Motorised Pan & Tild Head

Question

In the topic David Bogle asked me to report on my efforts to produce 360 degree pans which were very smooth.
I tried all the methods (except one) suggested but the result was not smooth at all. I am told that a pro can make a smooth pan by crabbing his feet round in short movements but I couldn't. The exception was Ianﾕs suggestion of a swivel chair. I am sure that would give good results but most of my pans will be in streets and other public places offering plenty of scope for ridicule!
I therefore bought a motorised pan and tilt head from here. It is the model MPH - the Modified Pan and Tilt Head. It is a Bescor head modified to do 360 degrees.
My conclusions are that it pans (and tilts) very smoothly indeed, at all speeds, with no jerks at all. It works off four AA batteries which can be Lithium-Ion recharables although the head moves slightly more slowly with them.
There is some noise picked up by the on-camera mics. I think that this is through the air rather than via vibration. This is noticeable when there is no background noise at all (like in a quiet room), where the camera's gain is likely to be automatically turned up) and my camera (see signature) is using one of the two hotshoe-mounted Sony mics. This can just be heard, but very slightly, outside with a background of late-Winter birdsong.
However, if the built-in mic is used the noise is quieter indoors and almost silent, and outdoors it cannot be detected against the above-mentioned birdsong. Of course, an off-camera mic would not pick up any panning sound if held at a distance from the camera.
So, it works.
G5/2.0 GHz   Mac OS X (10.3.9)   1 GB RAM, 150 GB HD, Sony DCR-HC96 mini DV, FCE HD 3.0 DVD SP 3

Answer 1

One point seems a bit dodgy - the speed.
I don't know whether it has two fixed speeds or is
infinitely variable between those parameters, but it
does seem extremely slow.
The speed is infinitely variable.
If their figures are correct, it will take between
2.5 and 5 minutes to cover 360 degrees. That is the
length of most of my complete films!
I would have thought a minute would be more
appropriate.
With my maths, 4 degrees per sec = 1m 30 s (slow) or 8 per sec. = 45 secs (fast) for360 degrees.
My current project is a historical record of the local countryside for storage in the County Records Office and in the centre at Leicester for conservation of the moving image in the Midlands. Its for people, eg. 30-60, years from now to see what it was like long ago. Therefore, the need is for people to look carefully rather than for a passing interest or for entertainment. Spielberg it ain't. My pans are turning out at 1m 20s at the slowest setting which is just right for my requirements. Top speed is turning out to be about double that which would give the 1m that you suggested, but the noise that I mentioned would be a problem depending on the mic used although most shooters have off-camera mics.
I suspect that I am not alone in wanting to see your
final results.
That's encouraging (or courageous on your part). When it is finished at the end of this year I will think about posting on my site, or perhaps on YouTube to make me famous. However,a warning - one completed section is on muck spreading on a farm, with closeup!
G5/2.0 GHz Mac OS X (10.3.9) 1 GB RAM, 150 GB HD, Sony DCR-HC96 mini DV, FCE HD 3.0 DVD SP 3