Fj Abraham
Posts: 20
Location:
Registered: 4 Aug 2006
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Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 15:04 GMT
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OK, so I'm going on a trip and am not prepared at all but would very much like to return with shots for spherical panos.
I have little idea of what I need. I know what I have though so I'd like some advice on how to shoot so my return work will turn out nicely. I have:
- 360Pricision Adjust at my disposal
- D70
- Sigma 10-20
- Panorama Factory 4.2
I know nothing about the various types of sphericals or what format is best to output to.
I know this is all stuff that is probably covered umpteen times in the forum but I'm pressed for time.
Cheers.
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mediavets
Posts: 457
Location: Isleham, Cambs., United Kingdom
Registered: 8 Feb 2008
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 16:10 GMT
updated: 9 Apr 2008 at 16:14 GMT
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Fj Abraham said: OK, so I'm going on a trip and am not prepared at all but would very much like to return with shots for spherical panos.
I have little idea of what I need. I know what I have though so I'd like some advice on how to shoot so my return work will turn out nicely. I have:
- 360Pricision Adjust at my disposal
- D70
- Sigma 10-20
- Panorama Factory 4.2
I know nothing about the various types of sphericals or what format is best to output to.
I know this is all stuff that is probably covered umpteen times in the forum but I'm pressed for time.
Cheers.
IIRC Panorama Factory does not handle multi-row nor sphericals well if at all.
I suggest you get AutoPano Pro (my favourite) or PTGui to stitch and render. IMO Autopano Pro is more accessible for beginners than PTGui.
If you want to display panos on the web during your trip you will need to have a computer,the stitcher software (as above) with you, plus at mimimum, say, an image editor, Pano2VR (or Pano2QTVR) software to convert stitcher output file to Quicktime and/or Flash, connection to Net/Web and something to edit and upload Web pages.
If you plan to return with shots to stitch (and upload) later at home then all you need is the camera, lens and pano head (set appropriately for that lens, tripod, and of course enough digital media (cards) to store your images and a means of recharging your camera battery.
Andrew
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photo41
Posts: 177
Location: Stamora Romana - Timisoara, Romania
Registered: 14 Dec 2007
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 16:31 GMT
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hi,
before you go you should have a good idea on what is it all about, so - preferable under surveillance - take a pano or two to check the steps; furthermore in just a short time you could learn to take bracketed images that will help improve your image quality; practice it's the key  - would be really a shame to forget (like myself the day before) an ISO 1600 for a unrepeatable pano, for instance.
You should consider a mobile hdd with card reader (rather than a laptop) to download your cards - also you should have enough power to supply all.
good picture hunt!
regards,
Valentin
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Fj Abraham
Posts: 20
Location:
Registered: 4 Aug 2006
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 16:46 GMT
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How many images will I need with the Sigma @10mm?
How many stops for bracketing HDR shots?
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John Houghton
Posts: 2308
Location: Hitchin, United Kingdom
Registered: 17 Jan 2005
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 18:07 GMT
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(From www.vrwave.com) You will need 6 shots around with the camera tilted down 30 degrees, plus 6 around tilted up 30 degrees, plus zenith (up) and nadir (down) shots. The nadir photo is taken with the tripod shifted sideways out of the way, either with a hand held shot or with the camera still on the head but pointing towards the nadir area. (The latter method is satisfactory only for flat areas where there are no parallax problems caused by items raised above floor level, such as chairs or steps). At worst, you can patch over the tripod area with a logo disc or clone the area in Photoshop.
www.rosaurophotography.com/html/technical7.html
www.johnhpanos.com/epcalib.htm
John
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Fj Abraham
Posts: 20
Location:
Registered: 4 Aug 2006
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 18:12 GMT
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Well I'm pretty disappointed. I picked up the 10-20 (it was a gift actually) with panos in mind. I though it would have enough FOV to make it once around.
Maybe I should have opted for the Nikkor 10.5?
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mediavets
Posts: 457
Location: Isleham, Cambs., United Kingdom
Registered: 8 Feb 2008
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 18:36 GMT
updated: 9 Apr 2008 at 18:39 GMT
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Fj Abraham said: Well I'm pretty disappointed. I picked up the 10-20 (it was a gift actually) with panos in mind. I though it would have enough FOV to make it once around.
Maybe I should have opted for the Nikkor 10.5?
That wouldn't do single row either.
With Nikkor 10.5mm FE - which is fullframe FE with 180 degrees FOV on the diagonal - you need 6 around and zenith and optionally nadir.
For single row you could use Sigma 8mm f3.5 FE (4 around plus optional nadir) or Sigma 4.5mm FE or Sunex FE 3 around plus optional nadirs. Of these, I would suggest the Sigma 8mm f3.5 FE as offering best price-performance.
Andrew
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mediavets
Posts: 457
Location: Isleham, Cambs., United Kingdom
Registered: 8 Feb 2008
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 9 Apr 2008 at 18:41 GMT
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photo41 said: hi,
before you go you should have a good idea on what is it all about, so - preferable under surveillance -
Valentin
Or even under supervision - or maybe Romania hasn't changed as much as I have been led to believe?
Andrew
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photo41
Posts: 177
Location: Stamora Romana - Timisoara, Romania
Registered: 14 Dec 2007
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mediavets
Posts: 457
Location: Isleham, Cambs., United Kingdom
Registered: 8 Feb 2008
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Re: Last minute trip----need help
Posted: 10 Apr 2008 at 11:46 GMT
updated: 10 Apr 2008 at 11:49 GMT
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photo41 said: mediavets said: photo41 said: hi,
before you go you should have a good idea on what is it all about, so - preferable under surveillance -
Valentin
Or even under supervision - or maybe Romania hasn't changed as much as I have been led to believe?
Andrew
 You never know who may be reading and what will understand of it...
Thank you Andrew for pointing out the actual real dangers confronting the photographer with a tripod in otherwise civilized countries such as UK
Sadly you are right - we now have massive numbers of surveillance cameras, and in recent years police have shot (dead) a man carrying a table leg, not to mention an unarmed Brazilian plumber. I am sure anyone shooting panos, or carrying a covered tripod, would be considered worthy of suspicion in these crazy 'security' obsessed days. And if they don't get you then if you are in the 'wrong' part of town at the 'wrong' time you may well be mugged for your camera gear and mobile phone. Take care if you ever visit the UK.
Meanwhile ever more public services are privatised and outsourced, many police activities are now performed by non-uniformed civilians workers, we have prisons run by private companies, most public utilities, the BAA, and half the banking sector is foreign owned. Who knows we may become the first privatised, outsourced, foreign-owned police state? 
Andrew
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