Fanotec Nodal Ninja 3 MK3 Series Operating Manual Download Page 1

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Nodal Ninja 3 MK3 Operating Manual

v.1.1

OPERATING MANUAL

September 7, 2020

Nodal Ninja 3 MK3

Summary of Contents for Nodal Ninja 3 MK3 Series

Page 2: ... Rotator RD10 19 NN3 MK3 w Lower Mini Rotator Nadir Adapter 20 Available detent rings 21 Lower Rotator Mini V2 with choice of pre installed detent ring 21 NN3 MK3 w Lower Mini Rotator 22 Available detent rings 23 Lower Rotator Mini V2 with choice of pre installed detent ring 23 NN3 MK3 w No Lower Rotator Nadir Adapter 24 Three Fanotec rotators are designed to fit the NN3 MK3 24 Popular Accessories...

Page 3: ...ssories 28 Using the Nadir Adapter 30 U5 30mm Tripod Offset Bracket 31 Small Camera Mounting Knob 33 Changing Detent Ring for Rotator Mini V2 36 Finding the No Parallax Point of a Lens 39 Lower rail setting 39 Upper rail setting 40 Abbreviations 42 Warranty 44 Copyright Information 45 Resources 46 Disclaimer 47 ...

Page 4: ...ing image becomes an extremely detailed and high resolution composite The Nodal Ninja 3 NN3 series heads can also act as a free movement gimbal head giving added use and flexibility While the market is currently dominated with lower cost one shot solutions there is no substitution for quality output when using DSLR Micro Four Thirds or even compact cameras Our heads allow the photographer to adjus...

Page 5: ...ras Micro Four Thirds MFT mirrorless cameras and even smaller DSLRs with a lens up to about 50mm The NN3 MK3 is also very similar in design and function to its big brother the NN6 The NN3 MK3 utilizes Rotator Mini or Rotator D10 as the lower rotator which are used in other Nodal Ninja panoramic heads It also shares many parts and accessories with NN6 making the whole system much more versatile and...

Page 6: ...for precision and durability with very high tolerances Inexpensive in comparison to similar products Upgradable and can be reconfigured to better suit user needs Pre assembled at the factory quick and easy to setup and begin shooting No tools required after initial setup Built in spirit level to aid in leveling Upper and lower Rail Stops help to remember a camera lens position Closed rail design a...

Page 7: ...the lower rail for horizontal panning ideal for landscape photography Can be used as a gimbal arm Attractive finish non glare matt black Up to a 30 day money back guarantee see dealer terms Full parts and labor lifetime warranty against any manufacturer defects Step by Step Setup Instructions When purchased as a complete package all Nodal Ninjas are pre assembled at the factory The user has the fl...

Page 9: ...arge knurled vertical rail mounting knob Note the relative position of vertical assembly before mounting Step 1 Mount rotator to the tripod Every Nodal Ninja uses a 3 8 female mounting system We also include a 3 8 1 4 thread adapter for free to accommodate mounts using male threads Mount rotator to tripod Loosen upper rotator knob Mount vertical assembly to lower rail and tighten vertical rail kno...

Page 10: ... Step 5 After the rail is rotated to a vertical position tighten using the upper rail rotator knob turning clockwise Step 6 Located on the underside of the lower rail is the hex key holder Remove the hex key by rotating and pulling straight out The hex key is held in place by a magnet located inside its holder Step 4 Flip or rotate upper assembly rail 180 ...

Page 11: ...es slightly using the hex key Lift up the anti twist plates Retighten screws slightly to keep them in place Step 7 Loosen the 4 set screws of the anti twist plates slightly using the provided hex key Step 8 Lift or slide upwards the anti twist plates Step 9 Retighten set screws slightly to hold them in place ...

Page 12: ... plate and secure by gently tightening the camera mounting knob being careful not to overtighten Step 11 Check to ensure the camera is aligned to the upper rail by looking from the bottom view side of the camera Use straight line features as assistance Rotate the camera slightly if needed Note how the red line centers through the barrel of the lens and runs parallel to upper rail If your camera ap...

Page 13: ... body and retighten NOTE THE ANTI TWIST PLATES SHOULD NOT BE PRESSING OR RESTING AGAINST OR ON THE CAMERA S REAR DISPLAY DIRECTLY USE INCLUDED FITTINGS FOR ADDED CLEARANCE Press the anti twist plates against the back of camera body Step 12 Once you are satisfied with the camera lens alignment finish by tightening the camera mounting knob securely Next loosen the set screws of the anti twist plates...

Page 14: ...ely using the camera mounting knob Slide the stop plate against the camera mounting plate Tighten screw to set position for that camera and lens Slide camera to the non parallax point NPP of the lens Tighten securely using camera mounting knob Step 15 Slide the upper rail stop plate against the camera mounting plate Using the provided hex key tighten the set screw to aid in remembering the positio...

Page 15: ... slide back and forth on the lower horizontal rail Loosen the vertical rail mounting knob slightly Holding camera Loosen the screw of hex key holder which also acts as a stop plate Step 17 Slide camera and position so the center of the lens is directly positioned over the center of the lower rotator Next slide the stop plate against the vertical rail and tighten to remember this position ...

Page 16: ...o begin shooting including a case hex keys spare washers etc Only a small percentage of users may need additional components such as offset adapters We will list some of the popular optional accessories with each configuration Configurations discussed in this operating manual include NN3 MK3 Nadir Adapter w Lower Rotator RD10 SKU F3321 NN3 MK3 w Lower Rotator RD10 SKU F3320 NN3 MK3 w Lower Mini Ro...

Page 18: ... changed quickly on the fly The range of intervals is suitable for shooting super wide fisheye lenses to longer lenses up to 200mm equivalent focal length 10 different degree stop increments are included with an equivalent number of stops around 5 72 stops 7 5 48 stops 10 36 stops 15 24 stops 18 20 stops 30 12 stops 36 10 stops 45 8 stops 60 6 stops 90 4 stops SKU F3321 Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg Lev...

Page 19: ... on the fly The range of intervals is suitable for shooting ultra wide fisheye lenses to longer lenses up to 200mm equivalent focal length 10 different degree stop increments are included with the equivalent number of stops around include 5 72 stops 7 5 48 stops 10 36 stops 15 24 stops 18 20 stops 30 12 stops 36 10 stops 45 8 stops 60 6 stops 90 4 stops SKU F3320 Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg Level Amat...

Page 20: ...tor Mini V2 allows for a single given number of stops per 360 s of rotation This rotator uses an interchangeable detent ring with preset detent intervals one of which is included with purchase Additional rings are available if needed SKU F3302 1 Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg Level Amateur Pro Lenses 8mm 50mm focal length DSLR Features Compact Inexpensive Durable Popular Uses Real Estate Travel Hobbyist ...

Page 21: ...Detent Ring V2 18 20 stops SKU F1248 Detent Ring V2 15 24 stops SKU F1249 Detent Ring V2 12 30 stops SKU F1250 Detent Ring V2 10 36 stops SKU F1251 Lower Rotator Mini V2 with choice of pre installed detent ring RM3 V2 120 3 stops SKU F1235 1 RM4 V2 90 4 stops SKU F1235 2 RM5 V2 72 5 stops SKU F1235 3 RM6 V2 60 6 stops SKU F1235 4 RM8 V2 45 8 stops SKU F1235 5 RM10 V2 36 10 stops SKU F1235 6 RM12 V...

Page 22: ...gle given number of stops per 360 s of rotation This rotator uses an interchangeable detent ring with preset detent intervals one of which is included with purchase Additional rings are available if needed See Changing Detent Ring for Rotator Mini V2 SKU F3300 1 Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg Level Amateur Pro Lenses 8mm 50mm focal length DSLR Features Compact Inexpensive Durable Popular Uses Real Estate...

Page 23: ...Detent Ring V2 18 20 stops SKU F1248 Detent Ring V2 15 24 stops SKU F1249 Detent Ring V2 12 30 stops SKU F1250 Detent Ring V2 10 36 stops SKU F1251 Lower Rotator Mini V2 with choice of pre installed detent ring RM3 V2 120 3 stops SKU F1235 1 RM4 V2 90 4 stops SKU F1235 2 RM5 V2 72 5 stops SKU F1235 3 RM6 V2 60 6 stops SKU F1235 4 RM8 V2 45 8 stops SKU F1235 5 RM10 V2 36 10 stops SKU F1235 6 RM12 V...

Page 24: ...low when shooting the nadir See Using the Nadir Adapter Three Fanotec rotators are designed to fit the NN3 MK3 Rotator Mini V2 SKU F1235 Advanced Rotator RD10 SKU F1140 MECHA E1 w DC1 Controller automated SKU F9905 Popular Accessories U5 Offset Bracket SKU F3315 SKU F3307 Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg with Rotator Mini 7 7lb 3 5kg with Rotator D10 and MECHA Level Amateur Pro Lenses 8mm 50mm focal length...

Page 25: ...tors are designed to fit the NN3 MK3 Rotator Mini V2 SKU F1235 RD10 SKU F1140 MECHA automated rotator SKU F9900 Popular Accessories Arca Swiss Nadir Adapter SKU F6026 U5 Offset Bracket SKU F3315 SKU F3305 Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg with Rotator Mini 7 7lb 3 5kg with Rotator D10 and MECHA Level Amateur Pro Lenses 8mm 50mm focal length DSLR Features Compact Inexpensive Durable Popular Uses Real Estate ...

Page 26: ...simply return for a full refund excludes S H VAT and or customs fees This manual details the NN3 series heads Here is a quick breakdown on other models and what applications they might be best suited for NN6 Series Our most popular pano head Level Amateur Pro Lenses 8mm 200mm Cameras DSLR s Medium Format Features Upper Rotator 7 5 stops or free rotation Popular Uses Landscape High Resolution HDR R...

Page 27: ... 7lb 3 5kg Included Upper assembly with Nadir Adapter lower assembly with rotator misc bits hex key spare parts NN3 MK3 w Lower Rotator RD10 SKU F3320 Product Weight 1 61lb 734g Weight Load 7 7lb 3 5kg Included Upper assembly lower assembly with rotator misc bits hex key spare parts NN3 MK3 w Lower Mini Rotator Nadir Adapter SKU F3302 1 Product Weight 1 52lb 693g Weight Load 3 3lb 1 5kg Included U...

Page 28: ...here is a growing line of accessories to explore for the NN3 MK3 Many of these accessories are cross compatible with the NN6 series While we cannot go into depth on all accessories we will show you some of the more popular accessories and how they are used Here is a sample list of most of the accessories those shown in bold are discussed in further detail in this manual NN3 MK3 NN6 Upper Rail Stop...

Page 29: ...NN3 MK3 NN4 NN5 and NN6 SKU F6033 NN3 MK3 NN6 Hex Key Holder SKU F6031 NN3 MK3 NN6 Misc Baggie of parts w Small Camera Mounting Knob SKU F6041 Rotator Mini V2 Detent Ring Options Detent Ring V2 120 3 stops SKU F1240 Detent Ring V2 90 4 stops SKU F1241 Detent Ring V2 72 5 stops SKU F1242 Detent Ring V2 60 6 stops SKU F1243 Detent Ring V2 45 8 stops SKU F1244 Detent Ring V2 36 10 stops SKU F1245 Det...

Page 30: ...especially if bracketing your shots or needing longer exposures 1 Loosen NA Lock Knob 2 Slide NA to the end of the lower rail 3 Rotate upper assembly 180 either left or right 4 Tighten NA Lock Knob 5 Note the ground position of the lower rotator as if you dropped a plumb line directly from the center of the lower rotator to the ground Mark with a coin or something small 6 Move tripod camera lens s...

Page 31: ...rint may be desired such as with tiled or mosaic flooring U5 30mm Tripod Offset Bracket SKU F3315 Unlike the older style T Adapters which were designed for older Nodal Ninja s this CNC machined universal adapter was designed exclusively for the NN3 and NN6 series heads It provides up to a 30mm offset for use on cameras that do not have a camera mounting screw directly in line with the center axis ...

Page 32: ...1 Mount bracket to the base of the camera 2 Loosen bracket set screw 3 Slide bracket so the camera mount is positioned with the center axis of the lens 4 Adjust tabs on Camera Mounting Plate as needed 5 Mount bracket to Camera Plate 6 Tighten Camera Mounting Knob securely ...

Page 33: ...l extend the minimum NPP setting to 32mm allowing use for a greater variety of lenses Although the standard camera mounting knob is easy to grip and glove friendly its size limits the minimum NPP setting to 48mm While it is non issue for most lenses it is too short for some pancake type lenses Using the small camera mounting knob will extend the minimum NPP setting to 32mm This will work for a lot...

Page 34: ...ght 2020 Nodal Ninja Remove the stop plate Remove the standard camera mounting knob from the end of rail Install the small camera mounting knob from the end of rail Change the drag screw to the top if needed Remove the camera and camera mounting plate ...

Page 35: ... the knob Reinstall the stop plate from the end of rail Tighten the knob fully Bend the handle of the knob to gain more leverage While holding the camera loosen the knob half to one turn Slide the camera to the NPP position Loosen the screw slightly Slide the stop plate against the camera mounting plate and tighten the screw ...

Page 36: ... rings but once learned and done properly this task can be completed in just a few minutes Be sure to have a clean surface free of dirt dust and grease Remove rotator from lower rail using the included hex key Fully unwind the rotator lock Unwind set screws to the surface of ring Remove and swap in a new ring Use hex key to remove the rotator lock assembly ...

Page 37: ... assembly Tighten the rotator lock to compress ring to rotator Compress the ring to rotator securely tighten set screw further away from rotator lock Choose the desired orientation of camera Align hole of detent ring to the socket on rotator for the desired orientation of camera Default Orientation ...

Page 39: ...ition the camera lens on the upper rail so that it is pointing downwards to the ground The geometric location of the entrance pupil is the vertex of the camera s angle of view and consequently its center of perspective perspective point viewpoint projection center or no parallax point This point is important in panoramic photography because the camera must be rotated around it to avoid parallax er...

Page 40: ... 3 Tighten and set with lower rail stop Note Once the lower rail setting is set this will never change with the camera body regardless of the lens or focal lengths used Upper rail setting 1 Loosen upper rotator knob and position camera lens so that it points horizontally or parallel to the ground then tighten 2 Holding the camera loosen the Camera Mounting Knob enough to allow the camera lens to s...

Page 41: ...ide of the frame as shown 5 Then move the camera to the right so lamps are now on the right side of the frame Watch the movement of both lamps as you rotate left and again to the right You will see an apparent movement of lamp B in the background to lamp A in the foreground This is called parallax and the camera will need to be moved on the upper rail until this movement is no longer apparent 6 Ou...

Page 42: ... used abbreviations Variable SKU options C1 MECHA First Generation Controller D Number of Detent Options followed by a number e g 8 10 12 DSLR Digital Single Lens Reflex E1 MECHA First Generation Automated Rotator E2 MECHA Second Generation Automated Rotator GB Gigabyte III Third Generation kg s Metric Kilogram s lb s Imperial Pound s LR Lower Rotator M4 3 Micro Four Thirds MFT Micro Four Thirds M...

Page 43: ... No Parallax Point RD Advanced Rotator ball bearings with number of detents RD10 Advanced Rotator ball bearings with 10 selectable detent options RM Rotator Mini SKU Internal Identification Number denoting specific packages and or parts T Adapter T Shaped Adapter V2 Second Generation w with ...

Page 44: ...mplete or has been removed or changed after the original purchase of the product by the consumer from the originating authorized dealer Fanotec may repair or replace Fanotec products with new or reconditioned parts or products of equivalent to new performance and reliability Fanotec may also replace products with equivalent models where the original has been discontinued or is no longer available ...

Page 45: ...istered trade names All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying recording or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher Fanotec except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copy...

Page 46: ...om user NodalNinja Finding the NPP of a lens without a pano head Google YouTube Nodal Ninja finding the No Parallax Point of a lens Finding NPP without a pano head http michel thoby free fr Banknotes_intro html https docsbay net how to take a perfect nadir image for spherical panoramas without taking the camera from the panohead https forum nodalninja com forum product solutions authorized nodal n...

Page 47: ...scribed herein are subject to change without prior notice due to the manufacturer s continuous development program Fanotec makes no representations or warranties concerning this manual or for the products described herein and shall not be liable for any damages losses costs or expenses direct indirect or incidental consequential or special arising out of or related to the use of this material or t...

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