Panoramic Photography

[SureShot]

I'm always awestruck by the detail and beauty a panoramic photo provides, and those of you that post these types of photos here certainly look like you know what you're doing:notworthy:
I would like to try my hand at it however after much research on the subject, I usually end up more questions than answers.
I guess what my question to those that provide those wonderful photos would be is what are the basics as far as equipment goes, and is there a "Panos for Dummies" guide book out there you may be able to recommend?
I have a Canon 5D with a 17-40L f4/24-105L f4/ 100-400L lenses and am not sure if any of these would work? I have a tripod as well. Any tips you can provide are most appreciated.:)

[Keith]

hmmmm, I too was all caught up in the gear for doing panos, but after much work doing it, its all about the software for me :D I dont even use a tripod now for the most part in doing panos, but there are do's and donts which can easily be read up about. Heck even got Peter doing panos at 500mm handheld lol


PTGui http://www.ptgui.com/ and believe they have a free 30 day trial, give it a go and lets us know what you think. I think I posted quite afew of the panos in landscapes, of course web size version doesnt give them any justice.

Good luck.........

as a fyi I usually did all my panos with the 17-40L but now Im using the 24-70L which I just luv, I dont need to go that wide and if I do, I just stich. I personally like the closer feel vs being wide at 17mm but that is just my preference

[Robert]

I've been looking at tripods, with a notion that I too would like to try panos. Keith, I'm surprised to hear that you don't use a tripod for your pano shooting. I thought that a tripod was absolutely necessary. Can you explain a little how you shoot for a panoramic without one?
I recently saw a discussion on panos and apparently PS CS3 has fabulous stitching capabilities. Most of the great panos I've seen were put together with PTGui, a terrific software as you mention.

[Ron Lacey]

I've been looking at tripods, with a notion that I too would like to try panos. Keith, I'm surprised to hear that you don't use a tripod for your pano shooting. I thought that a tripod was absolutely necessary. Can you explain a little how you shoot for a panoramic without one?
I recently saw a discussion on panos and apparently PS CS3 has fabulous stitching capabilities. Most of the great panos I've seen were put together with PTGui, a terrific software as you mention.

I shoot pans without a tripod, basically I take a series of shots keeping the camera as horizontal with the horizon as possible and overlapping each shot by 50%, then I let CS3 take care of the rest, it is fabulous :). That's not to say you shouldn't use a tripod, I do that too especially with a long lens, it helps to ensure you don't have to crop too much after the images are stitched.

Ron

[Robert]

Hi Ron,

Having never used pano software I don't know how the stitching works. It's impressive that these programs can analyze images and match them up without seams. I'm currently building a new computer and will be upgrading tp CS3 when I'm up and running. Then, I'll try my first pano...with fingers crossed!rolleyes;

[Desert Rat]

Well, I can say now I know why Keith's Panoramas look like they do.. :couch:

Personally if you want the absolute best panorama images possible.. If you want a foreground subject in the panorama then you have to deal with correcting parallax error as you pan across for the images.. That can be eliminated by figuring out the nodal point of the lens and getting a nodal slide...

THis gives the best info aboute getting started in panorama photography...

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/tutorials/pano/index.html

[David Cramer]

Eric is correct about the proper method, and remember to shoot manual exposure. However, you can get good results without worrying about nodal points if: 1) the primary subject is far away and 2) you do at least 30%, preferably more in overlapping. Tripod helps, but I have also done handheld panos when the light is great. As has been pointed out, CS3 has much improved and very good photomerge.

[SureShot]

Thanks for all the great info guys. Looks like I have the basic equipment for shooting certain types of panos for starters. I'll give it a go and when I get the hang of it I'll post one up for critique.