Panoramic imaging head, and imaging system using same

Abstract

A panoramic photography head for easily photographing a plurality of images having different orientations without any vignetting in order to generate a panoramic image and to provide a photography system using the panoramic photography head are provided. A panoramic photography system includes a digital camera body that has a lens having a predetermined field of view at a front end thereof and can photograph a digital image; a panoramic photography head connected to a lower surface of the digital camera body; and a legged platform connected to a lower surface of the panoramic photography head. The panoramic photography head includes: an approximately horizontal upper plate having a second connector for realizing non-rotatably connection to the first connector; a vignetting preventing extension that is bent downward from the upper plate to secure a predetermined gap so as to prevent the panoramic photography head and the legged platform from being photographed in an image; and a lower plate that extends approximately horizontally and toward a front side from a lower end of the vignetting preventing extension and has a legged platform connector for connection to the legged platform. The legged platform connector is positioned vertically under a nodal point of the lens.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A panoramic photography system for photographing a plurality of images which are used for generating a panoramic image and of which the orientations are different, comprising:
 a digital camera body that has a lens having a predetermined field of view at a front end thereof and can photograph a digital image;   a panoramic photography head connected to a lower surface of the digital camera body;   a legged platform connected to a lower surface of the panoramic photography head, wherein   a first connector for connection to the panoramic photography head is provided on the lower surface of the digital camera body,   the panoramic photography head includes:   an approximately horizontal upper plate having a second connector for realizing non-rotatably connection to the first connector;   a vignetting preventing extension that is bent downward from the upper plate to secure a predetermined gap so as to prevent the panoramic photography head and the legged platform from being photographed in an image; and   a lower plate that extends approximately horizontally and toward a front side from a lower end of the vignetting preventing extension and has a legged platform connector for connection to the legged platform, the lower plate having an upper surface that is inclined downward as the surface advances toward an outer side, and   the legged platform connector is positioned vertically under a nodal point of the lens.   
     
     
         11 . A panoramic photography system for photographing a plurality of images which are used for generating a panoramic image and of which the orientations are different, comprising:
 a digital camera body that has a lens having a predetermined field of view at a front end thereof and can photograph a digital image;   a panoramic photography head connected to a lower surface of the digital camera body;   a legged platform connected to a lower surface of the panoramic photography head, wherein   a first connector for connection to the panoramic photography head is provided on the lower surface of the digital camera body,   the panoramic photography head includes:   an approximately horizontal upper plate having a second connector for realizing non-rotatably connection to the first connector;   a vignetting preventing extension that is bent downward from the upper plate to secure a predetermined gap so as to prevent the panoramic photography head and the legged platform from being photographed in an image, the vignetting preventing extension having a grip portion formed so that a user can grasp; and   a lower plate that extends approximately horizontally and toward a front side from a lower end of the vignetting preventing extension and has a legged platform connector for connection to the legged platform, and   the legged platform connector is positioned vertically under a nodal point of the lens.   
     
     
         12 . The panoramic photography system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the legged platform is a monopod and the legged platform connector is non-rotatably connected to the legged platform.   
     
     
         13 . The panoramic photography system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the legged platform is a monopod and the legged platform connector is non-rotatably connected to the legged platform.   
     
     
         14 . The panoramic photography system according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a support plate that extends toward a rear side from the lower plate; and   a grip that is rotatably supported so as to extend approximately vertically downward from the support plate and is formed so that a user can grasp.   
     
     
         15 . The panoramic photography system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a support plate that extends toward a rear side from the lower plate; and   a grip that is rotatably supported so as to extend approximately vertically downward from the support plate and is formed so that a user can grasp.   
     
     
         16 . The panoramic photography system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an approximately disk-shaped base plate mounted on a mounting surface, on which a monopod is placed, wherein   each surface of the base plate includes:   a recess in which a lower end of the monopod is placed at a center thereof so that alignment is realized easily;   legs that make contact with the mounting surface at a plurality of contact points; and   a direction indicator which includes a polygonal mark and in which a symbol is allocated to a side of the polygonal mark, the polygonal mark on one surface being different from that of the other surface.   
     
     
         17 . A panoramic photography head used together with a digital camera body when photographing a plurality of images which are used for generating a panoramic image and of which the orientations are different, comprising:
 an approximately horizontal upper plate having a second connector for realizing non-rotatably connection to the digital camera body;   a vignetting preventing extension that is bent downward from the upper plate to secure a predetermined gap so as to prevent the panoramic photography head from being photographed in an image; and   a lower plate that extends approximately horizontally and toward a front side from a lower end of the vignetting preventing extension and has a legged platform connector for connection to a legged platform, the lower plate having an upper surface that is inclined downward as the surface advances toward an outer side, and   the legged platform connector is positioned vertically under a nodal point of a lens provided in the digital camera body.   
     
     
         18 . A panoramic photography head used together with a digital camera body when photographing a plurality of images which are used for generating a panoramic image and of which the orientations are different, comprising:
 an approximately horizontal upper plate having a second connector for realizing non-rotatably connection to the digital camera body;   a vignetting preventing extension that is bent downward from the upper plate to secure a predetermined gap so as to prevent the panoramic photography head and the legged platform from being photographed in an image, the vignetting preventing extension having a grip portion formed so that a user can grasp; and   a lower plate that extends approximately horizontally and toward a front side from a lower end of the vignetting preventing extension and has a legged platform connector for connection to a legged platform, and   the legged platform connector is positioned vertically under a nodal point of a lens provided in the digital camera body.   
     
     
         19 . The panoramic photography head according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a support plate that extends toward a rear side from the lower plate; and   a grip that is rotatably supported so as to extend approximately vertically downward from the support plate and is formed so that a user can grasp.   
     
     
         20 . An approximately disk-shaped base plate which is mounted on a mounting surface, on which a monopod is placed, the base plate being used for photographing a panoramic image, wherein
 each surface of the base plate includes:   a recess in which a lower end of the monopod is placed at a center thereof so that alignment is realized easily;   legs that make contact with the mounting surface at a plurality of contact points; and   a direction indicator which includes a polygonal mark and in which a symbol is allocated to a side of the polygonal mark, the polygonal mark on one surface being different from that of the other surface.