Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Manfrotto 303SPH Multi Row Panoramic Head


Manfrotto 303SPH Multi Row Panoramic Head


By Manfrotto

  Tripods For Cameras Manfrotto 303SPH Multi Row Panoramic Head

Camera Tripods


Category: Best Tripod

Customer Reviews of Manfrotto 303SPH Multi Row Panoramic Head

Reviewed by Paul
For severe use.

Let us not mess about, the expense of this head, the measurement of it, the objective of it and the weight of it suggest that this is extremely unlikely to be employed by any individual just dabbling in photography unless their wallet is outstanding to their common feeling.My intentions were to just take 360 diploma panoramas, employing a Nikon D700 and a fourteen-24mm F2.8 lens. A process that I employed to accomplish by rotating my digicam on a typical tripod prior to asking yourself and finding out about Nodal details which discussed why my panoramas have been bulgy and stitched in the oddest shapes. This is basically owing to the existence of a sweet location for each lens that when the camera is rotated about the axis of the sweet location, you seriously minimize lens distortion and panoramas sew collectively properly without a lot of cropping of the unique pictures.This is why you need this gadget to enable you to locate this level and rotate the digicam completely around this position.When it arrived the packaging was fantastic and the very first issue I observed was the weight, it is sound. Not a welcome addition to an currently hefty set of equipment to carry into the subject but reassuringly reliable nonetheless. Initial assembly was simple, the bulk of the head was assembled and it just required the slider plates slotted in and the digicam mount attached. I used the D700 with battery grip attached and my 14-24mm which is a solid set up and every little thing went collectively genuinely simple. I was actually pleased to see that despite the fact that this item will come assembled, there are components that you will require to unscrew and modify and these are all large higher quality screws. On the upper part there are holes positioned purely to insert these screws when not in use so you will not get rid of them. Also on the main pivot to collapse and extend the principal arm, the screw is developed for finger tightening and is connected to a little cable so you can’t fall or get rid of it. Superb thought! This is also the identical for the screw at the base to alter the angles of rotation, another neat cable.Calibrating the digital camera was always likely to be difficult when operating with a position that could be thrown off by becoming a millimetre off on your assembly. I will not depth how to locate the nodal point but the instruction guide handles this extremely well. I identified the slider plates with the fat of the digital camera on them a little bit finicky as I would try a tiny adjustment and the plate would come to feel tight and then arrive unstuck and shift much more than I needed it also. I will not care as well much about this as once you discover the specific set up, all plates have ruler measurements and you can write these values down for that lens and use them in future as you only need to have to calibrate it when for every lens/digicam entire body set up.When the camera is established up and all set to shoot, you really feel the reason for the higher value, all pivots move so efficiently. On the main pivot to move the digital camera up or down, when you loosen the lock, the digicam doesn’t just plummet down, theres enough resistance that it stays place till you slide it to the specific diploma you need. For every single adjustment you make, there is a scale in degrees or millimeters for best accuracy. No guesswork essential. A prior reviewer states that the digital camera is usually in portrait placement, this is intentional as the majority of panoramas are horizontal and by putting the digital camera in a portrait placement, you maximise the vertical resolution and the horizontal resolution is as wide as you make your panorama.The little bit that I enjoy is the shaft at the bottom, which would be the main element that rotates the head about a 360 degree angle. Not only does it demonstrate you the angle, there’s a locking screw that you can insert to cause the tripod to click about a set number of factors in a total rotation. So if you do a 360 degree panorama you can set it to click in ten various rotations from seventy two images (Each five degrees) via to 4 photographs (Each and every 90 degrees) and I use primarily the 24 photo placing for each and every 15 levels. Earlier on a regular tripod, I had the levels on the head and I would unlock it, go it 15 levels, lock it and just take a picture etc. It would get about 10 seconds to alter, lock and shoot every photograph. With this head I can maintain my finger on the shutter and just turn till it clicks into area, shoot and shift yet again. It truly is so significantly faster and specific.The finish result is quickly panoramas, excellent for when there are transferring subjects. Also each panorama stitches nearly best and appears great. I have carried out 360 diploma projections for web use (these movies that hotels use that you can use your mouse to go and see around the space) the only disadvantage is that if you are performing truly 360 diploma then you require to shoot a ground shot, the place the head sits in the way. It’s easy to photoshop it out or to take away the digicam from the head and shoot it by hand around but I have a experience I was told that some other heads are greater for this work.On to the disadvantages, the price is really high-priced. Look on the internet and you can see people making home manufactured variations out of wood and many others. I have to say that I do not regret this obtain, it seems to be specialist on the job, it really is super strong and will endure a good deal of abuse more than time. It is weighty, but we photographers do know that often the best gear will be weighty. My only significant gripe is that when using a heavy physique and lens, there is a little bit of sag in the principal arm. Just a degree, this can be mounted by utilizing a piece of card and many others or making your own shim.The principal drawback is that despite the fact that this seems to be like the complete resolution, there is one a lot more part that if you are significant, you will need to have. It is the Manfrotto levelling base which retails just below £100. The purpose you need this is because unless your tripod is totally stage, horizon strains will not likely be best in your shot when stitched. This can affect 360 diploma virtual excursions. You could alter your tripod legs a tiny bit but it drove me mad and this additional component has a spirit bubble and enables for miniscule changes. It really is a disgrace it wasn’t portion of this kit for the value.That being said, if you are thinking about buying this you are most very likely very serious about panoramic pictures, the value is not often the main concern and if you can find the money for the levelling base and this solution you have a genuinely severe piece of kit that will revolutionise your panoramas. 5 stars.


Reviewed by Monthly bill
Built like a tank

Nicely produced a capable of taking a Nikon D700 with a 24/a hundred and twenty lens comfortably. It is however hefty and not one thing you would just take with you if the journey experienced heaps of walking concerned. What it does call for is a durable case to carry it in as there is no way you would put in with your cameras and lenses.


Reviewed by Chortonite
Get it bought!

Extremely properly imagined out and engineered bit of package, even down to retaining wires for important bolts and many others. Good assortment of changes!


Features and Specifications

  • Item Weight:

    2 Kg

  • Boxed-product Weight: 2.7 Kg
  • Item model number: 303SPH
  • ASIN: B000JLK5P0
  • Date first available at Amazon.co.uk: 14 Feb 2007

More Details

Manfrotto Panoramakopf 303 SPH

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