I designed and built 5 panoramic heads over several years, gradually improving the design after using them. The first model was for the Nikon 5700, but I designed it in such a way that it was easy to adapt to future camera models. Thus, when I bought the Sony R1, I built an L-bracket to attach it to the pano head. The R1 is a much better landscape camera and I don't use the 5700 with the pano head anymore...but I could.

This head operates unlike other designs. Instead of a degree scale, it has detent rings to position the camera at exact intervals. I built rings with 9, 12, 15, and 16 detents. I use the 15-detent ring almost exclusively with the R1 in portrait orientation.

It's not really designed to do multi-row panos, but I do have an adapter bracket that raises the camera up far enough that it can be positioned at any vertical angle.

The drum is held in position by a brake. The brake is released by pulling on the lever sticking out of the right side. As the brake releases, the torque on the lever naturally rotates the camera from left-to-right, so this can be done with one hand. It's quite fast.

There is a hole in the side of the body where the lever can be stowed...this makes it much smaller.

Click on this for an expanded view of my 5th Generation Pano Head...

This link will provide a set of detailed drawings of my Pano Head...