Kirk
Posts: 3
Location: Newark,DE, United States
Registered: 2 Nov 2007
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Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 2 Nov 2007 at 2:03 GMT
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Hi guys. This is my first post but I visit panoguide frequently. I want to start doing some virtual tours for local real estate agents but I'm having a hard time choosing the right gear.
So far here is what I've decided on:
Canon Powershot G9
(MAYBE)Vista Panorama bracket tinyurl.com/3542wr
Bogen 3001 tripod
I don't know if what I've picked is any good. Also I am stuck on what fisheye lens to get. I've read alot of back and forth about the Nikon FC-E8 and FC-E9. I know that can't afford to spend alot (more than $500)on the lens.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Oender
Posts: 172
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Registered: 16 Apr 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 2 Nov 2007 at 3:33 GMT
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Hello kirk! And welcome to the Gang!
I can recommend you that you go for a setup that can give you the best quality if you are planning to compete with the rest of the pro panographers on your city.
The tripod you mentioned is OK
For the panohead please get the nodal ninja 3 (www.nodalninja.com) Ask Bill that you are referred from the panoguide forum / Oender and you probably will get a discount.
About the Camera: Used Canon EOS 350D Or a new Canon EOS 400D (Digital Rebel XTi)
For the lens you can go for the Tokina Zoom Fisheye-Wide Angle 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AT-X 107 AF DX Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital EOS – price goes from US$465.95 - US$559.95
Is a better idea to save some more bucks to get the best possible tools. Remember that Hi quality is a rule if you are pretending to make professional panos.
Hope this help.
Cheers,
 Oender
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Lee McCarrick
Posts: 6
Location: Australia
Registered: 10 Oct 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 2 Nov 2007 at 4:43 GMT
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Hi Kirk,
I agree wth Oender, theres a world of difference of difference in quality between a point a shoot with a fisheye and a genuine fisheye on an SLR camera..
Heres a quick example that was posted up by one of our other members earlier this week.
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Hamish Tear
Posts: 46
Location: Jackson, United States
Registered: 8 Nov 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 8 Nov 2007 at 18:38 GMT
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I (also newbie)am frustrated by answers to my questions, which are similar to Kirk's. Through Voyager 360.com (whom I respect very much), I recently purchased a Nikon P5100 (12.1 mp)with the 2-shot system (Nikon FC-E9 Fisheye lens, Agnos rotator, Stitcher Unlimited software and Manfrotto tripod with levelling head). Many sources, Including Voyager 360 tout that this set-up is completely adequate at reasonable price and takes these shots: (www.ebigfoto.com/images/hawaii/).
Yes- these are out-door shots but what do you think of the quality?
This is possibly the finest compact camera on the market and, the argument goes, does away with the need for an expensive SLR.
Can somebody please tell me WHY I would have been better off spending bigger bucks on equipment mentioned earlier in this forum - and will Stitcher Unlimited (along with Immervision Panorama Filemaker) still serve me well if I change to different multi-shot gear?
I do agree that QUALITY is where I will compete with other VT photographers.
Thanks,
Hamish Tear.
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Kirk
Posts: 3
Location: Newark,DE, United States
Registered: 2 Nov 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 23 Nov 2007 at 21:28 GMT
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Ok guys. Thanks for the advice. This is what I've decided on.
Nikon D40- (I did not get the D40x because from every account I've gotten from pro photographers, there is no real noticeable difference in image quality from the D40 to the D40x I'll wait untill I've made a little money from this before I upgrade to a D80 or D200)
Nodal Ninja 3- Just arrived the other day
Nikon 10.5 mm - Had to sell some of my music equip to purchase this.
Vidpro VITT350 TT-350 Tripod- Just a cheap but sturdy tripod. Holds up to 6.6 lbs.
PTGui
Flash Panorama Player- Nice idea but I had no idea there was no GUI for this.
So that's it. Not exactly what was recommended but what do you think? Did I make some good choices?
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Oender
Posts: 172
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Registered: 16 Apr 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 24 Nov 2007 at 6:02 GMT
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Yea Kirk
good combo to start taking your panos, the only contra is that the D40 camera body does NOT contain the usual autofocus motor found in other Nikon, Canon, Pentax, SONY, Olympus, etc. bodies. The very same motor that uses the camera's internal batteries to drive the auto-focus motor, thereby relieving the user of the need to manually focus the lens. So, you can use non-AF-S lenses with this camera, but what you then have is a camera that may meter per its design, but YOU will have to manually focus the lens prior to snapping the shutter. (Type G or D AF Nikkor All functions supported except autofocus).
As you need to shoot the panos in MANUAL MODE no problem at all. The 10.5mm FE is fanastic (6 pictures at 60° plus Top and nadir.
You can also take super hi res multi row panos with the inlcuded 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX lens(3 rows of 10 pictures (rotate 36° each). First row at -45° second at 0° and the last one at +45°
post your first pano soon.
Oender
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Rosauro
Posts: 242
Location: Toronto, Canada
Registered: 15 Dec 2006
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 24 Nov 2007 at 6:42 GMT
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Kirk
With the 10.5mm just set your focal ring to infinity. No need for auto-focus.
See the position of the focusing ring at various distances.
Rosauro
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John Houghton
Posts: 2336
Location: Hitchin, United Kingdom
Registered: 17 Jan 2005
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 24 Nov 2007 at 7:56 GMT
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Rosauro's diagram shows why you shouldn't measure subject distances from the front of the lens. The scale readings don't match up with the measured distances. In fact, the distance scale relates to the subject distance as measured from the film or sensor plane. This is marked on the camera body (if you're lucky) by the symbol that looks like a Plimsoll line (a circle with a line through it).
Rather than setting the lens to focus at infinity, many prefer to set the focus closer to the hyperfocal distance to get the advantage of an increased depth of field. This is particularly relevant when using wider apertures in poor light.
John
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Rosauro
Posts: 242
Location: Toronto, Canada
Registered: 15 Dec 2006
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 24 Nov 2007 at 11:37 GMT
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Yes John is correct. I'm off by 4.291". You can guess where the focus ring will be when focused at 4 ft. 
When focusing at 4' @ f/8 (the focus ring moves to "infinity") the Near Focus distance is 1.25' and Far Focus distance to infinity.
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Kirk
Posts: 3
Location: Newark,DE, United States
Registered: 2 Nov 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 24 Nov 2007 at 15:36 GMT
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OK, great! Thanks for the tips! I am just waiting on the D40 to get here from B&H photo and I'll be all set. It's a Nikon factory refurbished unit, so I hope I don't run into any problems with the camera itself.
But I'm pretty excited. I can't wait to get going with this! I'll post a pano the day I get it.
Thanks again guys. I'm really glad I didn't go with the powershot and the FC-E9. I guess it pays to post before you purchase.
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Nick Case-Leng
Posts: 25
Location: Harrogate, United Kingdom
Registered: 29 Mar 2006
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 27 Nov 2007 at 15:21 GMT
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Hamish Tear said: Can somebody please tell me WHY I would have been better off spending bigger bucks on equipment mentioned earlier in this forum?
Principally, the Nikon FC-E9 fisheye lens is nowhere near as good a lens as the Nikon 10.5mm. If you want higher resolution pictures, you will see the difference.
Nick
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ebig
Posts: 169
Location: Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, United States
Registered: 21 May 2007
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Re: Newbie needs advice on gear
Posted: 27 Nov 2007 at 16:35 GMT
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Hammish -
You references a page of my test shots.
A couple of the shots are 3-shot with the Nikon P5000, and of margnial quality. The rest are 4-shot either with the P5000 and E8 or 5-shot with a Nikon D40x and Peleng 8mm. A hand-held meter was used together with an Olympus rotator on a monopod. All are shown less than full screen.
There are a number of issues...the E8 puts out a better image than the E9, and the D40x with the Peleng is clearly superior to the P5000. The 10.5 would be better while requiring more shots.
The P5000/P5100 can do good work if used carefully, though the small sensor and lack of RAW is limiting.
The two shot solution you mention (IMHO) may yield better images than a one-shot, but only for small presentations.
Regards,
Ed
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