Description of operation
The overriding difference between the Atome and our other panoheads is that the camera & lens are
supported by the lens, rather than the camera body. The lens ring which facilitates this is designed to be
permanently attached to the lens, and a quick release between the lens ring and the Y support enables
release of the lens and camera from the panohead.
Walking with a camera on a tripod is very difcult; this panohead solution enables easy motion whilst
walking, and keeps the valuable/delicate camera & lens close to your body.
Operation in the eld would typically go along these lines:
Camera on neck strap around neck (with lens ring on lens) & tripod under arm with the rest of
the Atome on tripod.
Find position you wish to shoot from. Setup tripod and level.
Drop camera via lens ring onto Y support and move the lock* across to lock the lens and camera
to the head.
Setup camera (Meter shot/ISO/Focus/WB etc.)
Take photographs through 360 degrees.
Undo lock and lift camera and lens off head, to now be held by neck strap.
Shoot handheld zenith/nadir if you wish
Pick up tripod; carry on moving to next shot.
*The quick release lock is designed to ensure that the lens
ring rests in intimate contact with the Y support. The lock is
NOT DESIGNED to rest fully to the left hand side of its track.
Use your thumb to push the lock towards the left, and let it
rest where it chooses to when using a medium force upon it.
Typically it will rest around the vertically upwards position. Do
not use a high force to try to push the lock all the way across,
this may damage the Atome. The image to the right shows the
Atome with the lock correctly engaged..
Assembly
The Atome comes 95% assembled out the box. All that remains is for you to attach the lens ring to your
lens before you can get shooting. Fitment of the lens ring to the lens needs to be completed carefully to
ensure that the camera is rotated to the correct orientation and with the correct screw tension.
Remove the screw from the lens ring. This makes it easier to place the lens ring over the lens.
For the Nikon 10.5 slide the ring on from the front of the lens (shown below), for the Sigma8 the
ring attaches from the rear of the lens. Make sure the internal ridge is tight against the chamfer on
the lens to ensure the lens will be clasped properly and in the correct nodal position
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