Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 12:50 GMT
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Hello again, I am still having a struggle making a VT. My setup that I am having problems is a Canon 300DSLR, a standard (i.e. came with the camera) canon lens, 15-56, a manfrotto tripod and a 0-360% lens attachment. I have read lots and LOTS about how to use this setup, and I have also had a lot of help from the sales at 0-360%, but I feel ackward at keep going back to them with questions because I did'nt buy the lens attachment from them, so therefore they are inbusiness to take cash, and they have had virtually nothing from me!!! Despite the fact that they keep saying anything else they can help me with!! So I thought the varied knowledge from this forum might help me. My problem is getting a good focus. My best attempt was with the zoom extended to just under the maximum, about 53, focus I have made a rubber band which is exactly the best position, and sometimes I get the focus light flashing, sometimes its out, but NEVER a steady light showing that the focus is correct. But, I did make one quicktime vt and by my standards it was fairly O.K. But, next day, everything the same, same location and it was way out, absolute rubbish. The setting of the focus ring is so critical, the slightest correction (even a gust of wind) seems enough to send it astray. In desparation I am now wondering l/ Is my lens not up to it, the Canon lens I mean. If so, I will buy a correct and/or better one or 2/ I read somewhere that the site should always be as well lit as possible. Is this critical? If so I will introduce a portable light source. Anybody any ideas particularly as to whether a laCK OF LIGHT WILL MAKE IT GO OUT OF FOCUS. mIKE oWEN
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rudders
Posts: 365
Location: North Yorkshire & Northern England, United Kingdom
Registered: 21 Aug 2005
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 19:00 GMT
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Hi Michael.. I havent read all your thread.. but can just say one thing.. Bin the 0-360 lens  and get a fisheye  . 0-360 lenses have never been able to give decent quality panos, and with a 6mp image they will always look blurred. You can get a peleng 8mm lens for round £100 you will be able to take a decent quality fullscreen pano with 4-6 shots with it. hope this helps a bit.
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Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 26 Jan 2008 at 20:17 GMT
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Hello rudders and thanks for your reply. Actually I already own a peleng lens and I did a few panos with it stitching with PTGui, before I bought the 0-360 lens. I thought the 0-360 could give me another alternative, possible quicker and, I thought, maybe easier, and my idea was to develope the two approaches side by side. Never mind, if you are correct in what you say, well you live and learn. I don't really regret buying the o-360, not yet at least. Mike
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Smooth
Posts: 1455
Location: Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 27 Jan 2008 at 4:24 GMT
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Michael,
The One Shot 0-360 is as you know a mirror (lens?) and what you are photographing is a reflection show in the mirror. The mirror is only about 1' foot, 30 cm away from the camera sensor/focal plane and as such requires really a macro lens that will set focus correctly on something (in this case a mirror reflection) that is close the camera (within 30 - 40 cm). It is required that the lighting is very good but no light can be directed at the mirror because like shining a torch into a mirror it will flare badly and the camera will never focus on the mirror.
So basically you need a macro lens OR consider a prosumer point n shoot camera with a good macro ability like the Nikon Coolpix range. Macro on these is as close as 2 cm and using one of these might well be a whole lot cheaper than buying the correct lens for the DSLR.
What lens did 0-360 recommend as being optimal for the Canon DSLR?
Regards, Smooth 
www.smooth360.info
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Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 28 Jan 2008 at 21:41 GMT
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Hello again Smooth, You have come to my rescue twice. First over Tourweaver and now 0-360!!! Please don't think I am just messing you and others around, in another thread I said that I could'nt wait to buy Tourweaver. Well this was and is correct, my basic idea was to have the 0-360 for quick in and out vt work and the tourweaver for a possibly better quality job taking longer over creating it. Anyway, back to the 0-360%. I am coming around to thinking that it is the lens and/or camera. I have asked 0-360 what they think, and I will probably be guided by them, i must say they have been first class in giving me advice, as, indeed, have you. Many thanks. I will repay you (eventually) by thinking that a bit of my cash might find its way to you in commission !!! Mike
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michael medina
Posts: 266
Location: portland, oregon, United States
Registered: 27 Jan 2008
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 0:15 GMT
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maybe my thinking is wrong, but to focus on objects in a reflection, you have to focus on the objects, not the mirror. at least that's how my eyes work.
anyway, with a curved surface mirror, i would hope it's shaped to have everything in focus, but who knows.
don't forget about diffraction at small apertures too
i would guess that f11 with the lens focusing barrel turned so the infinity mark is at f11 or less would work, try not setting up close to anything
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DorinDXN
Posts: 1671
Location: Timisoara, Romania
Registered: 14 Nov 2006
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 6:42 GMT
updated: 29 Jan 2008 at 6:47 GMT
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aiwetir said: maybe my thinking is wrong, but to focus on objects in a reflection, you have to focus on the objects, not the mirror. at least that's how my eyes work.
Depends on mirror, with this kind of the mirror used in one shoot solution the objects seems to be very close due to the curved surface of the mirror, the focus purpose is to have an image point for an real object point.
simply put, from infinite the light rays from an object are parallel from a close object the rays have an angle, the one-shot mirror reflects paralel rays under an angle so one can say the "infinite" is much closer.
Could be at only 40 cm away.
Dorin
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michael medina
Posts: 266
Location: portland, oregon, United States
Registered: 27 Jan 2008
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 7:09 GMT
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i see what you mean 
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Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 14:46 GMT
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Thanks to Aiwetir and Dorin for their comments. I "think" I get the gist of what you are saying. Now to a direct question to Smooth. After considerable thought I have decided to go for a reasonably good macro lens. I understand your point about the Nikon coolpix and cost, but if I do that I am not going to be able to fit my 0-360" to the camera. So, the nitty,gritty, do you feel you can recommend a suitable lens that will fit my canon 300D.? Bearing in mind your recommendation of 30-40 cm. If so, could I ask you to let me know. Many thanks in advance Mike
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Smooth
Posts: 1455
Location: Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 15:15 GMT
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Michael,
It is recommended that you use a zoom lens that will carry through the 45 - 55mm range for focus and the use of a close-up diopter (screw on lens optic) is recommended to help focus on the one shot mirror. Buying a quality "L" series Canon lens that carries through the 45 - 55mm range would be optimal but may be well out of your price range. Look at the web for some comparison between lenses within range like this www.kjsl.com/~dave/lenstest/lenstest.html
I cannot offer a 100% buy this lens answer without having tested the combination myself sorry.
Understand though, the investment into a real good quality lens is one that will be used in all forms of photography and not just limited to the one shot mirror.
Regards, Smooth
www.smooth360.info
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Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 20:55 GMT
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Thanks Smooth fr your advice. Its a pity you only supply software for me to buy. It would be nice to buy a lens from you, no postage involved, I could do with a holiday in Australia (We are in the middle of a horrible winter in the U.K.) I'll let you know how I go on if its of any intererst Mike
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ebig
Posts: 141
Location: Haiku, Maui, Hawaii, United States
Registered: 21 May 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 29 Jan 2008 at 22:26 GMT
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Just an added thought, and this may be too obvious...the more FOV a lens puts on any sensor the fewer pixels per degree FOV. So 3 exposures stitched from an 8mm lens will have 3x the pixels per degree resolution than a 1 shot with a single 360 degree exposure - if the lens IQ are equal.
For the quality to appear roughly equivalent the 1 shot would have to be presented significantly smaller, maybe 1/4 size.
Regards
Ed
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Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 30 Jan 2008 at 10:35 GMT
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Thanks ebig. What you say makes sense to me. As it happens, in my case, this doesent matter---I am not after great quality with the 0-360, just a run of the mill estate agents V.T. But, thanks all the same, its a bit more information to fill up my memory bank. Mike P.S. Heres me wrapped up in warm clothes dodging the rain, answersfrom Smooth in Australia and you in-----Hawaii!!
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Michael Owen
Posts: 69
Location: Colwyn Bay, United Kingdom
Registered: 1 Apr 2007
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Re: Getting a good focus with a 0-360 lens attachment
Posted: 31 Jan 2008 at 20:59 GMT
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I thought out of courtesy to the several pano forum members who have offered advice, and to 0-360 support if they read this. I have purchased a Sigma 170-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro Canon SLR lens. At the least this should make focusing easier, and I am hopeful it will solve the whole problem. Now I just cannot wait to get my hands on it and try it out. Thanks again everybody Mike
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