Introduction
Setting up

 

 

Nodal Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are now going to use this method to find the nodal point of your chosen lens ( the nodal point is different for each lens and each focal length on a zoom lens).
1, Set up your system as discussed previously, centring your lens over the table point of rotation as in Fig.3 and go outside.
2, Set your lens to its widest angle. Now we need to look for 2 upright objects, say a lamppost and telegraph pole and place the tripod so it is inline with both posts. We need to be about 4mtrs away from the nearest post but the distance is not critical. What we are going to do is the parallax trick but looking through the camera at the 2 posts. in the examples below I used the washing line pole in my garden and a roof top, what you choose to us is not important as long as you can see the parallax error in your viewfinder).
Look through the view finder, one post should be behind the other, if it is not reposition the tripod do not pan to bring the posts inline. Now pan the camera with the panorama bracket to the left and the posts should part. Now pan right and the posts should come back together when the camera is pointing straight ahead and part on the opposite side when panned fully right.
So how do we apply this to your panorama rig? As you have already set your camera to rotate about the lens centre all you have to do is move your camera backward or forward along the long top slot until the posts you have chosen stay inline, That is the nodal point. When you find this point mark it on the bracket. If you want to use your rig at different focal lengths just adjust your zoom and find the point where the posts stay in line as before.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

andromeda431@tiscali.co.uk