Forum/thread	Message
Forum: Q & A Thread: Which panoramic tripod head is the most vibration-free?	Re: Which panoramic tripod head is the most vibration-free? Posted: 6 Feb 2006 at 18:40 GMT go to thread I use the Manfrotto 303SPH. I took a three row pano, plus several up-shots. Around 86 images. All at dusk, all long exposters (2+ seconds). No vibration at all. I have found the biggest causes of vibration to be 1) moving the camera using the shutter release (so I now use a remote) 2) The wind and 3) nearby traffic, especially trucks. But of course if I'm not doing a time exposure, these are no issue. Of course adding a zoom lens would magnify the problems, but nobody uses a zoom lens to make a equirectangular pano. I have used them to make a partial pano of distant objects (mountain range, etc.) and find myself taking several sets to play it safe. I have an old Bogen tripod base, but just picked up a new Carbon Fiber tripod. It has a hook for adding a center weight / small sandbag. I'm sure this will help with vibration. Rick Drew alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: What is your favorite viewer	Re: What is your favorite viewer Posted: 6 Feb 2006 at 18:34 GMT go to thread Still PanoTools. I am playing a bit with 3D Vista, only because a client wanted a custom branded skin. RIck Drew alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Where to store my panorama?	Re: Where to store my panorama? Posted: 6 Feb 2006 at 18:33 GMT go to thread Why not just get a free website with yahoo, or any of the many, many other companies that offer them? Heck, for $5 a month (or less) you can get ad free hosting with a ton of features. The you can upload your apps, code, pages and images and get your own domain name! Rick Drew alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Video Panos	Re: Video Panos Posted: 6 Feb 2006 at 18:30 GMT go to thread I seemed to remember Imatronics (makers of Panorama Express) having a product - www.imatronics.com/interactive_video/ Could it be the same one? They are a small company - the update from the buggy Panorama Express 1.0 has been "imminent" for over a year. When I purchased it back in Sept. '04, the "specual upgrade offer" pricing was in effect. Why do I mention this? Don't expect any updates or bug fixes any time soon. Requests for tech support were answered with "this will be addressed in the next version" and (this is from memory) "we are no longer working on the old version." Rick Drew alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Papar Roll	Re: Papar Roll Posted: 20 Jan 2006 at 9:39 GMT go to thread eBay - I've purchased it there several times. Some 3rd parties purchase large rolls and cut them down. Great price, great quality. alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Easier way to do Tripod Cap for PTGui?	Re: Easier way to do Tripod Cap for PTGui? Posted: 20 Jan 2006 at 9:38 GMT go to thread You could also just float a logo or image over the nadir with PTviever's built in code. alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Blurry edges on 1 shot	Re: Blurry edges on 1 shot Posted: 20 Jan 2006 at 9:35 GMT go to thread I left some tips in the Tips & Tricks a while back on this. I get the best results by opening the IRIS as much as possible (athough this can wash the sky of color) and focusing on the most distant object. alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: 0-360 and Speedlights/Flashes	Re: 0-360 and Speedlights/Flashes Posted: 15 Jan 2006 at 7:24 GMT go to thread Have you tride wide/soft flash units, mounted to the tripod, behind and above the camera. This way the flash rotates with the tripod, but is far enough back that it does not get captured in the image? I have one that's slave triggered. I have the flash on in the camera, and that triggers the primary flash (I need to pick up a hot-shoe extension.) I use a Interfit eFlash (here's a link I found - www.morrisphoto.co.uk/manufacturer~categoryid~132... ) Very wide, plus you can make an array out of them. Plus plus - inexpensive! They are designed to hot-shoe mount, so making a clamp for the rotator base, camera back, ets. is easy. Or you can just hand-hold it. Rick alert moderator
Forum: Galleries Thread: English Superman View	Re: English Superman View Posted: 15 Jan 2006 at 7:16 GMT go to thread Wow. I can even cound the dead bugs in the overhead light. The errors would only be noticed by a few. As for the tripod, I'd just extract the nadir face and stick in a new concrete floor. Add some dirt and gum, maybe a "time lords rule" decal, and call it a day. Rick alert moderator
Forum: Galleries Thread: Scottish Pano	Re: Scottish Pano Posted: 15 Jan 2006 at 7:11 GMT go to thread Yea laddie, but do yae ski? Rick Scots born Languishing in Chicago alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Marketing idea - free stuff, cheap stuff	Marketing idea - free stuff, cheap stuff Posted: 12 Jan 2006 at 10:43 GMT go to thread You may or may not know about Vista Print - they are known for free full color business cards. I just ordered a ton of full color stuff (postcards, oversize postcards, business cards.) I created the image file for each card with various pano examples and promo ideas. I use these to mail to clients and potential clients. They can be a real eye-opener for potential clients! Also, this week CVS has large prints (50 prints or more) for .19 (usually .29) I had a couple of hundred prints of my best shots made up (25 of each print) as brochure stuffers. Since my web based pano and tour sales are s-l-o-w, I'm also marketing to any business that can benefit or use wide angle images, pano images, etc. This is where the prints and post cards come in handy. I put together a nice mailer with four photographs, a couple of pages of information, and a "limited time offer" on additional images. I've also used some online developers to have some 8x10's made - found one site for .99 8x10's, free shipping with a $25 order! Sure a buck can be expensive - but if I have a potential high-ticket client I figure it's worth it! If you go to VistaPrint's site, click on the "specials" link. You'll see the post cards, oversize post cards, etc. You can upload your own design for $4.95. Your cost? 250 oversize cards with S&H and upload - around $14.00! The post cards, oversize post cards and business (and other items) are FREE for a limited time. The specials change every couple of weeks, so I often visit the site. Just an idea to toss out there. Now if you have never used vista print, go to www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=699925478980 - yes, it's an affiliate link. I'll wind up with free shipping on future orders. Rick Drew (posted 1-12-06) alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: opinions: The Panorama Factory	Re: opinions: The Panorama Factory Posted: 12 Jan 2006 at 9:02 GMT go to thread I purchased PF because of the ability to create virtual tours (it was an inexpensive alternative) but I too use PTGui for all my stitching now. alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Optimal F-stop for FC-E9	Re: Optimal F-stop for FC-E9 Posted: 12 Jan 2006 at 8:59 GMT go to thread You'll find it difficult to get decent outside and inside detail / exposure. What I do I shoot sets of photos. One for detailed inside, then I do a bracketed series for the outside, then combine them in Photoshop. alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Ceiling Problems	Re: Ceiling Problems Posted: 9 Jan 2006 at 8:57 GMT go to thread Have you tried cloning and the healing brush? I kow it's often not practical to re-shoot, and CS can usually do a nice fix-up job. alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: autopano ptgui plugin what does it do?	Re: autopano ptgui plugin what does it do? Posted: 9 Jan 2006 at 8:55 GMT go to thread I try the built-in generator first. If the results are bad, I'll try autopano. If the results are still bad, I'll use both. The built in one works fine most of the time (I did a multi-row, 80+ shot pano in under 10 clicks with the built-in generator - no manual point matching work at all!) alert moderator