mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 13:55 GMT
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Hi all,
I usually use a 450d with tokina 10mm and my trusty NN3, but I have had the R1 laying about now for ages and want to try and put it to use with my old 8mm sigma.
So I have the R1 with the Sigma 8mm adapter, and have connected up to my new 550d I got around the end of last year. I am aiming to get a pano around 8000 pixels in width.
I am not sure if it is possible to get a 360x180 image using the R1 and my 8mm on a cropped sensor, is this possible? I am concerned that it is only really suitable for full frame sensors.
I also am having trouble getting the settings correct for the NPP, I have it set to 1.65 as per the instructions, but i'm still getting errors.
And on another note, I seem to be getting really poor quality images from the sigma compared to my tokina 10mm. I am using ISO 100, with F11 and custom WB. It is coming up really soft.
Any help appreciated!
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Smooth
Posts: 3774
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 14:34 GMT
updated: 17 May 2011 at 14:38 GMT
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mr vr said: So I have the R1 with the Sigma 8mm adapter, and have connected up to my new 550d I got around the end of last year. I am aiming to get a pano around 8000 pixels in width.
8000x4000 should be possible or close to it using the 450D/Sigma 8mm Combo and easily with the 550D/Sigma 8mm Combo.
mr vr said: I am not sure if it is possible to get a 360x180 image using the R1 and my 8mm on a cropped sensor, is this possible? I am concerned that it is only really suitable for full frame sensors.
Yes it is possible. You will need to shoot 4 to 6 rotational images with +5 degrees tilt up. (Be sure to remove both the lens cap and lens ring, it pulls off allowing the lens to capture the full FOV)
mr vr said: I also am having trouble getting the settings correct for the NPP, I have it set to 1.65 as per the instructions, but i'm still getting errors.
It will be 16.5mm they are "trying" to portray in the listing. That position sounds about right. Remember the wider 8mm lens will have more distortion at the corners and you need to make sure you get a good spread of control points.
mr vr said: And on another note, I seem to be getting really poor quality images from the sigma compared to my tokina 10mm. I am using ISO 100, with F11 and custom WB. It is coming up really soft.
f/11.0 is a little small for the Sigma 8mm. You will be better suited to f/5.6 to f/9.5 with f/8.0 a nice compromise. You will also need to find the hyperfocal distance of the lens to give you the best acceptable near to far focus. This typically involves shooting a few test shots and comparing. Most seem to state somewhere around 1 meter marking on the dial.
Regards, Smooth 
www.omnipix.com.au
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 14:42 GMT
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Thanks Smooth,
After playing a little more I have a max error of around 4pixels in PTGUI, I can cope with that.
I also tried a shoot of 4 around with it pointing up around 7.5 degrees, gave good coverage.
I will give the lens another go with F8 and play with the focus, at the moment it almost looks like I have used a one shot lens!
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 14:47 GMT
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Blimey, it seems even the promote control is having trouble working with the 550d, just keeps coming up with 'busy' on the screen, won't allow me to do anything...
It will be a real shame if I can't use my trusty promote with the 550.
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DennisS
Posts: 1292
Location: Los Anglels, United States
Registered: 1 Sep 2007
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 15:26 GMT
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I have used the Sigma 8mm lens and the R1 series pano head for years. I have been very happy with the results. Here is a link to the latest series: www.dlsphoto.net/ColoradoRoadTrip2010/ColoradoRoa...
I had to do several test shots to see what f stop would give me the sharpest overall image. For me, that is f5.6. I shoot 4 arount tilted up 5 degrees and a hand held Nadir patch. The focus point seems to be best at 1m. Some people set the focus closer than that. Take a bunch of test shots for your self so you can see at what point the f stop and focus settings give you the best results.
Dennis
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Smooth
Posts: 3774
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 15:55 GMT
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mr vr said: I also tried a shoot of 4 around with it pointing up around 7.5 degrees, gave good coverage.
Just remember the NPP rail setting changes with tilt. +5 degrees is ample positive tilt using this combination.
Not sure why your Promote and 550d aren't getting along? Have you updated the Promote's firmware?
Regards, Smooth
www.omnipix.com.au
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 18:38 GMT
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well, what a difference a few f stops makes!
I am suffering from vignetting though which is leaving me with a dark patch on the ceiling, guess i'll just have to deal with that during RAW conversion. Wasn't expecting that from the sigma to be honest.
Such a shame regarding the non compatibility of the promote control with the 550d. HDR etc is possible, but when the promote is plugged in and turned on, it renders the camera useless. No button can be used. You have to turn the promote off to be able to adjust settings, review images etc.
Any other promote alternatives??
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mediavets
Posts: 1980
Location: Isleham, Cambs., United Kingdom
Registered: 8 Feb 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 18:53 GMT
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mr vr said: Such a shame regarding the non compatibility of the promote control with the 550d. HDR etc is possible, but when the promote is plugged in and turned on, it renders the camera useless. No button can be used. You have to turn the promote off to be able to adjust settings, review images etc.
Any other promote alternatives??
www.promotesystems.com/products/Promote-Control-S...
"NOTE 1: Canon 550D camera is not supported with shutter cable due to the hardware limitations of the camera. The 550D cannot release its shutter via shutter cable while also connected via USB cable. USB-only operation with Promote Control is fully supported."
Andrew
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Hans Nyberg
Posts: 2791
Location: Denmark
Registered: 28 Aug 2005
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 18:56 GMT
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Sorry but what Sigma 8mm do you have.
It sounds to me that you got an oldie. The Sigma 3,5 which is sold since at least 4-5 years does not have any vignetting.
The old Sigma f4- 8mm has a lot of vignetting.
Hans
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Smooth
Posts: 3774
Location: Mount Panorama, Australia
Registered: 21 Jul 2004
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 19:00 GMT
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mr vr said: Any other promote alternatives??
Not that I've heard of. Not unless you are willing to plug a computer into it.
The Promote website reads:
NOTE 1: Canon 550D camera is not supported with shutter cable due to the hardware limitations of the camera. The 550D cannot release its shutter via shutter cable while also connected via USB cable. USB-only operation with Promote Control is fully supported.
I wonder if this is the same with the 600D?
Can't say I have much a vignetting issue with the Sigma 8mm F/3.5 Is yours an older F/4.0 version?
Regards, Smooth
www.omnipix.com.au
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 19:07 GMT
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Yep you got it, it is an F4 version.
The problem is the website states that USB function is supported, but it creates huge issues operating the camera when it is plugged in to the promote, so I would argue that the Promote Control doesn't support the 550d at all.
I have submitted a ticket via the promote website to see what they say.
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Hans Nyberg
Posts: 2791
Location: Denmark
Registered: 28 Aug 2005
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 19:20 GMT
updated: 17 May 2011 at 19:25 GMT
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mr vr said: Yep you got it, it is an F4 version.
say.
I suspected that. Thats something very different.
In that case just forget about what everyone said. Stop down to F16 and you have no vignetting.
F16 is just as sharp as f8
Here is my page back in 2002 on it.
www.panoramas.dk/d60/index.html
Just forget about how I corrected for vignetting back in 2002
www.panoramas.dk/d60/d60tech.html
Today all Raw converters can do it.
Also if you want some quality from it use a spherical head and shoot 4 around at -20 + a zenith image.
The Sigma 4 is just as sharp as the 3,5 up to 150 degrees but do not expect to use it with just 4 around with good quality.
BTW the CA on the F4 is actually easier to correct than the 3.5.
www.panoramas.dk/panorama/Sigma-8mm/color-aberrat...
Hans
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 20:48 GMT
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Thanks Hans, i'll give F16 a go.
I was worried someone may suggest to dump the R1 for something else, I have an NN3 but the R1 seems so much more robust and quicker to use in terms of bashing out tours.
Does the F3.5 8MM give better crispness at the edges? Can't I just try 6 around? I'll give all this a go.
Thanks!
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 20:49 GMT
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Forgot to mention, the CA is much better on this sigma than on my tokina.
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mr vr
Posts: 99
Location: Ireland
Registered: 18 Sep 2008
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Re: 550d with R1 and Sigma 8mm
Posted: 17 May 2011 at 21:39 GMT
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Hans, unfortunately using F16 for me resulted in a softer image than at F5.6, and didn't have any effect on the vignetting.
I also tried shooting 6 around instead of 4, but this had no effect on the quality.
I may just have to accept that the sigma 8mm isn't going to give me better results than my tokina 10mm, not with an R1 anyway.
Add to that the fact that the Promote doesn't work with the 550d, and it looks like i'll be paying ebay a visit!
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