - Lens)/Mount do you use ? You have to make a custom mount don't you?

I'd like to look into this, and since you've gotten this far, perhaps some pics and such would be good for all of us.

Regards,

Gary

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Am just about to convert a video and try to make HDR pano from a shooting test I just did.

Things REALLY look well by now... but the head needs a new arm to enable perfect fit every time, and probably the crown too, since the head is made for telescopes, and not for photography, and one can not move the vertical fixed "arm". It's completely fixed.

Camera: Olympus E-520
Lens: Zuiko ED 8mm Fisheye



The legs are probably a bit too high, but I will find out in the coming days/weeks if I will have a general problem with different cars. Mine are old cars with good space (Chevrolet Celebrity), one I had changed out the original seats with seats from a Mitsubishi (better seating comfort), while the other has the original front seats.

If the legs are too long, I will just cut them shorter and widen their spread for added stability.
The battery i bought has good weight to be used for adding stability to the tripod, by resting on the leg supports (lowers the point of gravity). And it should enable me to shoot for a few days without worrying about running out of power. The battery can be recharged around 300 times, price around $35 here in Peru, but only $18 in the US (amazon).

Here is a video from my latest test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y61KWJeVKUk

I shoot 6 images at -20 degrees and 6 images at +50 degrees. This way I avoid excessive chromatic aborration (CA) with purple fringing. I can easily shoot a scene with 5 images at -10 degrees and one up... but I don't like the quality.

[gmeleski]

That is truly great.

Could you post the results (pano) even if it is not 100% so we can have a look ?

Regards,

Gary

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

No photoshopping or or manual correction... and the head is NOT aligned properly.

http://www.flashificator.com/1/Diverse/ ... toPanoHead

Nor did I shoot a nadir shot.

[gmeleski]

Nice.

Really excellent.

You have me wanting to upgrade my setup now!

Did you use PTgui ?

Regards,

Gary

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Did you use PTgui ?

Is there anything else ?

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Here another pano I shot with only one set of images (6+6) and the camera is equally NOT in alignment, but I did try to move it a little bit sideways on the arm. The result is quite good for something that took less than 4 minutes of sitting down outside, 1 minute of loading from memory card and into PTGui, 3 minutes more of sitting while it rendered the image, converting to cube faces, drop into Flashificator make the clock, put a fullscreen button... and upload it.

All in all some 15 minutes of sitting and doing nothing (reading) while things worked by themselves.

I'm quite happy with the results, knowing it will be better with a better arm/crown on the head.+

Here's the link:
http://www.flashificator.com/1/Diverse/Outside/

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Hi Brian and welcome back.

The measurements are 155mm x 65mm.

That is the absolute maximum available, by removing the battery cover of the head and measuring from the bolt heads.

Otherwise it's 135mm x 40mm measuring from the crown surface and the battery cover.

Not a lot of space to do with, but for a "normal" DSLR with a 180° fisheye, it "should" be enough space. Going for a longer lens and battery grip... it's good-bye spherical panos.

If the workplace I'm going to check out today in regards to having milled a new crown and arm for the head can offer a good service/price, I might even consider the possibility of having a completely new structure for the head made... swapping the electronics over to the new structure, and having it made in a way that allows for bigger lenses and cameras to be used with it. Think "motorized NN head" .... well, not exactly, but in the direction of an adjustable motorized head. Surely there is a market for such equipment, and it doesn't "hurt" anyone to ask around and consider such moves.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Back to square 1. The company did not show interest in helping out.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

You are probably best off by purchasing it from here:
http://www.teleskop-austria.at/prod.php ... -bandit-nn

Price €159.- ($234)

Part of the European Union, no import taxes...

They also sell the bluetooth unit:

http://www.papymerlin.com/interface-%C3%A9lectronique/

http://www.teleskop-austria.at/prod.php ... ntz-blt-hu
Price €99.-

They just got 40 new heads yesterday, so you could get it very quickly from them. There has been shortage in the US, and there is talk about stock not arriving until in end of November.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Grubs ... not my favorite food... but I could and would eat those by the dozens if I was in need for nutrition and had nothing else to choose from.

[claudevh]

Hi all,

I am "new" within this Forum ... but a long time in the project PapyMerlin = Software Papywizard + Merlin/Skywatcher panohead. See the Forum herafter:
http://www.autopano.net/forum/f20-merlin,orion-and-papywizard
and the Wiki's dedicated to the project:
in English : http://www.autopano.net/wiki-en/action/view/Orion_TeleTrack_altazimuth_tracking_mount
in French : http://www.autopano.net/wiki-fr/action/view/T%C3%AAte_astronomique_Multi-fonctions_Merlin
Some Faq's:
http://www.autopano.net/wiki-en/action/view/PapyMerlin_FAQ
A listing of "known" Users:
http://www.autopano.net/wiki-en/action/view/Merlin-Orion-Papywizard_users_feedback
If that can help for buying the head I have compiled serie of links to sellers all over the world :
http://www.autopano.net/wiki-en/action/view/PapyMerlin_FAQ#Where_to_buy_Merlin_.3F
The "owner" web site of Papywizard where you will find the downloads, users manuals and more:
http://www.papywizard.org/

I hope that this can help ...

Claudevh

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Congratulations on your new pro-toy. I suspcected it coming without a trripod contrary to the models in the US.... and then ... the US dealers are not allowed to sell to locations outside the US.... one would have to have a friend/relative to buy there, and then have it shipped.

I just came back from a metal workshop place, where I presented my needs... to have the crown milled down and have a new arm made for a precise fit for NN5 camera shoe... so I will have no problem with mounting and dismounting the camera between automatic head and the manual one.

Price for the work is going to be $250 ... a bit high, but the arm will be made of high-grade aluminum, there will be guarantee on the work being 100% to my expectations, and in that light I am ok with the price.

A couple of days ago I took a laser pointer, attached it to the camera arm on the AutoPanoHead and started a shooting sequence. 4 times I did it... with a stop in the middle of the complete sequence, marking with a pencil on the walls/ceiling where the laser point hit.

In those tests, the point was around 5 mm off on a 7m distance.

Did the same test with my big tripod and Nodal Ninja, with the laser pointer attached to the camera arm, and trying my best to be gentle when moving (not with a camera or any weight put on the tripod to stabilize it... it is a very light weight tripod), the point moved 10-13 millimeters between shots on the 7 meters distance. I will make the test again with camera+lens+extra ballast weight on the central support column of the tripod... and am sure the results will be much better. The tripod I'm using for the AutoPanoHead (is that an acceptable term? ) is extremely bad... right out of RadioShack's trash collection... plastic (soft pvc) and aluminum (very very very thin and the whole thing wobbles if touched).

Another mod I want to do is to eliminate cables... the bluetooth unit should be inside the head, not hanging or be velcroed on the outside. And the power cable from the battery is too visible for my liking... so I would like to have it go up to a connector plate on teh tripod head, and a pair of brushes would connect to it from the head.... so no cables wrapped around the head or looking ugly. Using the 8+AA batteries is absolutely not an option for me, since the head runs out of power after only a few panos being shot with those (Duracell... the Duracell rabbit may go on forever, but the head doesn't). I want something I can use for day(s) without having to replace or recharge. The battery I have, seems to hold enough power for a few days of work without recharging, and that is what I need/like/want.

The whole setup is going to be good when I'm done with applying mods to it... at least good enough for my liking.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Nice to see the rings of automation spread in the FFC waters

Regarding the use of 5D MKII with the head, the following users are listed as using that camera:
Sammy B
Wally416
Ludek007
RichG
Found HERE

So the only questionable part would be the lens combination for making fully spherical panos.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

That is horrible news.

Last night I made a few more changes to mine... and after I was done, the bluetooth light would come on, but the motors would not run at all. Not with the Nokia command, nor with the handset.

It really freaked me out.... opening everything up again, taking everything apart... putting together again... still didn't work. Moving wires and plugs didn't help. I was about to decide to buy a new unit... and then it came to life again.... and I have no idea what caused it to go dead on me.

Here is what I posted about it in the autopano forums:

I made an "open surgery operation" on the head tonight, built in the bluetooth unit, moved it's red light diode to the hole where the shutter cable was to be plugged in, inserted the shutter cable through the side of the head, so now it's a fixed cable. Also replaced the white curly cable i had, with a black one.... now it is starting to look as it should.

On Thursday I have a meeting with a CAD designer at a metal workshop that has CNC machines and the know-how to make me a new arm that will fit perfectly the Nodal Ninja camera mounting plate, so that I can move the camera between heads without taking the mounting plate off. I will have the crown milled down in that process as well of course.

Here a couple of images showing it's current state:

Here's the placement of the bluetooth unit, glued with glue-gun and light diode moved to the shutter cable hole:


And here's the outside look... at least cleaner looking than having the bluetooth unit velcroed or hanging on it, and I think it's neat looking with the diode in the shutter cable hole:

[gmeleski]

Not to get fully off topic...

I see you bought the Olympus E-520 with the Zuiko ED 8mm Fisheye.

This is the exact same setup I have been thinking about purchasing for over a month now.

What are your thoughts on this setup ?

Regards,

Gary Meleski

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Generally I am satisfied. I had hoped for a higher quality in the Zuiko 8mm, so that I could take only 5 +1 shots for a good and quick pano. I can easily make it with only those 6 shots, but I am not satisifed with the purple fringing. Taking 6+6 shots gives a much better result, and I am fine with that. The lens needs that extra overlapping to get rid of the worst of puprple fringing. Having a look at other fisheye lenses and the purple fringing issue, I have seen that this is a general problem, and in comparison, I think the Zuiko is actually better than the rest.... just not as perfect as a non-fisheye lens ... and that is logical.

The camera is good and completely worth every penny several times. The lens ... compared to other brand fisheyes, it is "worth" the price it has ($800-1100).... but you can fortunately find good offers where it comes at a price under $600 (got mine for $565 ... a glass display unit from a shop. Never used). So it is worth keeping an eye out for bargains.

With the E-520 you should be wise and have at least 5 batteries and 2 chargers... if you do much shooting using the LCD screen on the camera.
Also get yourself some radio remote (from china... for 10-12 dollars).

It is a good combo, with great quality for small monetary footprint.

[wwpro]

Wow, this is crazy !

First of all let me introduce myself since is my first post here.
Name's Carlos, living in Houston right now, but I'm originally from Uruguay, South America.

Let me tell you that I came across this while looking for info and learning about virtual tours/panos .... I have zero background in photography and never paid much attention to it until recently. I don't have any "pro" equipment so far, which is good because I'd be able to buy the right one based on what I'm learning everywhere.

Now ..... would you advice to get this setup right now, even when I'm not even started with this whole thing ? I believe the price is right and it won't hurt to have it for when I'm ready to "move on". I have plans of going back to my country in around 2 years and this is something that I'd love to turn into something profitable, or at least give it a try. Over there nobody is offering this as a service to hotels, real estate and stuff, so I see a niche begging to be exploited.


Sorry for the off-topic, but I'd consider it rude to start asking without, at least, tell you guys my name.

If you guys have the time to deal with another newbie, please shoot, I'm all ears (eyes)


Feliz Navidad y'all !!!!

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

I have had no time to make use of it, plus, I have not purchased a shutter cable for the Olympus E-3 that I use now... and absolutely prefer over the Olympus E-520 I had wired for it... and I also need to have an arm made for the camera... ... but I still have a lot of "plans" for using it.

Once in a while I mount it and shoot a sequence... and everything works as it should.

What were the issues you experienced, causing you to return it?

[ImageTwister]

Hi Trausti

The first one started behaving erratically and then suddenly stopped, nothing, zilch. Its replacement was fine for two weeks and then for no reason just froze. If I left it a couple of hours it would start up, but eventually got sick of it and asked for a refund. They were very obliging. Shame because I had found someone in the electronics field that would have been able to make the speed adjustable and a lot of other little goodies besides. Perhaps somethings are not meant to be. Nice to hear from you

Brian

cellarman,

Similar issues for me with the same product man. I went through two of them that froze within two months and finally got one that seems to work after about 6 months of frustration. Uhhg!

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Here an article on Do It Yourself panohead, using the Merlin as a base:

http://www.brewzone.com/2008/11/diy-pano-head

I hope to get the time to play around with something like that later on.

[terrycm]

Just saw this today http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... =details&Q I have no idea what the feedback is yet.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

Just saw this today http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... =details&Q I have no idea what the feedback is yet.

Yups... and looking further into that company's products made me shiver...

The "tripod" ... as they call it:

This rotator stand is the specificapplication on camera equipment of the single-chip micro-computer controlledelectromagnetic wave remote control technology in the photographic adoptedextensively in the world at present.
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/501834/ ... orama.html

Here the "panorama base"
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/501834/ ... -Base.html

And their $5000 360 camera:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/501834/ ... amera.html

Official website:
http://www.efilming.com/english/index.asp

I dare say that I will be sticking to Merlin for a while.... safer and cheaper... and probably more reliable and useful.

[Trausti Hraunfjord]

The Merlin head has gone out of production ... or so it seems. The replacement for it is said to be this one here:

http://www.celestron.com/portal/skywatc ... mount.html

http://www.kolor.com/forum/t16061-any-o ... k-purchase

The Merlin head gives a big nadir hole... but this new one seems to give a HUGE nadir hole... not a smart evolution.

[selfmade64856]

Can you set this thing up to do an entire bracketed panorama top and bottom automatically?

http://www.celestron.com/portal/skywatcher-allview-mount.html

It doesn't happen very often, but every now and then I get distracted when shooting and have missed an entire set of images If this can automatically take the entire pan then that would eliminate the chance of that ever happening and would be well worth the money.

Anyone have any info on the Sky-Watcher AllView Mount?