Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Yes the nodal point, It's located somewhere in your lens. If you want to buy a panoramic head consider the nodal ninja http://www.nodalninja.com one of the best heads (and cheapest) if you want to shoot full 360 degree panos with a fisheye (the pentax/tokina 10-17 is one of the best choices). I shoot panos with the 16-45 using a monopod and an old Metz flash bracket which has the correct length to position the 16-45 nodal point above the monopod axis. A simple spirit level in the flash socket of the camera and manualy rotate the monopod. Toine == Huh, that is the nodal point thing then, the camera axis not my axis. (Haven't had time to look at Mark's page yet). I also have CS and will probably get CS3. Thanks, Toine, and thanks Ken. Someone also sent me this link off list about how to build a panoramic tripod head. Which would be great except that I don't have access to wood work tools and also am not great with saws. There are old guys in this community who like doing stuff like this though and maybe I could talk one of them into it. Bat my eyelashes and stuff. Uh, well, maybe. Maybe not. http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Panoramic-Tripod-Head Marnie aka Doe :-) -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In pictures (quick and dirty): http://leende.net/panoheads Toine == Huh, that is the nodal point thing then, the camera axis not my axis. (Haven't had time to look at Mark's page yet). I also have CS and will probably get CS3. Thanks, Toine, and thanks Ken. Someone also sent me this link off list about how to build a panoramic tripod head. Which would be great except that I don't have access to wood work tools and also am not great with saws. There are old guys in this community who like doing stuff like this though and maybe I could talk one of them into it. Bat my eyelashes and stuff. Uh, well, maybe. Maybe not. http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Panoramic-Tripod-Head Marnie aka Doe :-) -- -- Toine http://leende.net/peso -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/5/2007 1:29:04 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I shoot panos with the 16-45 using a monopod and an old Metz flash bracket which has the correct length to position the 16-45 nodal point above the monopod axis. A simple spirit level in the flash socket of the camera and manualy rotate the monopod. Toine I like that idea, rotating the monopod. A cheap solution. Marnie aka Doe ;-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/5/2007 2:09:17 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In pictures (quick and dirty): http://leende.net/panoheads Toine = Totally cool. Thanks for sharing. Marnie aka Doe :-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On Sat, May 05, 2007 at 10:58:42AM -0400, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote.. In a message dated 5/5/2007 1:29:04 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I shoot panos with the 16-45 using a monopod and an old Metz flash bracket which has the correct length to position the 16-45 nodal point above the monopod axis. A simple spirit level in the flash socket of Does Pentax list technical data like nodal points somewhere? I have not yet searched for it (I admit..) but I am curious. My father got his K10D with 16-45 last Thursday and I can borrow it when I want to... Today I received a Pentax of a completely league: a Pentax K of the 1958/59 era. A very nicely built camera. I will soon feed it some film to see how well it has survived the years. Wilko -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 5/5/07, Wilko Bulte [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Does Pentax list technical data like nodal points somewhere? I have not yet searched for it (I admit..) but I am curious. My father got his K10D with 16-45 last Thursday and I can borrow it when I want to... Nope. Working out where the nodal point is the tedious part. Cheers, Dave -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
From the June 2007 issue of Shutterbug, Techniques by Joseph A. Dickerson: First and foremost, be certain that the camera is level. It must also remain level as you pan through the images you plan on stitching. A tripod equipped with a leveling stage can be a great asset but at the very least use a bubble level that fits in your camera's hot shoe. Rehearse the shot a couple of times to be certain of the alignment and overlap of the images. If you are shooting with a wide angle lens you'll need more overlap. Something approaching 50 percent is about right. If you use a telephoto lens an overlap of 20 percent or so will be adequate. Shooting panoramas is one time when you want to leave the polarizing filter in the bag. Otherwise the sky won't match from shot to shot. You'll also want to turn off the camera's automatic exposure system. I generally will do the complete panorama several times, bracketing the exposure settings or shooting in raw. Watch for things that move-waves in a coastal scenic, for example, will almost guarantee that you'll have problems with stitching. The best advice I can offer is to practice at home in the back yard or at the neighborhood park. A trip to some distant locale is not the place to try to figure out what you're doing. Oh yeah, while you're practicing, let the kids get into each shot. They'll love showing up as triplets or quintuplets, and so will grandma. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I like that idea, rotating the monopod. A cheap solution. Even cheaper: Borrow my pano head for a bit at GFM :) I'll even show you how to use it. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/5/2007 1:18:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I like that idea, rotating the monopod. A cheap solution. Even cheaper: Borrow my pano head for a bit at GFM :) I'll even show you how to use it. = I'll take you up on that. Marnie aka Doe :-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
I haven't gotten into the multi-exposure, stitched panorama yet. Just single exposure with cropping ... but I thought this worked well, and it's printed with a little work to a pretty nice ~ 10x35 inch print: http://homepage.mac.com/ramarren/photo/PAW7/21e.htm enjoy Godfrey -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Nice view and good scene - would a polarizing filter have cut the haze? Maris Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote: I haven't gotten into the multi-exposure, stitched panorama yet. Just single exposure with cropping ... but I thought this worked well, and it's printed with a little work to a pretty nice ~ 10x35 inch print: http://homepage.mac.com/ramarren/photo/PAW7/21e.htm -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Thanks! There was a huge amount of water in the air that morning. I doubt a polarizing filter would have done much, although it might have killed some of the glare in the earlier exposures done with the 70mm lens. The light had changed a little bit by the time I fitted the 28mm lens. Godfrey On May 5, 2007, at 2:04 PM, Maris V. Lidaka Sr. wrote: Nice view and good scene - would a polarizing filter have cut the haze? Maris Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote: I haven't gotten into the multi-exposure, stitched panorama yet. Just single exposure with cropping ... but I thought this worked well, and it's printed with a little work to a pretty nice ~ 10x35 inch print: http://homepage.mac.com/ramarren/photo/PAW7/21e.htm -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 05/05/07, Fernando Terrazzino [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Everyone, is pretty much talking about stiching images, but how about when your subject needs to be capture in an instant and you don't have a choice to shoot more that one photo (I'm think strong waves hitting a shoreline or animals/people moving). If you upsize a K10D file to double and crop panorama you should be able to print a nice 10x24 or so, never didn't but should work. Shooting multi-image panos of scenes containing moving objects is relatively easy and practical so long as you are aware of the potential issues and remedies. Shots of the shoreline with breaking water often stitch seamlessly without intervention, the trick is to time the shutter release such that the waves are breaking at a similar location shot to shot. The flow of water in a fall often seems to have sufficient randomness that rarely are automated stitches visible though in all these cases moving elements can be mistaken by the software as inter-image key points which can cause problems. In shots containing moving elements such as people, animals, vehicles etc sometimes fully automated stitching creates monstrosities so using a package that generates multiple layered shots for manual blending is often advisable. There are a few ways that you can make things easier too. For instance shoot the scene two or three times so that you have frames with differing moving content in case you need to delete problem element and consider what direction of camera rotation would be best relative to the direction of the flow of the moving elements. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/test.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/Pics/pano016.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/Pics/pano_283.jpg -- Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://picasaweb.google.com/distudio/PESO http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~distudio//publications/ Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/5/2007 1:26:46 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: haven't gotten into the multi-exposure, stitched panorama yet. Just single exposure with cropping ... but I thought this worked well, and it's printed with a little work to a pretty nice ~ 10x35 inch print: http://homepage.mac.com/ramarren/photo/PAW7/21e.htm enjoy Godfrey == Huh, sorry about the last post which I think was an empty reply, been a long week. Very nice Godfrey, the tinsy winsy little houses almost look diorama or a like stage set or something. Marnie aka Doe :-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Make that Rob, not Ron...typo. On 5/5/07, Bob Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ron, I love pano016.jpg. Great! Regards, Bob S. On 5/5/07, Digital Image Studio [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 05/05/07, Fernando Terrazzino [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Everyone, is pretty much talking about stiching images, but how about when your subject needs to be capture in an instant and you don't have a choice to shoot more that one photo (I'm think strong waves hitting a shoreline or animals/people moving). If you upsize a K10D file to double and crop panorama you should be able to print a nice 10x24 or so, never didn't but should work. Shooting multi-image panos of scenes containing moving objects is relatively easy and practical so long as you are aware of the potential issues and remedies. Shots of the shoreline with breaking water often stitch seamlessly without intervention, the trick is to time the shutter release such that the waves are breaking at a similar location shot to shot. The flow of water in a fall often seems to have sufficient randomness that rarely are automated stitches visible though in all these cases moving elements can be mistaken by the software as inter-image key points which can cause problems. In shots containing moving elements such as people, animals, vehicles etc sometimes fully automated stitching creates monstrosities so using a package that generates multiple layered shots for manual blending is often advisable. There are a few ways that you can make things easier too. For instance shoot the scene two or three times so that you have frames with differing moving content in case you need to delete problem element and consider what direction of camera rotation would be best relative to the direction of the flow of the moving elements. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/test.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/Pics/pano016.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/Pics/pano_283.jpg -- Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://picasaweb.google.com/distudio/PESO http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~distudio//publications/ Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Ron, I love pano016.jpg. Great! Regards, Bob S. On 5/5/07, Digital Image Studio [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 05/05/07, Fernando Terrazzino [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Everyone, is pretty much talking about stiching images, but how about when your subject needs to be capture in an instant and you don't have a choice to shoot more that one photo (I'm think strong waves hitting a shoreline or animals/people moving). If you upsize a K10D file to double and crop panorama you should be able to print a nice 10x24 or so, never didn't but should work. Shooting multi-image panos of scenes containing moving objects is relatively easy and practical so long as you are aware of the potential issues and remedies. Shots of the shoreline with breaking water often stitch seamlessly without intervention, the trick is to time the shutter release such that the waves are breaking at a similar location shot to shot. The flow of water in a fall often seems to have sufficient randomness that rarely are automated stitches visible though in all these cases moving elements can be mistaken by the software as inter-image key points which can cause problems. In shots containing moving elements such as people, animals, vehicles etc sometimes fully automated stitching creates monstrosities so using a package that generates multiple layered shots for manual blending is often advisable. There are a few ways that you can make things easier too. For instance shoot the scene two or three times so that you have frames with differing moving content in case you need to delete problem element and consider what direction of camera rotation would be best relative to the direction of the flow of the moving elements. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/test.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/Pics/pano016.jpg http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y259/BigVdub/Pics/pano_283.jpg -- Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://picasaweb.google.com/distudio/PESO http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~distudio//publications/ Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 05/05/07, Cory Papenfuss [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've been very successful doing panos with as little as 10-20% overlap. The *biggest* thing IMO is what's been mentioned that holding the exposure identical is really important. Getting different contrast due to flare with varying light is also somewhat important if the sun's anywhere near. This is true but I have found that generally when there is a lot of blue sky in the frame it's best to overlap up to 50% as even slight variations in the density of the sky can be very obvious and having more overlap leads to smoother transitions (even when using Enblend). This is particularly relevant if your lens vignettes a little. -- Rob Studdert HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA Tel +61-2-9554-4110 UTC(GMT) +10 Hours [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://picasaweb.google.com/distudio/PESO http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~distudio//publications/ Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Tripod highly, highly recommended, though you can do without. A beanbag on a rock, fence-post or car door can suffice. A level is recommended - but you can pick up a small one at your local hardware store at $5.00 I'm sure. Number of pictures depends on your lens, of course, Overlap 1/5-1/4 of the image. Most important - find your exposure settings, then set them MANUALLY - as you pan, auto-exposure may vary and you don't want that. You want identical exposure frame-to-frame. Hustle if the light is quickly changing (say dawn or dusk). Maris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
- Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: How do you guys do panoramas anyway? In an ideal world, the camera will be on a perfectly leveled tripod, with the rotation point exactly under the rear nodal point of the lens. If your panoramic involves objects near to the camera, then you need to try to be fairly close to the ideal world situation. As Rob proved the other day, it is possible to shoot very nice panoramics hand held, while holding an active baby. I put a 2 exposure stitched image up the other day which was shot hand held with a 400mm lens, and it was fine also. With the examples you posted, I expect that careful hand holding will work. You want lots of overlap, between 1/4 and 1/3 of the exposures should be redundant, IIRC. The biggie is to shoot manual exposure and don't make any exposure adjust ents after the initial exposure. Density matching will be a bear if the exposures vary from frame to frame. William Robb -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Well http://www.robertstech.com/panorama.htm Short version: With dedicated stitching software, even inexpensive stuff, you can often do good panoramas from handheld shots. If you're shooting JPEGs, manual white balance and manual exposure are critical. (For Raw shooters, white balance isn't important but manual exposure is still a good idea though not essential) A tripod is a very good idea if at all possible. Dedicated pano heads are valuable, especially if you have prominent foreground subjects. The subject you showed is actually a very good candidate for a handheld pano. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 5/4/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. You should have been at GFM last year to hear Mark's lecture on the subject. I was pretty much nodding off during most of it, as personally I have no interest in panos, but I recall him saying that the less work you make the programme do, the better results you're likely to get, and faster, too. I do recall him saying something about the nodal point of lenses (must like Bill said). One can get special panning heads for that purpose, IIRC. I forget (or rather, never heard) the rest of what Mark said, but he showed lots of pretty pictures... cheers, frank -- Sharpness is a bourgeois concept. -Henri Cartier-Bresson -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Marnie, I simply shoot with about 50% overlap from pic to pic. I have never used a tripod. I find it best to use a normal angle FL, ie, not an extreme WA as the distortion in the corners can lead to problems. If you do us a real wide lens just use more overlap. Another trick I learned is to shoot verticals and then when stitched to get the pano with a little more vertical coverage if you need it. Also, shoot in manual exposure. Take a shot to get the correct setting for the center of the field, then use the same exposure from first to last. Walt -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 5/5/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? Not always. If I'm out with my tripod, I'll have my pano head hot shoe spirit level with me I'll use it: http://www.arach.net.au/~savage/Misc/LBracket/Misc_009_1.htm This shot was made using the above setup: http://www.arach.net.au/~savage/PESO/peso_025.htm But if I'm just out and about and I think the scene deserves the pano treatment, I can get away with hand held. This is one of my most recent (4 shots hand held): http://www.arach.net.au/~savage/Misc/Images/K10D/HillarysBH_002.jpg and here is an older 6 shot hand held: http://www.arach.net.au/~savage/Misc/Images/TSM_004_2.jpg I had to spend quite some time cloning in sky for this one. This is what the original stitched image looked like: http://www.arach.net.au/~savage/Misc/Images/TSM_002.jpg Where the tripod/pano head comes into it's own is when your shooting with close in foreground objects. Parallax error then becomes a real pain, and while you can stitch the shots together, it takes a lot of time warping, stretching cloning to correct for the shift in perspective between frames. You may save time at the shooting stage, but it'll cost even more time in front of the computer later. How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? Landmarks in the scene the markings in the viewfinder if I'm working hand held. If I'm using the pano rig, I level the tripod with a bulls eye level, and then I level the camera tripod head with a 2 axis hot shoe mounted spirit level If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? Depends on the focal length how many frames are needed to cover the scene. How much do you try to overlap? Generally I aim for at least 25%, but I've got away with less. I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. Just give it a go. Even just using a tripod and rotating the camera will work as long as there aren't too many close in objects. That's how I did this 360 degree sequence: http://www.arach.net.au/~savage/PESO/peso_014.htm And if shooting hand held try and rotate the camera around the front element of the lens, not around the centreline of your body. Also, try this program: http://www.photo-freeware.net/autostitch.php It's free and much quicker easier to use than Photoshop. Cheers, Dave -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Check out Mark Roberts site. He has a tutorial, and it was part of his presentation at last years GFM Dave On 5/4/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- Equine Photography www.caughtinmotion.com http://brooksinthecountry.blogspot.com/ Ontario Canada -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/4/2007 9:13:37 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I forget (or rather, never heard) the rest of what Mark said, but he showed lots of pretty pictures... cheers, frank = Like, you're real helpful, man. Marnie aka Doe (Carefully reading all other posts). ;-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/4/2007 9:38:16 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Check out Mark Roberts site. He has a tutorial, and it was part of his presentation at last years GFM Dave == Will do. And thanks, William, Maris, and Mark. The scenes I showed, there was more, obviously. It would probably make a good 90 degree pano, and maybe I could have done that one handheld. However, Scott Valley, where my Dad grew up and where I visited last October, would make a great pano. And I could almost do a 360 degree one there, at least a 180 degree. It's a very simple scene, cattle ranches and alpha fields with a few scattered barns, but it is all flat and completely surrounded by mountains. So it is much more impressive than a single shot can show and it would be ideal for a pano. I tried last year (handheld), but didn't know what I was doing and there no way it can be stitched together. I didn't do the manual exposure thing, and now that you have all mentioned it, it makes perfect sense. One slight shift in color/exposure and the whole thing is shot. I also didn't overlap enough. But I am planning to visit again next August/Sept and would like to try to get it. Will visit Mark's site and print out your posts. Thanks, Marnie aka Doe :-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Everyone, is pretty much talking about stiching images, but how about when your subject needs to be capture in an instant and you don't have a choice to shoot more that one photo (I'm think strong waves hitting a shoreline or animals/people moving). If you upsize a K10D file to double and crop panorama you should be able to print a nice 10x24 or so, never didn't but should work. I was just reading this guy's blog today (http://pentaxk10dblog.blogspot.com) and he is talking about the Katz Eye focusing screen with panorama lines (too expensive for me, but I guess someone that likes this technique might justify the price). Anyway, just another approach. On 5/4/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/ferand/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 4/5/07, frank theriault, discombobulated, unleashed: You should have been at GFM last year to hear Mark's lecture on the subject. I was pretty much nodding off during most of it, Mark! (Not for the quotes file, just ratting on Frank). -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
I don't think PS elements is good enough for the stitching part. PS CS3 included a very good photomerge option. The best stitcher is PTGui. A very easy, yet powerfull stitcher is panoramafactory. If your subject is a panorama without objects in the foreground (a landscape) handheld shots are no problem. Camera on manual, horizon in the middle of the frame and 30-40 % overlap. Try to rotate around the center of the camera (you shouldn't rotate around the axis of your body if possible) Toine On 5/4/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I don't mean the stitching together part; I have PS books that tell me how to do that. And I am good enough with PS (Elements anyway) that I figure that part would not be a major problem. So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- -- Toine http://leende.net/peso -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Good advice and remember not to use a polarizer. Kenneth Waller - Original Message - From: Maris V. Lidaka Sr. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway? Tripod highly, highly recommended, though you can do without. A beanbag on a rock, fence-post or car door can suffice. A level is recommended - but you can pick up a small one at your local hardware store at $5.00 I'm sure. Number of pictures depends on your lens, of course, Overlap 1/5-1/4 of the image. Most important - find your exposure settings, then set them MANUALLY - as you pan, auto-exposure may vary and you don't want that. You want identical exposure frame-to-frame. Hustle if the light is quickly changing (say dawn or dusk). Maris [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: So how do you guys do panoramas anyway? Up until now I have not been tempted, but the other day I came across a scene that would have worked well. http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field2.htm http://members.aol.com/eactivist/PAWS/pages/field1.htm Tripod always, right? Is a level needed? How do you make sure that you remain on the same plane (get the horizon on the same plane)? If you were going to shoot a 180 degree shot, how many pictures do you think it would take? How much do you try to overlap? I am totally clueless on this one. TIA, Marnie aka Doe :-) If I don't have to invest in a lot of additional equipment, maybe I will try one someday. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
In a message dated 5/4/2007 11:50:11 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I don't think PS elements is good enough for the stitching part. PS CS3 included a very good photomerge option. The best stitcher is PTGui. A very easy, yet powerfull stitcher is panoramafactory. If your subject is a panorama without objects in the foreground (a landscape) handheld shots are no problem. Camera on manual, horizon in the middle of the frame and 30-40 % overlap. Try to rotate around the center of the camera (you shouldn't rotate around the axis of your body if possible) Toine == Huh, that is the nodal point thing then, the camera axis not my axis. (Haven't had time to look at Mark's page yet). I also have CS and will probably get CS3. Thanks, Toine, and thanks Ken. Someone also sent me this link off list about how to build a panoramic tripod head. Which would be great except that I don't have access to wood work tools and also am not great with saws. There are old guys in this community who like doing stuff like this though and maybe I could talk one of them into it. Bat my eyelashes and stuff. Uh, well, maybe. Maybe not. http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Panoramic-Tripod-Head Marnie aka Doe :-) - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On Fri, 4 May 2007, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: snip and agree with what everyone else said == Will do. And thanks, William, Maris, and Mark. The scenes I showed, there was more, obviously. It would probably make a good 90 degree pano, and maybe I could have done that one handheld. However, Scott Valley, where my Dad grew up and where I visited last October, would make a great pano. And I could almost do a 360 degree one there, at least a 180 degree. It's a very simple scene, cattle ranches and alpha fields with a few scattered barns, but it is all flat and completely surrounded by mountains. So it is much more impressive than a single shot can show and it would be ideal for a pano. I tried last year (handheld), but didn't know what I was doing and there no way it can be stitched together. I didn't do the manual exposure thing, and now that you have all mentioned it, it makes perfect sense. One slight shift in color/exposure and the whole thing is shot. I also didn't overlap enough. But I am planning to visit again next August/Sept and would like to try to get it. Will visit Mark's site and print out your posts. Thanks, Marnie aka Doe :-) I've been very successful doing panos with as little as 10-20% overlap. The *biggest* thing IMO is what's been mentioned that holding the exposure identical is really important. Getting different contrast due to flare with varying light is also somewhat important if the sun's anywhere near. As far as software, I have no idea how the commerical offerings for Winders/MacOS work, but I do know that a lot of the open-source stuff I use is available for Winders. The main engine is PanoTools, of course, but the GUI frontend I use is called 'hugin'. It has a built-in error minimization optimization engine to automatically determine lens correction factors, differences in camera tilt, etc. Way cool. For me, here's the order ofoperations. - Set camera to RAW... with the amount of fiddling required for panos, I doubt ANYONE (with the exception of a few insane zealouts like Kenny-boy Rockwell) could argue that the flexibility won't be worth it. - Tripod (relatively level) is a good idea. - Do test shots for exposure at all prospective angles about the intended pano. Make sure the highlights don't blow out anywhere, and set the exposure to manual. - Shoot all frames, with at least 10-20% overlap. - Convert RAW to deep-color TIFF with identical WB and EV comp settings. - Use 'autopano-sift' to try to automatically generate the alignment points. - Review points with 'hugin' program... add horizontal and/or vertical points to ensure straight horizon/vertical objects. - Use the optimization to improve draft and iterate modifying/adding/removing some of the alignment points if necessary - Generate output projection images (or multilayer image) - Blend together with 'enblend' - Fine-tune final image (rubber-stamp dust, watermark, etc). -Cory -- * * Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA * * Electrical Engineering* * Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University * * -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
On 5/4/07, Cotty [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 4/5/07, frank theriault, discombobulated, unleashed: You should have been at GFM last year to hear Mark's lecture on the subject. I was pretty much nodding off during most of it, Mark! (Not for the quotes file, just ratting on Frank). He woke up when he heard i came in second for senic, then fell asleep again. Dave -- Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- Equine Photography www.caughtinmotion.com http://brooksinthecountry.blogspot.com/ Ontario Canada -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
Wow, Cory, thanks! I hadn't thought about checking the exposure around the complete arc, but that makes sense. Marnie aka Doe :-) = I've been very successful doing panos with as little as 10-20% overlap. The *biggest* thing IMO is what's been mentioned that holding the exposure identical is really important. Getting different contrast due to flare with varying light is also somewhat important if the sun's anywhere near. As far as software, I have no idea how the commerical offerings for Winders/MacOS work, but I do know that a lot of the open-source stuff I use is available for Winders. The main engine is PanoTools, of course, but the GUI frontend I use is called 'hugin'. It has a built-in error minimization optimization engine to automatically determine lens correction factors, differences in camera tilt, etc. Way cool. For me, here's the order ofoperations. - Set camera to RAW... with the amount of fiddling required for panos, I doubt ANYONE (with the exception of a few insane zealouts like Kenny-boy Rockwell) could argue that the flexibility won't be worth it. - Tripod (relatively level) is a good idea. - Do test shots for exposure at all prospective angles about the intended pano. Make sure the highlights don't blow out anywhere, and set the exposure to manual. - Shoot all frames, with at least 10-20% overlap. - Convert RAW to deep-color TIFF with identical WB and EV comp settings. - Use 'autopano-sift' to try to automatically generate the alignment points. - Review points with 'hugin' program... add horizontal and/or vertical points to ensure straight horizon/vertical objects. - Use the optimization to improve draft and iterate modifying/adding/removing some of the alignment points if necessary - Generate output projection images (or multilayer image) - Blend together with 'enblend' - Fine-tune final image (rubber-stamp dust, watermark, etc). -Cory - Warning: I am now filtering my email, so you may be censored. ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway?
- Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: How do you guys do panoramas anyway? Wow, Cory, thanks! I hadn't thought about checking the exposure around the complete arc, but that makes sense. Thats a very good point. You also might have to make sme decisions regarding exposure if it turns out that you need to let part of the scene blow out to secure sufficient exposure in what you think is the important bits, or vice versa. I suppose one could do an HDR pano, but I shudder at the thought of pulling it off. William Robb -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
