This response is from my father, a longtime photographer and photofinishing expert: <<So, "Brian is finally ready to share his techniques with the world"? To that I would add "As has been done by numerous predecessors who have traveled that road in recent decades...." I'd guess that there are lots of innocents dabbling these days in the digital camera world who figger they're on the cutting edge of everything; that nobody before has ever tried doing whatever it is that they're up to.  Yet the optical and photographic aspects of things have archives of history and hard-won lessons from others who have trod those paths in years gone by, available by a freebie phone call (e.g.,1-800:242-2424 for the Kodak Information Center). Don't know for sure, but I'd guess this specific question might even have a printed (Kodak) pamphlet addressing it, that'd be mailed in response to a simple request.>>

Brian has written an excellent article.

I would like to know which leveling tripod and rotational base Brian used, and what others are using. I see a few commercial products that cost many hundreds of dollars. Anything less costly?

Addressing another's comments:

Sure, this info maybe available elsewhere but its easy to find here and well-written. He never claimed to be inventing the whole technology.

Thanks again for a good article and an excellent site.

Mitch Hull