Adapter Plate for Mounting Nikon 8800 Centered on Tripod

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

It would seem to me that it should be fairly easy to create a plate
that can be placed atop a standard panning tripod to allow one to
center the lens node on the axis of the tripod - important for
eliminating paralax when taking panoramic shots. (Yes, I know that when
I tilt the camera I will incur a penalty due to motion of the node, but
the simplicity and savings seem to make it worth a try.)

Clearly to do it "right" one needs a rig like the Manfroto 303 QTVR,
but $380 or more is money I don't want to spend. A simple "L-shaped"
plate with a threaded hole in the right position to attach to the
tripod head and a screw sliding in a slot in the "L" leg would seem to
do the job quite well. (The "L" is necessary because Nikon put the
tripod hole not on the axis of the lens).

Does anyone know of someone who sells such a plate suitable for a Nikon
8800, or would be willing to make it at a "reasonable" price? I
can/will do it myself, but I don't have a shop handy.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

FYI - Someone on one of the CP8800 forums published figures related to the
offset from the tripod screw. According to the post at the 8.9 mm (full wide
angle) the nodal point was 76 mm in front of, and 22 to the side of the
center of the tripod screw. If you have other figures I would appreciate it
if you put them in a follow-up.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I just followed the instructions at
http://www.panotools.info/mediawik [...] odal_Point and
determined the "entrance pupil" = Nodal point for my C8800.
My calibration essentially agrees with the one cited.