OT - Smooth Pan Tips via Tripod

Andy_L wrote on 3/24/2010, 4:17 PM

Please forgive this sort of pitiful question, but I'm noticing it's hard to do smooth, professional-looking pans even with an expensive tripod head. I find it challenging to start/stop smoothly, and to maintain an even pace throughout. Often sort of move in little jerks or steps, especially when I'm trying to do very slow pans.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

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lynn1102 wrote on 3/25/2010, 6:41 PM

Another trick I learned years ago when we used the bigger cameras, was to put that handle in your arm pit and move your body. Of course this doesn't work if you're doing a 180, but for short pans it does pretty well. I did use it with my 150 and 2100 several time with no problems.

Lynn

ushere wrote on 3/26/2010, 12:51 AM

i'm with lynn....

i regularly shoot horses parading (think models on a catwalk), and use upper body pressure to 'push' the head. very smooth, though as noted, not for 180 degree, and nowhere as good as a motorised head.

bob, what motorised head are you using?

farss wrote on 3/26/2010, 2:17 AM

"bob, what motorised head are you using?"

Mizar Optics from Japan. Small company, nice people. Around $200.

http://mizar-optical.com/page2/kd.html

I made up some extra metalwork for it so it now has a standard 75mm ball on it for levelling, fits any 75mm bowl tripod and a spirit level. It has two speeds, very slow and incredibly slow.

Bob.

farss wrote on 3/26/2010, 2:34 AM

"I should mention I was specifically having trouble with slow pans while the lens is zoomed out fairly far -- in the 6-8X range -- though getting nice starts and stops on the pans can be tricky at any angle of view. I'm just using a manfrotto video head. Didn't realize that doesn't qualify as expensive. :) "

Firstly as mentioned above make certain you have any form of image stabilisation turned OFF. If not it will try to compensate for the movement as you try to ramp up the pan and the result will be a jerk, maybe several. I've been caught out more than once. One thing I like with the EX1 is I can see if it's on or off and very quickly switch it on or off without digging into a menu.

Secondly as Jay said, it takes practice and experience to pull off those kinds of moves.

Thirdly, no, sorry, Manfrotto are not top shelf gear when it comes to tripod heads. They make great value light stands and grip bits. Miller are sot of OK but we've had issues with their heads failing and they lack the features you get with the Sachtlers i.e. adjustable counterbalance and tilt and pan drag. Millers new Compass range addresses this however they are too much for the lighter cameras and will not counterbalance properly. It's hard to go past the Sachtler FSB range, still trying to find the coin to buy myself one.

Bob.

Grazie wrote on 3/26/2010, 3:23 AM

> Miller are sot of OK but we've had issues with their heads failing

I had to have mine overhauled by Miller here in the UK - which they did, no questions asked!

> and they lack the features you get with the Sachtlers i.e. adjustable counterbalance

Well, my Miller does have 2 counterbalance settings. But as I have a full Frotti slider I can normally get balance that way too.

> and tilt and pan drag.

Well I've got a variable drag on both Pan/Tilt, may NOT be the same (oil-based?) feature as the Sachies? But they do work.

As Bob says, you get what you can afford (as he says: "still trying to find the coin to buy myself one."), I've long forgotten the "I wont do anything until I get everything I want!" scenario. I know WHAT I want - I just haven't the coppers to match my expectations. But I DO have greater expectations than my wallet. No-Change there then!

Grazie