Panoramic Digital Cameras

[england1965]

Are there any panoramic digital cameras on the market - along the same lines as the Hassleblad x-pan?

I know you can join images post-shoot in software and some cameras allow incamera stitching.

Cheers

Mark

[Renee Marquis]

Keep me posted on this also, I just had a bride ask me if I could give her some pictures that are panoramic? How do you creat that, do you need a special camera? or is it a special lens? Thanks Renee

[Arca-dog]

I understand that the usual high quality panoramic cameras are 140 degrees and I do not know of any suitable digital backs, the largest didgy chip I know of is 6x4.5cm and pretty expensive (and unreliable I believe).

You can get a 180 degree lens for Nikon Coolpix and buy a stitching programme from a company in Hull (IPIX?), estate agents are using this system more and more.

I have stitched 3 images together in photoshop before to give a 180 degree effect in the past with varying success. I'll dig an example out if you are interested.

[tonymidd]

Pano's are easy for landscapes, building etc using a programme like Panorama Factory or Autostitch. When people are involved you need to limit your shots to 2 or 3 and take them quickly, also ask every one to remain still while you take these, some awkward s*d will move. Try for about a 35% overlap.
The attached was done manually in PS before the above progs were available and is three shots. If you look at the Fuze images the shot of the tent is a pano of about six images.

[Arca-dog]

Purcahased a really interesting book (£14 from Amazon) by Nick Wood.... London 360... its a collection of 360 deg shots and you get a CD as well... fantastic shots, even one inside a London Cab!

From the notes he has used a "Nikon Digital Camera on a "special tripod" with a shot taken every 22.5 deg then stitched together"... I am assuming a DSLR on a level tripod with a protractor scale on it and lots of eye-straining photoshop work.

Just been given a 360 commission hence buying the book, I need to perfect the technique before the big day in March so I'll let you know how I get on.

Here's a job I did 18 months ago... a 180 deg view of a local college... 3 shots using a big old Sinar 5x4 stitched together.

[bbb]

Here's one that I did...

http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.grant/friends.jpg

...made up of four shots...

http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.grant/friends4shots.jpg

...stictched manually in photoshop which took a while but I like the result :)

[Choogster]

isn't there a leica that does panoramics?

[Arca-dog]

Yep... 140degrees, I've been thinking of investing for a while... going onto eBay next.

[Arca-dog]

Seems that there is a special panoramic tripod head that enables the camera's focal plane to be precisely positioned over the centre of the rotation, going to see if I can lay my hands on one.

Nice Fuji pano camera on eBay... £1800 current bid... going to resist the temptation (difficult) :rolleyes:

[tonymidd]

Seems that there is a special panoramic tripod head that enables the camera's focal plane to be precisely positioned over the centre of the rotation, going to see if I can lay my hands on one.

Nice Fuji pano camera on eBay... £1800 current bid... going to resist the temptation (difficult) :rolleyes: Manfrotto do two the 303+ and the 303SPH at about £280 and £390 or there's the novoflex VR at £240.
I've found doing them by hand can work OK if you are carefull and use a grid screen or on a tripod with the camera body set back from the centre of rotation, modern programmes uch as PanoramaFactory or Auto Stitch compensate quite well. I'll sort a couple of 360's out when I'm on the other computer.
The Leica someone mentioned is the new PAS rebadged Panasonic and it does the 16:9 wide screen format, not really a pano. It's had a mixed reception, no where near the quality of my D2.

[Arca-dog]

Thanks for that, there's a Manfrotto head on Ebay... I'll probably bid for it.
Hoping to use a Fuji S2 then stitch the images together in photoshop.

The job that I am told is mine (how many times have you heard that one? :rolleyes: ) concerns a big sports stadium so I intend to get some practice first, hopefully at my local football club.

[DennisB]

I have made several panoramas which have been a great success as far as I am concered. Bear in mind though, that as an amateur, I only have myself to please :)

I have been pleasantly surprised how accomodationg packages like Panoramamaker are. I have even made panoramas form hand held sequences with a telephoto, which stitched seamlessly.

Main thing is to keep the camera reasonably level, and give lots of overlap.

It is almost impossible to fail with scenes where there is detail in all areas, and the nearest objects are not too close to the camera.

Taking indoor sequences for a panorama will be more difficult, so it would be wise to experiment with various focal length lenses. Some stitching programs, Panoramamaker included, will even produce stitced images from a grid of overlapping images. While it is advised that you rotate the camera about the appropriate axis (rear nodal point?) I have never found this to be a problem with distant scenes.

Largest panorama I made was 14 images wide, covering about 150 degrees. My usual stitching programe would not handle it properly, so I did it all by Photoshop.

Good luck.

[Arca-dog]

Thanks again for the info... the company I am working for specialise in printed photographic wallpaper for big displays and we are to produce a package for a very wealthy man's son's bedroom... all four walls are to be his favourite club's stadium from the centre spot at half time... he's paying for everything including the copyrights etc.
I had to put up with the bird with no knickers playing tennis on my wall! :D

Understand regarding the overlap to get over any lens barrelling, I am intending to use a Nikon ED 17-35mm, should do the trick :)

Back to Nick Wood, try to check out his book.. he has an almost surreal 360 image of the architects from inside a taxi looking at the London Eye... a "how did he think of that" image :cool:

[DennisB]

For your experiment, before the real thing, I would aslo try some pictures with a slightly longer lens. It will take more pictures to cover, but it might provide a better stitch. My experience was to use the longest lens possible while compatible with adequate depth of field.

Be sure to let us know how your tests go, and also how the real job goes.

We are all wishing you the best, I am sure

[Arca-dog]

Understood... longer lens, less barrelling... but I will need to get the roofs of the stands in and I'll probably only get 10mins to do the job on the big day.
Going down to Lincoln City Monday to ask to use their ground... I'll offer them free pictures if it works out.
A nice challenge even if the big job doesn't materialise

[DennisB]

It all boils down to how much time you get to try it out first. To get the extra height for the top of the stand, you could try making a panorama of say 4 pictures horizontal, and another 4 horizontal, but above the first row. All overlapping of course. Have not tried this myself, but it should be able to be done with Pnoramamaker, and if not, then you could try making two horizontal panoramas. One using the lower four horizontal pictures, and the other using the upper ones. These two panoramas would then make two images to be stitched as in a normal panorama. However, I feel that if either of these system worked without considerable experimantation, it would be a minor miracle. :)

Best of British, as they say :D

[Arca-dog]

Hoping to get it in 16 shots just like Nick Wood

I can work quick but as you say... practice will be necessary :)

Should be "interesting" at least

[bbb]

Downloaded that Pamorama Maker to have a play, what a great bit of software. It's had a go at some difficult interior angles on these 15 photos....

http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.grant/loungepansmall.jpg

...it's made a few mistakes but I kinda like it :)

Thanks Dennis :D

[tonymidd]

Two ways out of your problem, use the camera in portrait position and use Autostitch which will automatically stitich two or more rows of images. You don't have to tell the programme which images are in which row; it works this ut for it's self. Agree with Dennis avoid very wide angle lenses, 50/90mm 35mm equivilent seem to be best.

All the attached have been done in PanoramaFactory, top two are 180 degree the bottom the harbour 360 degree

I'll try to find a two layer Autostitch tomorrow.

PS sorry for the size of these, should have resized them to the same as the 360*

[tonymidd]

Downloaded that Pamorama Maker to have a play, what a great bit of software. It's had a go at some difficult interior angles on these 15 photos....

http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.grant/loungepansmall.jpg

...it's made a few mistakes but I kinda like it :)

Thanks Dennis :D
If you've got PS CS2 you can use the warp tool to straighten the walls etc.

[Arca-dog]

I think that the shot with the most foreground in it works the best, the interior might therefore be improved if the viewer could see the wooden floor directly in front of the viewing point

[DennisB]

Great images, Tony and BBB

Looking forward to seeing your two tier stitch Tony, and the finished job Arca.

[bbb]

I'm on a roll now...

http://freespace.virgin.net/nick.grant/kkpansmall.jpg

:)

[Matt Needham]

Panosaurus tripod heads start at $75 US.

http://gregwired.com/pano/Pano.htm

Someday I'd like a digital widelux!

[tonymidd]

Panosaurus tripod heads start at $75 US.!
Interesting bit of kit but would it stand upto a lot of use as it's made of plastic? The Manfrotto's are made to their usual high standards out of metal.

One thing I did not mention is all the panos I've posted have been hand held.
This one's a variation. Shot in landscape format from top to bottom, hand held and then horizontally stitched in PF using the top shot as the starter on the left. The resulting pano then turned thru 90*.
Maybe we should have a dedicated board for panos as they seem to be getting a fair bit of attention, how about it Martin?

[Stemmy]

Do we want a Panorama section - or have you all just got it out of your systems here ???

Let me know. If there is some interest then of course I will add a section for you.

[Arca-dog]

They do fascinate me... something that I have little experience of but would like to do more.

[Arca-dog]

Been watching the bidding for a Manfrotto "303 Plus" panoramic head today. I can buy a new one for £217 delivered, it has just gone for £201 plus £9 p&p.
So much for me hoping to get a bargain!
Proves that there is an interest out there!

[DennisB]

They do fascinate me... something that I have little experience of but would like to do more.


Martin, you can count me in the same category as Arca on this one. Interest comes and goes, but I must admit it has been fired up again with this post. I Even took a few images with panoramas in mind yesterday. Must have a look and see how they stitch together. Good or bad, I will post them just to keep the thread going.

[Stemmy]

Thought I would throw in my effort.

My local venue.

Stitched together with photoshop

[DennisB]

And mine. Location is a new up-market marina and housing complex built on the old docks at Ardrossan, Ayrshire, Scotland. Had a lovely walk there last weekend in glorious sunshine but but quite cold day. Ohhhh.... think I will get a lottery ticket. Just look at all that cash just floating in the dock :rolleyes:

Details: Camera Fuji S3 Pro, 15mm lens. 4 portrait oriented shots, covering abot 100 degrees and stitched using Panoramamaker. All frames were shot at same exposure, and manually focused (approximately) for maximum depth of field. Almost forgot, it was hand held as well. I had a 5th frame to the right, but had to discard it since it was all askew due to moving my feet to stop from falling over.

[DennisB]

Nice pano, Martin

How many frames were used, and what focal length lens were you using.

[Stemmy]

I think there were around 5 images and I think it was taken with the 28-135 IS.