Panoramas for beginners

Newer members often state that they think their question is too basic, or stupid, or whatever, to be posted. Nothing could be further further from the truth in any section at DSLRUsers.com, but especially here. Don't feel intimidated. The only stupid question is the one that remains unasked. We were all beginners at one stage, and even the most experienced amongst us will admit to learning new stuff on a daily basis. Ask away! Please also refer to the forum rules and the portal page

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is. Please also check the portal page for more information on this.

Panoramas for beginners

Postby leek on Mon Jan 17, 2005 9:50 pm

I've seen several excellent panorama shots here recently and that inspired me to try some of my own last weekend... Needless to say - none of them worked out the way I wanted :( , so I thought I'd seek some basic guidance from those in the know...

Apart from the obvious like using a tripod & leveling the camera
a. do you prefer using portrait or landscape for your individual photos?
b. roughly what amount of overlap do you allow in %?
c. how do you cope with moving objects (e.g. boats on the harbour)?
d. obviously it's preferable if not essential to keep focal length the same, but what else do you need to keep control of to get an even exposure across the panorama?
e. what software do you prefer/recommend for assembling panoramas?
f. what total angle of view makes a good pano? too small and you may as well not have bothered - too wide and it looks artificial???
g. What is the advantage of using an advanced ball-head (terminology?)for the tripod rather than a normal head?
h. Anything else I haven't mentioned??? Probably...

The aim of this thread is to gather advice and promote discussion...

Let's collect all of your advice in one place for beginners...

If it gets a good response, I'll assemble all the best advice into a Tutorial for the tutorials section...
Cheers, John
Leek@Flickr | Leek@RedBubble | Leek@DeviantArt

D700; D200; Tokina 12-24; Nikkor 50mm f1.4,18-70mm,85mm f1.8, 105mm,80-400VR, SB-800s; G1227LVL; RRS BH-55; Feisol 1401
User avatar
leek
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3135
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:46 pm
Location: Lane Cove, Sydney

Postby sirhc55 on Mon Jan 17, 2005 10:25 pm

Chris
--------------------------------
I started my life with nothing and I’ve still got most of it left
User avatar
sirhc55
Key Member
 
Posts: 12930
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:57 pm
Location: Port Macquarie - Olympus EM-10

Postby Greg B on Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:02 pm

Leek, I can confirm one point - they are not easy.

I will be trying a few on my forthcoming holidays, can't wait.

I'll input on a couple of points, despite not having a successful pano in the bag..

a. you get a lot more detail shooting portrait.

f. I don't think artificial matters, a pano is wider than our normal field of vision so it is reasonable for it to look a bit artifical.

Although there have a been a couple of good hand held panos here, I reckon a good tripod is very useful, whatever kind of head (I would think maintaining a consistent vertical aspect would be important, so maybe ball not ideal. Guessing)
Greg - - - - D200 etc

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
- Arthur Schopenhauer
User avatar
Greg B
Moderator
 
Posts: 5938
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:14 pm
Location: Surrey Hills, Melbourne

Postby leek on Mon Jan 17, 2005 11:18 pm

sirhc55 wrote:Hi leek - this link may be of use to you

http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/tutorials/360/photo/nodal.html

Chris


Thanks for that link... How could I hope to add to that???

Haven't managed to take a decent pano yet with my D70, but here's one I took handheld (with my Sony P&S!!!!) on a bushwalking trip into very remote Ku-ring-gai NP last year...
http://www.pixspot.com/displayimage.php?album=74&pos=2
User avatar
leek
Senior Member
 
Posts: 3135
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:46 pm
Location: Lane Cove, Sydney


Return to Absolute Beginners Questions

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests

cron