Camera Compatibility with the EPIC Series Panoheads

Looking for the right EPIC panohead to pair with your camera? Before learning about the differences, a few basic camera requirements should be explained. To maintain consistent exposure, focus and white balance throughout the panorama, your camera must have the following features:

• Allow locking or manual control of exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) for a series of photograph
• Allow locking or manual control of focus for a series of photographs
• Allow locking of white balance for a series of photographs 

Armed with this information, you can now choose the best panohead for your scenario:

EPIC Pro
The Gigapan EPIC Pro is for DSLR cameras and actuates the shutter electronically via one of the seven cables that come in the cable kit with the Pro. The included cables are the Canon N3, Canon/Pentax E3, Nikon 10–Pin, Nikon MC–DC2, Nikon MC–DC1; Olympus RM–UC1 and Sony RM–S1AM. A compatible camera needs a port that accepts any one of these cables, but a camera with an incompatible cable port can be triggered by hand using a remote switch. Keep in mind that the EPIC Pro’s weight capacity is 10 lbs. for the camera/lens combination.

The ideal camera for the EPIC Pro should be no more than approximately 88 mm wide from the center of the tripod mount (you can adjust the center by purchasing the vice/clamp set), or have an overall width greater than approximately 177 mm wide.

EPIC 100
The Gigapan EPIC 100 is for larger point-and-shoot cameras. This model uses a mechanical button pusher that physically presses the camera’s shutter button. For some Canon cameras (such as the Powershot G12), the EPIC 100 has an option for electronic triggering, via the EPIC 100 E3 Trigger Cable. See the EPIC 100 camera list for those models designated as qualified. This cable is an accessory and can be purchased from the Accessories page. The Epic 100’s weight capacity is 3 lbs.

It’s recommended that your camera meets the measurement requirements that allow for parallax adjustment. See Figure 1 at the bottom of this post for the camera measuring guide. The EPIC 100’s specifications are as follows:  
    Outer Lens Diameter - 68.5 mm
    Screw mount to edge of grip handle - 57.4 mm
    Center of lens to left camera face - 54.5 mm
    Bottom of camera to center of lens - 36.2 mm 

EPIC
Finally, the EPIC is designed for compact cameras. Like the Epic 100, it uses a mechanical button pusher that physically presses the camera’s shutter button. Its weight capacity is 1.5 lbs.

EPIC’s measurement requirements that allow for parallax adjustment:
    Outer Lens Diameter - 68.5 mm

    Screw mount to edge of grip handle - 24.0 mm
    Center of lens to left camera face - 39.3 mm
    Bottom of camera to center of lens - 36.2 mm 

Questions? We would be happy to assist you with determining your camera’s compatibility.
 Contact me at http://www.gigapan.com/cms/support/contact-support