Morten Andersen
Posts: 81
Location: Roskilde, Denmark
Registered: 12 Jun 2006
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Handheld panoramas
Posted: 25 May 2007 at 19:53 GMT
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Hi everybody.
So now I have finally invested in a new set up and ordered a canon 5D and sigma 8mm f3.5 fish eye lense 
As I will hopefully get a couple of jobs for a newpaper I need to learn to do handheld panoramas. So if anyone can give me any pointers on how to shoot panoramas with out using a tripod or rotator I would greatly appreciate it.
Perhaps there is a tutorial out there? Or someone already used to shooting hand held that would not mind sharing your experience and workflow?
I look forward to getting some great input on this "problem"
Best regards
Morten Andersen
- a newbie trying to improve
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Brian Sullivan
Posts: 24
Location: Toronto, Canada
Registered: 28 Oct 2006
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ebig
Posts: 171
Location: Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, United States
Registered: 21 May 2007
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 25 May 2007 at 21:56 GMT
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You might check Bo Lorentzen's short video:
www.bophoto.com/lessons/video.html
Also I know folks who hold the camera over their head with both hands, holding the arms rigid (as possible) and rotating their body to the target direction to shoot.
It works...though some PP is usually reqd.
Regards,
Ed
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marcus newey
Posts: 127
Location: somerset, United Kingdom
Registered: 23 Oct 2005
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 26 May 2007 at 12:52 GMT
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'Practice makes perfect' !
Try a 3 or 4 point version of the 'dylosphere';
dylansurridge.com/panographer/2006/04/dylosphere....
Develpoe a technique that works then get used to the body movements needed and repeat them over and over.
Then they should be 'programmed in' to your mind/body and you'll be able to shoot quick acurate hand held panos. Andrey certainly seems to be pretty good.
Marcus
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Morten Andersen
Posts: 81
Location: Roskilde, Denmark
Registered: 12 Jun 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 26 May 2007 at 17:56 GMT
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Thank you for the links. I have read them all, now I just need to see the videos so I will hopefully learn to do hand held panoramas very soon 
Do any of you have personal experience producing hand held panoramas.
Personally I could imagine that holding the camera on the top of your head would be a good approach.
Does any of you know someone with great experience in producing hand held action panoramas?? PErhaps I cuold contact this person and ask his advice so we can all learn something usefull
Best regards
Morten
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Mark Schuster
Posts: 1321
Location: Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
Registered: 25 Jan 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 26 May 2007 at 22:01 GMT
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Morten
The journalist hasn’t time for refinement, I suppose, so here is a slap dash way of quick panoramas.
panoradiant.co.uk/hydepark/artist.mov
No tripod, no monopod, not even a protractor to measure angles. Just a Canon 300D and 7.5mm fisheye. Set up time a just a couple of seconds. Unscrew lens cap, set ISO fairly high, shutter speed and aperture. Camera in portrait mode pointing slightly upward to obviate the need of a zenith shot. 1st shot, frame subjects to right of viewfinder, turn for 2nd subjects to left of centre, then allow sufficient overlap for the rest of the series – five shots in this case.
Because of the wide angle, you need to be pretty close in to your subjects otherwise they will seem to recede into the distance.
Stitched with PTGui without intervention, and except for cropping, left the rest to the software. Bit of a dislocation of stitching near the nadir.
Slapdash, yes. Careless, yes. But very fast. Complete series in about 30 seconds, and only about six for the first to shots with the subjects in them.
Mark
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Morten Andersen
Posts: 81
Location: Roskilde, Denmark
Registered: 12 Jun 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 9:59 GMT
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@ Mark
That looks great.
As I am using a canon 5D and sigma 8mm, then I guess it sould be enough just to take 3 or 4 shots ??
I am still waiting for the camera. I will let all of you know if I manage to produce something acceptable when the equipment arrive.
Best regards
Morten
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Mark Schuster
Posts: 1321
Location: Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
Registered: 25 Jan 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 11:11 GMT
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Mortan,
3 or 4 shots handheld, no I don't think so. Theoretically possible, maybe, but to provide enough overlap for stitching - don't forget you won't be able to rotate the camera by precisely equal amounts between shots - 4 shots would be pushing things a bit. Better take five or even six rather than find you dont have a stitchable series when you get home.
Don't forget you are holding the camera in portrait mode so the horizonal field of view will be considerably less than the vertical. For example if the aspect ratio of your sensor is 4:3 then the HFOV will be about 3/4x180=120 degrees. 360/120=3 so although you could theoretically cover everything with 3 shots, there would be zero overlap and the images would be unstitchable.
Mark
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Mark Schuster
Posts: 1321
Location: Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
Registered: 25 Jan 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 11:13 GMT
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By the way Mortan, congratulations for you 5D and Sigma 8mm. that's something to dream about. Mark
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zxcvbnm
Posts: 412
Location:
Registered: 3 May 2005
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 11:22 GMT
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Being picky if he has a full frame 5d and sigma fisheye he will get a full circle with 180 degrees won't he? So three shots should do it just fine.
Personally on my d50 I take four shots hand held mostly as I find it easy to thing in 90 degree turns.
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Smooth
Posts: 3773
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 19:44 GMT
updated: 29 May 2007 at 19:44 GMT
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and being a full frame sensor camera it doesn't matter if the camera is in portrait or landscape orientation (Full Circular Image). 3 shots will cover the 360 but four will be easier to shoot by virtue of the 90 degrees positioning.
Regards, Smooth 
www.smooth360.info
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Mark Schuster
Posts: 1321
Location: Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
Registered: 25 Jan 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 19:56 GMT
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Yes, I think Zxcvbnm is right. I was forgeting the 5D is a full frame camera.
Mark 
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Pelle Piano
Posts: 56
Location: Farsta, Sweden
Registered: 18 May 2004
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 29 May 2007 at 22:44 GMT
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You can use a bubble level in the cameras hot shoe. Very practical.
And then put your right foot slightly forward, have the nodal point of lens over your toe, and rotate around that. I think it was Hans Nyberg who thought of that.
I use a similar technique but use a normal tripod ( without attaching the camera to it ) to keep track of where the nodal point should be.
Example pano .. www.pellepiano.com/qtvr/peleng/gl_karusell.html
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Morten Andersen
Posts: 81
Location: Roskilde, Denmark
Registered: 12 Jun 2006
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Re: Handheld panoramas
Posted: 30 May 2007 at 7:22 GMT
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This is awsome.
Thanks for all of your replies. This is exactly what I was hoping for.
Unfortunately I just heard from the dealer. The 8mm lense won´t be in stock untill next week, so I can´t go out and test it yet.
I was considering "just" taking 3 shots every 120 degree, but I could imagine that it would be easier to turn 90 degree.
@ Pelle Piano
Thanks for the advice with the foot / toe. I will definately try that.
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