softboot
Posts: 162
Location:
Registered: 2 Oct 2006
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Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 2 Oct 2006 at 21:09 GMT
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Hi all. New here and would like to start taking a few panoramas and virtual tours. Have looked around this site and would like some advice please. I have about £1000 (Uk pounds) budget for camera and equipment. Is this enough? What gear do you guys recommend? I am steering towards Canon 350D, fisheye lens and Tourweaver. (also need the head and tripod etc.)Am i going in the right direction? All help and advice welcome, many thanks. Oh, forgot to mention would like to do 360 by 180 tours, thanks again.
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pixelator
Posts: 17
Location: North Carolina, United States
Registered: 21 Apr 2005
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 15:44 GMT
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Softboot,
The setup you are talking about will work nicely. I have purchased several products from Adorama including my Canon 350D and would highly recomend them. Below is a list and price breakdown on what you will need.
Canon 350D $609.95 usd
www.adorama.com/ICADRXTB.html?sid=115988829044684...
Sigma 8mm Fisheye $629.00 usd
www.adorama.com/SG835EOS.html?searchinfo=sigma%20...
Agnos MrotatorTCPS head $357.00 usd
www.agnos.com/
Total for 350D, Sigma 8mm, Agnos Head
1595.00
You will also need a Tri-pod and a quick grip leveler helps a bunch. As far as the Tourweaver software you will also need to add Panoweaver for stitching the images. Both combined will cost $999.00 usd. You may do some research here and find that you can save a few $ by going with another type of stitching software.
All products, including Easypano software are what I use as well as PSCS2 and Pano2QTVR.
Hope this helped,
Pixel
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softboot
Posts: 162
Location:
Registered: 2 Oct 2006
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 17:39 GMT
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Thanks a lot Pixel.
That helps me a lot. I like the tourweaver option as it has the skins option. Will start purchasing soon once I have searched around for best prices but often use www.ebuyer.com for bits (PC bits) and they are often hard to beat. They have the 350D there which is quite resonably priced imo.
www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/85918. Of course in the USA you always seem to have that sort of stuff cheaper! Thanks again.
John.
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John Houghton
Posts: 2269
Location: Hitchin, United Kingdom
Registered: 17 Jan 2005
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 18:03 GMT
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John, Your £1000 target would mean you have to compromise on some items. The Peleng 8mm fisheye (£132) is worth considering, as is the Nodal Ninja 3 pano head (£85). A search of these forums will find opinions and images. PTGui is always useful to have, too.
John
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softboot
Posts: 162
Location:
Registered: 2 Oct 2006
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 21:04 GMT
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Thanks John. Yep, you read my mind. Pixel knows his stuff but it is v expensive equipment. Guess I should spend the cash on a decent camera and maybe compromise on the other bits til a later date eh? Just looking around this evening on the net and also looking at red doors products on their site. Why are some bits, such as lenses ect as you mention so different in price? Is it the BMW v the Ford Escort type scenario, ie one better quality (obviously)but ultimately does the same job to get you by? (Nothing wrong with Ford Escorts by the way!). Maybe ebay will have some used gear for sale, once i decide on the setup i want, thanks for the advice.
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softboot
Posts: 162
Location:
Registered: 2 Oct 2006
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 21:26 GMT
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That Nodal Ninja looks good, anyone recommend it? Thanks, john.
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pixelator
Posts: 17
Location: North Carolina, United States
Registered: 21 Apr 2005
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 21:46 GMT
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Softboot,
Sorry about that, should have taken a better look at what you were wanting to spend. So, here is another set up you can have a go at.
Nikon Coolpix 5000 Aprx. $350.00 usd
Nikon FC-8 Fisheye Converter Aprx. $180.00 usd
I have not tried the nodal ninja. I will however highly recomend the agnos MrotatorTCPS.
If you are wanting to save the $ on equipment to purchase the easypano software this may be a pretty good option.
Regards,
Pixel
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John Houghton
Posts: 2269
Location: Hitchin, United Kingdom
Registered: 17 Jan 2005
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 22:12 GMT
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John, The Nodal Ninja 3 works very well and is good value for money. I use one myself (with 20D +Sigma 8mm). I'm sure it would meet your requirements.
John
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rudders
Posts: 365
Location: North Yorkshire & Northern England, United Kingdom
Registered: 21 Aug 2005
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 3 Oct 2006 at 23:54 GMT
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Another thumbs up for the NN3!  bargain! and works a treat with the 350d & peleng 8mm.. BTW the 400d is only around £530 at the min!
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Wayne
Posts: 83
Location: Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Registered: 5 May 2004
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 4 Oct 2006 at 6:35 GMT
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NN3 for me! - just brill - buy one! 
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softboot
Posts: 162
Location:
Registered: 2 Oct 2006
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Re: Newbie equipment advice
Posted: 4 Oct 2006 at 19:11 GMT
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Hi all,
Thanks for all the good advice. I am steering towards the Canon 350D, (should do for quite a while), the NN3 head, and the Peleng 8mm lense. Read some reviews on that lense and sounds good for the money. (May add extra cash for sigma if it is that much better). Then its cash for software and decent tripod I guess. Anything else? Does this sound good enough for a beginner wishing to create and publish various 360 by 180 tours and panos ? I can push and go to £1300 UK pounds I suppose, but the missus may start to moan!
Thanks, John.
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