Pano head or L plate?

[dannyfoxy]

I currently interested in doing 360 degrees panorama, I googled some pano head, there are too costly for a noob like me, can I just get a L plate to replace the pano head? Any experience senior here can advise?
:think:

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

I currently interested in doing 360 degrees panorama, I googled some pano head, there are too costly for a noob like me, can I just get a L plate to replace the pano head? Any experience senior here can advise?
:think:

L plate still can't get your lens' nodal point to be above the axis of rotation...

that might be a limiting factor for a 360 degree panorama.