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Professional Tripod System for Multi-Image Panoramic Photography - $240 (san jose downtown)
condition:
excellent
make / manufacturer:
Manfrotto Neewer Sunwayfoto Kirk
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For sale is a professional-quality tripod system that is mainly intended for panoramic photography. But it can also shine in other types of traditional photography. It is not really useful for videography.
For your information, panoramic photography is a category of still photography that aims to create images with an exceptionally wide field of view. For example, if you are standing by the side of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, a panoramic image would show huge expanses of the Grand Canyon walls and valleys that stretch on for hundreds of miles. Such panoramic images can be taken with an extremely wide angle camera lens, such as a fisheye lens, to capture a wide field of view.
But another approach to create panoramic images is to take multiple images side-by-side, and then digitally stitch these image slices together to create a single image with an exceptionally wide field of view. You typically use a digital imaging software, such as Adobe Photoshop, for this digital stitching process. Such panoramic images contain of lot of imaging detail, which results in a spectacular picture.
In the process of taking such image slices, you normally place your camera on a stationary tripod with a tripod head that can rotate in a 180 degree arc (or a 360 degree arc) around the central axis of the tripod. But one primary challenge with using a rotating tripod head is keeping the nodal point (or center point) of the camera and lens in line with the center of panoramic rotation. If you don't have them completely aligned, then you may get parallax effects that cause significant problems during the image stitching process. Therefore, having a competent panoramic tripod system is critical for successful panoramic photography.
The best tripod system for panoramic photography is to get a dedicated panoramic tripod head and attach it to a set of robust tripod legs. But such systems are extremely large, heavy, cumbersome, and expensive! For example, the well-known Manfrotto brand 303-Plus-QTVR model panoramic head weighs about 12 pounds by itself (without the mandatory legs)! And it's large enough to necessitate it's own backpack carry bag! And it cost over $600 new by itself!
Another approach for a competent panoramic tripod system is to purchase several items, that when assembled together, allow you to rotate your camera and lens around the imaging nodal point. The five (5) tripod components listed below, when used together, allow for this. That is why this tripod system shines in panoramic photography. And in comparison to the dedicated panoramic tripod system mentioned above, the items in this ad are relatively lightweight, portable, and cheap.
The tripod system for sale includes the following five (5) items:
– Manfrotto Brand Tripod Legs (Model Number 055XB)
– Neewer Brand Ball Head (Model Number 66600287)
– Neewer Brand Quick Release (QR) Plate (Model Number 66600287)
– Sunwayfoto Brand Tripod Rail (Model Number DMP-100R)
– Kirk Brand 90 Degree Tripod Clamp (Model Number QRLB-T)
The Neewer brand ball head connects to the top of the Manfrotto brand tripod legs. The top of the Neewer brand ball head has a standard arca-style clamp that connects to the Neewer brand arca-style quick-release (QR) plate. You affix the QR plate to the bottom of your camera body. In between the camera body and ball head, you place the Sunwayfoto brand tripod rail and the Kirk brand 90-degree tripod clamp. This is how the system is assembled, from the top to the bottom:
Very Top: Your Camera and Lens
Lower Top: QR Plate
Upper Middle: 90-Degree Tripod Clamp
Lower Middle: Tripod Rail
Upper Bottom: Ball Head
Very Bottom: Tripod Legs
When taken together, the system allows you to conveniently determine the imaging nodal point and keep it locked in place while you take your rotating image slices. This challenging process of locating the nodal point is helped by the fact that you can independently move the camera and lens backward or forward up to 4 inches and left or right up to 4 inches using the combination of the tripod rail, the 90-degree clamp, and the ball head. Once again, this system allows you to easily figure out and lock in the nodal point while you take your image slices.
All five components of this system are in excellent structural and functional condition. There is nothing wrong with any of it. The system is also in excellent cosmetic condition. There are no major scratches, dents, or dings on any surface. There are some tiny scratches on some exterior surfaces, these cosmetic issues that don't affect the functionality of the system.
You can pick up from my house near the San Jose Airport. Or I would be happy to deliver it to you, if I happen to travel out in your direction.
I prefer that you reach out via text message. Sending an initial email message is OK. But arranging pickup solely using email is not a feasible option for me. Eventually, you'll have to text me to arrange a specific pickup or delivery time. Thanks.