pocketPANO COMPACT

Features & Details

The pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters are specially designed for your compact camera and thought through to the smallest detail. All have the following features, properties and details in common:

Matching your camera

Each pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter is designed specifically for a specific camera model. This is the only way to make such compact and optimally adapted adapters for your camera.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

All parts of the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters are geometrically adapted exactly to your camera model and, in the case of zoom lenses, to its shortest focal length. This ensures rotation around the entrance pupil of the lens, both around the vertical and horizontal axes, without you having to adjust anything. Parallax errors are so excluded from the outset and the stitching (assembling the pictures on the PC) works perfectly!


Integrated rotation base with click-stop

The integrated rotating base is equipped with click-stops. This allows you to quickly rotate the camera to the optimal frame angle for the next image. No reading, loosing & fixing or other cumbersome actions are needed anymore.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

All pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters are equipped with an integrated rotation base. As a result, you do not need an extra panorama base! This saves money, space and weight in your photo bag :-)

In the rotation base also a click-stop mechanism is integrated. The rotation angle is optimized for your camera model and its angle of view. The rotation angle is chosen so that there is an overlap of approx. 30% between the pictures. This is a good compromise between sufficient overlap (for the later compilation on the PC) and as few pictures as possible. In every turning position, the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter engages with a clearly perceptible 'click' cleanly and without play. So no reading of any angle and no operation with fumbling locking screws is necessary. Just turn to the next 'click' and take the next picture.


Vertical Click-Stop positions

We have also integrated click-stops for the vertical rotation, which gives you tactile and safe indication of where the next tilt angle has been reached.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

Since the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters are so-called "multirow" adapters, they not only allow for horizontal rotation (for single-row panoramas), but they can also pan your camera vertically (for multi-row panoramas or complete spherical panoramas). While a click-stop system is integrated for the horizontal rotation for the intuitive pivoting of the camera, the question arises: "What about the vertical rotation?"

Answer: Also click-stops! And a locking bolt.

It is very important to us that the use of the pocketPANO COMPACT panorama head is as easy and intuitive as possible. In no case should it be necessary to read any angle or loosen or tighten any screws. Therefore, we have also integrated click-stops for the vertical movement, which shows you perceptibly and safely, where the next tilt angle is reached. And this position is easily secured with a spring-loaded bolt. Simply pull out the handle of the locking bolt, tilt the camera until the next 'click' and release the bolt. Finished!

The angle between the click-stop positions is, of course, adjusted exactly to your camera and its angle of view (and, in the case of zoom lenses, to its shortest focal length).

 

P.S.: In addition to the vertical click-stop positions of the click mechanism, intermediate positions are also possible to move your camera e.g. to lightly tilt up or down to pick up a single-row panorama (to emphasize either the sky or the ground).


Ultra compact

It does not get any smaller: all pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters can be disassembled in seconds without tools and can be combined to form an ultra-compact unit. So it finds his place even in the smallest backpack. Or in the jacket pocket.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

The ultimate goal in the design of the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter is the smallest possible size!

 

Therefore, the pocketPANO COMPACT panorama heads are designed in two parts. In "transport mode" the two parts are connected to a flat unit. As a result, they require much less space than in the typical bulky form of conventional nodal point adapters. Of course, you can also keep the two parts of the adapter separately. Thus, they fit into the smallest side pocket! Depending on the camera model, the dimensions in "transport mode" are only about 40x40x100mm (WxHxL).

For the "conversion" into the operational mode, only one hand screw has to be loosened. Then the two parts of the adapter are inserted accurately and twist-proof into each other and the screw is tightened again by hand. finished!


twist proof

The pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters have a recess that fits exactly to your camera. This will keep your camera in the correct position simply, accurately and without force.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

One of the most inconspicuous but important features of the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter is the camera-anti-rotation function! There are several reasons for this: For beautiful panoramas without parallax errors, the entrance pupil of the lens must be located exactly at the intersection of the rotary axes of the nodal point adapter. But what does it bring if the adapter itself is made exactly, but then the camera sits crooked on the adapter? If the camera is simply attached (as is usual with other adapters) by means of the tripod thread and a rubberized pad, the camera will certainly never be exactly at the right angle. Even the smallest deviations of the camera position (twisting around the tripod thread) are sufficient to move the entrance pupil (which is far in front of the tripod thread) clearly out of the center of rotation of the nodal point adapter! Then of course the whole adapter is pointless...

 

All pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters are therefore designed to have a recess in the area of the camera support that fits exactly to your camera model. This ensures a form-fitting and non-twisting contact between camera and panoramic head in the correct position.

Additional benefit: Due to the form-fitting connection, the fastening screw does not need to be tightened by far. The camera does not have to be prevented from twisting by the tightening force. This spares your camera and her anyway quite sensitive tripod thread.


Consistent lightweight construction

The most important parts of the pocketPANO nodal point adapters consist of an extremely light, stable and resistant high-pressure laminate (HPL).

No metal! Curious?

The pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter for the Sony RX100 only weighs 188g.
The pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter for the Sony RX100 only weighs 188g.

In contrast to other nodal point adapters, the main parts of the pocketPANO panorama heads are not made of metal!

We believe that it is not enough for the material of the pocketPANO nodal point adapter to be just hard. Rather, the material must meet a variety of requirements in order to realize all the required functions.

Therefore, the most important parts of the pocketPANO adapters consist of an extremely light, stable and resistant high-pressure laminate (HPL). This modern material consists of many layers of cellulose kraft paper, which are pressed together with phenolic resin under high pressure and temperature. The advantageous properties of this material are manifold: it is absolutely insensitive to moisture, alcohol or organic solvents, temperature-resistant, extremely scratch and break-resistant, has a decorative surface, can be processed very well and requires no complex and expensive surface treatment (such as eg aluminum).

For comparison: HPL is about 6 times stiffer than conventional engineering plastics and weighs only half as much as aluminum. An ideal combination!

Incidentally, HPL (similar to wooden tripods) has an excellent damping behavior and vibrates significantly less than metal structures.

But the right material is only part of a good construction. To increase stability and reduce weight, the individual parts of the pocketPANO nodal point adapters are designed so that the most exposed areas are generously dimensioned, while at unloaded areas unnecessary material is removed. All this leads to a total weight of just 170-200g (depending on the camera model)!


ARCA Clamping profile and screw thread

For maximum flexibility, all pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters have an integrated clamping base with the proven ARCA-SWISS compatible clamping profile and a 1/4" screw thread.

Matching 3/8" thread adapter in the shop ...

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

Under the rotation base an ARCA SWISS compatible clamping profile is integrated. With it you can clamp your pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter fast, reliable and uncomplicated on any compatible tripod head. For even more flexibility, a standard camera thread (1/4" UNC) is integrated, allowing the mounting of any clamping plate or the direct screwing on a tripod. Who wants to mount his pocketPANO COMPACT directly on a tripod with the large photo thread (3/8" UNC), can buy the right adapter in the shop.


Everything straight

On top of the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter is a well-readable spirit level. This allows the adapter to be aligned quickly and easily.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

So that not all your panoramas look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, each pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter has an easy-to-read spirit level. With this spirit level you can align your panorama head (also with mounted camera) exactly horizontally.


No tools needed

You do not need any tools to use the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter!

pocketpano COMPACT nodal head with Hand screw with needle bearing for tool-free installation without effort!
Hand screw with needle bearing for tool-free installation without effort!

For no single function of the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters you need any kind of tool. Not for assembly, not for attaching the camera, not for dismantling for transportation.

There are only two screws in total: one for connecting the two parts of the adapter and one for attaching your camera. And both are easy to use by hand.


captive screws

There are no parts on your pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter that you might accidentally lose.

pocketPANO COMPACT panoramic head, panorama head, nodal head

At the pocketPANO COMPACT Nodalpunktadaptern there is not a single part, which you can get lost - except the adapter itself ;-)

The two screws (connecting screw and camera fixing screw) are secured so that they are captive. You need not worry about it in the dark, everything stays where it is.


position indicator

In order to better recognize whether you have taken all pictures of a row, the pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapters have a freely rotatable position indicator. This helps you that you do not forget a picture for a 360° panorama!


If you concentrate fully on your subject, it happens fast: You forgot where you started your panorama and after how many pictures you have the 360° "full". Then the examining of the pictures begins, you get confused, the subject may already be gone and in the end you have forgotten a picture and can not stitch the panorama together.

DTo make sure that does not happen, your pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter has a position indicator. The pointer is freely rotatable and you can align it at the beginning of your shot (for example towards the integrated spirit level). As soon as the position of the pointer and the spirit level coincide after one revolution, you know that you have taken all pictures of the row. Simple and effective!


Even More information...

...you can find in the manual. This is also included with every pocketPANO COMPACT nodal point adapter as a printed booklet.



Made in Germany

If you've already wondered why we offer our pocketPANO nodal point adapters so cheaply: it's not because they're made in the Far East!
Quite the opposite: The entire production and assembly takes place in the middle of Germany, in Ilmenau in the Thuringian Forest.
With our nodal point adapters, we want to enable a large group of users to immerse themselves in the fantastic world of panoramas. In order to keep production costs low, the design of our adapters is designed to meet production requirements and additional manual processing is kept to a minimum.
We pass this advantage on to you.