Choosing Really Right Stuff panorama solutions for shallow DOF panorama portraits

[joel_b.1]

<p>Hello, I am an aspiring portrait photographer. I'm interested in experimenting with some multirow shallow DOF portraiture panoramas in the manner popularized by Ryan Brenizer. For this I would use a D800 w/ 85mm or 70-200mm 2.8 or maybe someday a 200mm prime.</p>

<p>I know Brenizer does these freehand without a tripod, but he's a wedding photographer in a hurry. I like to work more deliberately, and I also want minimal trouble stitching the frames together in pp, so I am thinking I'd like to try a tripod attachment that will allow me to take consistently accurate (i.e., parallax-free) 12-36 frame multirow panos of portraiture subjects.</p>

<p>Researching the world of pano gear has me a bit bewildered. I am focussing on Really Right Stuff equipment as a way of narrowing the field. Can anyone tell me the functional differences between the RRS Ultimate Pro Omni Pivot Package and the PG02 Pro Omni Pivot Package? Further, must I use a leveling base? If so, do I use it instead of the ballhead or on top of it?</p>

<p>I have spent a good deal of time reading discussion boards and the RRS FAQs but I keep coming up with different answers. So I thought perhaps I'd ask you for your advice regarding my specific needs.</p>

<p>What I'd like, to reiterate, is an apparatus atop my tripod which would allow me to shoot 12-36 frame multirow panoramas of portrait subjects, quickly, while maintaining a constant entrance pupil distance so as to eliminate parallax errors during stitching.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for your kind attention; I am grateful for any counsel you can offer.</p>

[dan_meyers1]

<p>Do the obvious: call and talk to the folks at RRS.<br>

They'll give you all the correct information you need.</p>

[joel_b.1]

<p>Thank you, Dan. In fact I've sent a version of the message above to RRS and I'm looking forward to hearing back from them, but I'd be glad to have input from users as well. Thank you again for the suggestion. </p>

[Jeremy Stein]

<p>What about the Gigapan Epic? Check it out at: www.gigapan.com</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

The gigs pan gear isn't suited for what Joel B wants to do.

 

Joel B.: I have both of those RRS pano packages. The big differences are the PG-O2 Va and The CB-10 camera bar.

 

The PG-02VA has three advantages over the PCL-1+ CRD combination: it's easier to set and lock the rotator angle; it's

taller than the CRD; and most importantly the PG-02VA rotator is stronger than the PCL-1 which, according to the people

I've communicated with at RRS, wasn't really designed to work as a vertical rotator.

 

The CB-10 is simply a longer and heavier duty hunk of metal than the MPR-1. For what you want to do this probably will

not make any difference. But if you start using larger bodied cameras like a D4 it will. You can also connect multiple

camera bars together to make a jib for your camera or a slider if you ever get into video work. I regularly use both a CB-

10 and CB-18 combination.

 

What I really like about RRS gear is the modularity and the way everything fits together.

 

Full disclosure: I just found out that RRS will feature a photo of mine in an an upcoming blog. I'd like to say they are

paying for it with either gear or a discount but that's not the case. dissent them a letter telling them how I used RRS gear

in a non standard method.

[ellis_vener_photography]

Typo/auto spell corrections!

 

Full disclosure: I just found out that RRS will feature a photo of mine in an an upcoming blog. I'd like to say they are

paying for it with either gear or a discount but that's not the case. I sent them a letter telling them how I used RRS gear in

a non standard method and they asked if I'd like to be featured.