shadoguy
Posts: 6
Location: Ranchos de Taos, United States
Registered: 23 Oct 2008
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which lens???
Posted: 23 Oct 2008 at 23:09 GMT
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This is my first post so I apologize if this is a dupe.
I have a canon rebel, a nodel ninja, at currently am experimenting with my 20-35. I want to do VR tours and hopefuly eliminate a lot of stitching. But I would also like the lens to be more versitile then lets say the new sigma 4. I was thinking of the Fisheyes; Sigma 8mm, Sigma 10 and the Canon 10-22. I hear a lot of good stuff about the Nikon 10.5. Is that adaptable for the Canon...Would the 10-22 or the Sigma 10 fisheye be better. How many shots would the Sigma 10 require for a 360? Looking forward to your input.
Thanks,
Alan
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John Houghton
Posts: 2335
Location: Hitchin, United Kingdom
Registered: 17 Jan 2005
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 24 Oct 2008 at 6:46 GMT
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The Sigma 10mm would require the same number of shots as the Nikon 10.5mm. For versatility, you should also consider the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye. You can find information on the shooting requirements of various lenses at www.vrwave.com/ . If a particular lens you are interested in isn't listed, look for a lens of similar type and focal length.
John
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Doug Aurand
Posts: 839
Location: Albuquerque, NM, United States
Registered: 2 Jan 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 24 Oct 2008 at 14:39 GMT
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Alan
Is it getting cold up in Taos yet?
When you say "I want to" "hopefuly eliminate a lot of stitching" I assume you mean "use fewer shots."
I have a Canon XTi, a Canon 10-22mm and a Sigma 8mm f/3.5
The Canon 10-22mm isn't a fisheye lens. Its great for wide-angle stills, which is what I use it for.
The Nikkor 10.5mm doesn't have a Canon mount so you'd need an adapter which sacrifices many functions. Just not a good solution if you're just getting started with VR Photography
The Sigma 8mm is one of the 2 most popular lenses for VR work (the other is the 10.5mm), but it does produce a very noticeable fisheye curve in the "flat" images so you would likely find it only useful for VR photos.
What I'm practicing to do is use the Sigma 8mm on my Nodal Ninja 3 with a 5° to 7.5° tilt up, elimnating the need for a Zenith shot (straight up). The Atome rotator from 360Precision.com is made to do precisely this with a preset Nodal Point/No Parallax Point and near foolproof mounting design
My suggestion would be to get the Sigma 8mm f/3.5 for VR photography and the Canon 10-22mm for wide-angle still work.
If you have any other questions feel free ask
Doug Aurand
www.VirtualAlbuquerque.com
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shadoguy
Posts: 6
Location: Ranchos de Taos, United States
Registered: 23 Oct 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 24 Oct 2008 at 22:32 GMT
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Doug,
Thanks for your rapid response. In answer to your question, it was FREEZING in Taos but it is warming up again. My geraniums, however, are gone.
I think your choice of lenses is a great fit and confirms what I thought would work well for me. Oddly my 20-35 doesn't really cut it in tight situations, smaller rooms etc. John Houghton sent me a link to a web site www.vrwave.com that compares popular lenses for panoramic work. It was helpful. If I have this straight the 8 will do the job in three images total every 120. The 10-22 appears to be 12 shots, six images every 60, I have to assume we are talking 6 images total spaced 60 degrees apart, the 8mm; 3 images total spaced 120 apart. I may have made this more confusing then it need be. It seems that on a shoot the realtor or the owner will be present probably waiting impatiently for me to finish. The less shots I have to take of every room the better. And probably the less room for error in the stitching process.
I've read your previous posts on the Atome Rotator and am sorry I didn't consider it but already had the Ninja.
Thanks again for your input Doug...I will keep you posted on my adventures.
Cheers,
Alan
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shadoguy
Posts: 6
Location: Ranchos de Taos, United States
Registered: 23 Oct 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 24 Oct 2008 at 22:40 GMT
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John,
Thanks for your response, The link to vrwave was a real help. I think in the end the fewer shots the better and the 8mm appears to fit that need. But it appears as though the Nikon 10.5 and the 8mm produce the 360 in the same amount of shots, three. Am I mistaken on this point? If this is right would the Fisheye Sigma 10 do the 360 with three shots as well. I hope this post doesn't come off as dim.
Alan
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tturner
Posts: 92
Location:
Registered: 28 May 2006
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 24 Oct 2008 at 23:07 GMT
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Shadoguy,
The Sigma 8mm on a Canon w/crop sensor needs 4 shots around + zenith and nadar. You can do it with 3 if you have a head that will slant your camera to the side I think 60 degrees. More complicated in the stitching as well. I believe the Nikon 10.5 needs 6 around + z and n on a crop sensor. I have the Sigma 8 and shoot 4 and clone out the top and bottem in post production.
Good Luck,
TTurner
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Doug Aurand
Posts: 839
Location: Albuquerque, NM, United States
Registered: 2 Jan 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 25 Oct 2008 at 1:58 GMT
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Alan
With the Sigma 8mm, you'll need 4 shots around horizontal.
I just did the scene in www.panoguide.com/gallery/1030 with 4 horizontal shots plus a Zenith (4H+Z)
I can understand how the 20-35mm wouldn't do that well in small rooms. My Canon XTi came with a 18-55mm that just isn't quite wide enough at 18mm. I do Real Estate still photography as well as virtual tours and my Canon 10-22mm is awesome for small bedrooms and baths.
I understand what its like to have homeowners waiting for you to get done. That's why i still use my Coolpix 5400/FC-E9 for a 2 shot capture
I already had a NN3 when the Atome came out, but I have one on my Xmas list 
Doug Aurand
www.VirtualAlbuquerque.com
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shadoguy
Posts: 6
Location: Ranchos de Taos, United States
Registered: 23 Oct 2008
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shadoguy
Posts: 6
Location: Ranchos de Taos, United States
Registered: 23 Oct 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 25 Oct 2008 at 23:50 GMT
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Doug,
For some reason the rest of my post disappeared. I wrote that I have a house up here for sale and a lady who works for the agency did the panos. She used the Coolpix and was probably out of here in 20 minutes and that included the pleasantries. I examined the files and they are amazingly small and by themselves not too attractive though she did a fine job. Do you try to use the Sigma more then the Coolpix...and do you think the 10mm Sigma fisheye would involve more shots then the 8mm?
It's really cool up here, I have to bet that Albuquerque is just fine now.
Alan
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shadoguy
Posts: 6
Location: Ranchos de Taos, United States
Registered: 23 Oct 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 25 Oct 2008 at 23:55 GMT
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PS...just linked on your work for the Gold lofts and the ampitheatre...very impressive.
alan
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Doug Aurand
Posts: 839
Location: Albuquerque, NM, United States
Registered: 2 Jan 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 26 Oct 2008 at 2:10 GMT
updated: 26 Oct 2008 at 2:21 GMT
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Alan
Here's a link to a real estate tour I did with my Nikon Coolpix 5400 and FC-E9 fisheye lens convertor taking 2 sets of bracketed photos
media.homestore.com/HUB4DRTE.htm
This home had a huge amount of contrast which was a challenge and could have been handled better by my Canon XTi.
I find the 2 shot capture method of the Coolpix 5400/FC-E9 is more practical for the lower paying real estate tours. For work like the Gold Lofts and Veterans Memorial Amphitheater I'll charge 4 times as much.
If the Sigma 10mm has a FOV similar to the Nikkor 10.5mm, you'll likely need 6H+Z while the Sigma 8mm needs 4H+Z or 4 shots tilted up 5° to 7.5° or 4T with no Zenith shot.
The Nikon Coolpix 5400 has a much smaller sensor than any of the entry level dSLRs and just can't produce as good a photo but only needs 2 shots with the Nikon FC-E9 or 2H
Its unlikely you'll find a lens that can be used for real estate or other still photos AND need few enough shots to be practical for real estate virtual tours, too.
The weather in ALbuquerque was 65°, clear and sunny
Doug Aurand
Albuqueruqe, NM
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Doug Aurand
Posts: 839
Location: Albuquerque, NM, United States
Registered: 2 Jan 2008
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Re: which lens???
Posted: 26 Oct 2008 at 2:21 GMT
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Alan
Thanx for the compliment on the Gold Ave Loft and Amphitheater scenes, but most of the regular comtributers to this forum are much better than I am.
Doug Aurand
Albuquerque, NM
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