How do I capture a panorama picture?

[informer]

What do I need to do/buy to take panorama pictures?

Tripod? camera angles? overlapping or some sort?

What software do you recommend for this? PS. Does anyone have any panoramic views of the great wall of China?

[Jamie]

Ive not done this myself yet but im going to try it out very soon.

I got some tips from a pro on how to do it right today that i can pass on.

1. Rather than shoot say 5 images with the camera in a horozontal position take 10 shots with it in a vertical position. Its supose to give you more depth to the image.

2. Use manual focus and focus 1/3 of the way into the image (like you would with a normal landscape image), then just take the rest of the images along the same facal plane i guess you could call it. You dont want to focus 1/3 of the way in for one picture then 1/2 the way in for the others.

3. If you are using a 28 - 70mm lens, set it on about 50mm. I forget the reason for this but it has something to do with the image coming out curved. Perhaps someone could give some more advice on this.

4. Never leave the WB on auto! You might end up with images of all different colour temprature ranges.

You dont need a tripod but i personally think one would be better and a must if you are trying it with long exposures of course.

Im pretty sure you need to overlap the images (it makes sense really).

Software - panarama stitch or something like that i think its called, its for free on the net i was told, but like i said i havent tried it myself yet so ive had no need to look for the software yet.

Jamie

[avkomp]

as far as panorama software is concerned,
panorama factory seems to be the software of choice on this forum.
Personally it is my preference also.
Someone recently posted a comparison test on the forum comparing the results of various software. you could search for that topic.

a tripod is the preferred method for doing a pano, preferrably square so that when you pan, it is around the true horizontal axis.
Some overlap is requred between shots so that you can join the shots easily.

Special panorama heads are also available also these allow for rotation around the correct nodal point of the lens.
See this thread
http://www.d70users.com/viewtopic.php?p=82027#82027&sid=ca1cc7e76375889f1173bec8b8c48d52
for making an example of a panoramic head

For starting out however you can get more than acceptable results by using focal lengths in the normal range. so for example on an 18-70 lens you would be using around 50-70
For me 5 shots taken around 50mm looks better than 2 taken at 20mm

Steve

[sheepie]

For me 5 shots taken around 50mm looks better than 2 taken at 20mm

Agree - my pointers (and I'm only a beginner at this too!)...

1. Overlap around 1 third of the shot
2. Manual Focus is a MUST DO
3. Manual Exposure seems to be more accurate - just measure your exposue on the brightest part of the shot and set the camera manually based on this.
4. Manually set WB (I use the most likely setting off the camera, I don't go as far as measuring this as well)
5. Use a tripod if at all possible (not necessary, but will give you better results on the horizontal plane)
6. Take in Portrait rather than Landscape - this gives the software more room to work with
7. Use Panorama Factory

The following was taken with 50mm prime lens using all the advice above other than it was in landcape orientation rather than portrait - it's currently sitting on our loungeroom wall printed 1100mm wide and framed It was 5 original shots...

[birddog114]

sheepie!

Did I hold your camera and you pressed the shutter release of this pano?

O/T:
Will you overnight at the Bay this w/e?

[kipper]

HMmm.......WB Auto is something I sometimes forget to do. However as a note you can always look at the point where you set the exposure and adjust the WB setpoint there manually and then adjust all your other images to be the same kelvin. Afaik this should work, please correct me if I'm wrong.

[MCWB]

Yup, if you shoot RAW you can set the WB on all of the images in post, convert to tiff and shove into your favourite pano software. Of course (correctly) pre-setting WB is preferred, if you can.

[robboh]

The following was taken with 50mm prime lens using all the advice above other than it was in landcape orientation rather than portrait - it's currently sitting on our loungeroom wall printed 1100mm wide and framed It was 5 original shots...

Thats definitely one to be proud of Sheepie. You've got me all keen, so I might have to have a similar go at the Auckland waterfront now

[stephen]

Thats Really nice sheepie,Can you please leave the beginners forumn as you are embarrassing me no end. Well done on the night capture and the stitching

[DanielA]

PS. Does anyone have any panoramic views of the great wall of China?

I've got one pano from the great wall.

It's probably not the best angle.

Daniel

[informer]

The following was taken with 50mm prime lens using all the advice above other than it was in landcape orientation rather than portrait - it's currently sitting on our loungeroom wall printed 1100mm wide and framed It was 5 original shots...

Hi Sheepie, do you have a bigger version of that?

I would like to print that out and put it on my wall, its fabulous!

[informer]

PS. Does anyone have any panoramic views of the great wall of China?

I've got one pano from the great wall.

It's probably not the best angle.

Daniel

Hi,

Thanks for that!

Did you have to use a special lense for that or can you use a normal one?

I want to take some panoramic pictures on my road trip, lots of them.

[DanielA]

Did you have to use a special lense for that or can you use a normal one?

Nope. That was taken with the kit lens at 18mm.
I'm very lazy and just point, focus, click, turn, click, turn, click...

I want to take some panoramic pictures on my road trip, lots of them.

Can wait to see them.
Have fun.

Daniel

[Jeff]

Great panoramic shot Sheepie. It inspires me to have a play on the weekend
Jeff

[Wocka]

Sheepie,

Fantastic shot.
Do you mind if I ask how much it cost to print and where you had it done?

[DanielA]

I forgot before to provide a <a href="http://www.users.on.net/~attema/Photos/200504_Cruise/DSC_2076-DSC_2081-cyl.html">link to larger version of my Great Wall pano</a>. Now it's big enough to see the flaws.

Sheepie, Fantastic shot.
Do you mind if I ask how much it cost to print and where you had it done?

Sheepie, I've seen your pano on here before. Have you tried selling it? It would make great print.

Daniel

[sheepie]

Sheepie, I've seen your pano on here before. Have you tried selling it? It would make great print.

Unfortunately, it is not permitted to take commercial photographs on the foreshore without a permit, so as I didn't have a permit, I can't sell it That's not to say that a couple of people haven't gotten a copy 'at cost'
Thanks for the kind comments - I gotta say, I like it too

[informer]

I forgot before to provide a <a href="http://www.users.on.net/~attema/Photos/200504_Cruise/DSC_2076-DSC_2081-cyl.html">link to larger version of my Great Wall pano</a>. Now it's big enough to see the flaws.

Sheepie, Fantastic shot.
Do you mind if I ask how much it cost to print and where you had it done?

Sheepie, I've seen your pano on here before. Have you tried selling it? It would make great print.

Daniel

DanielA, thanks for the photo! It gave me goosebumps thinking about the place. China is an awesome place to visit!

[DanielA]

DanielA, thanks for the photo! It gave me goosebumps thinking about the place. China is an awesome place to visit!

You're welcome informer. China is an awe inspiring place to visit.

I like my pano, but I made the mistake of not doing a couple of things that have already been mentioned. See the sky on the right of the picture...

Daniel

[LostDingo]

Sheepie, that is definitely a fantastic photo you have created. very well done!!