Panoramic Photo Questions

[tranceplant]

So basically I never did a panoramic image but I am going to Japan for a 3week trip and of course my dSLR will be following and I think it would be interesting to try and make those cool panoramic images.

So my first question is I will not bring a proper tri-pod, just a little 10cm pocket tri-pod if case of emergency. So do I need to bring a proper one to make those kind of images? (I have one, but I just don't feel like traveling with it)

Also what kind of Software do you use or what software would you recommend in order to have good images ''stitched'' together?

My objective is to get pictures like this one.

http://www.panoramafactory.com/handheld.jpg

 

[rmh159]

You should probably consider taking the big-boy tripod. I don't think it's 100% needed but it'll definitely improve the quality and keep you from needing to crop the edges of shots that didn't line up correctly. I think you can force it through some programs (Photoshop comes to mind) misaligned but I'd try to use a tripod to ensure best quality.

When I travel and can't take the bigger tripod, I'll take a gorillapod. They're more travel friendly and just as affective.

 

[Big Mike]

I haven't used any of the automatic stitching software, but there are some available. The newer versions of Photoshop have that options I think.

The key is to lock your exposure / shoot in manual mode. That way, the exposure will be the same for all the shots.

It's also good to use a focal length that won't give you too much distortion. I've also heard that it's better to shoot in portrait orientation and take more shots, than to shoot in landscape.

 

[Alex_B]

since your example image has no close foreground with lots of detail, you will be finde handheld.

if however, you shoot architecture in cities, with concrete patterns in front, complex structures, then a panorama head, which rotates around the nodal point of the lens, will remove parallax errors and allow flawless stitching.

the tripod needs not to be very stable unless you plan long exposure panoramas.

PanoramaStudio is a good piece of software which i use from time to time.

These for example i did with PanoramaStudio:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103047

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111245

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133260

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133353

The last one was handheld, and you can see some flaws resulting from that.

The first one would not have been possible without a nodal point tripod head.

 

[Alex_B]

And then there is of course a tutorial on TPF if you want to stitch by hand:

http://www.thephotoforum.com/node/49

 

[tranceplant]

wow a lot of good information here... keep them coming. I will look for the gorillapod and also thank you mike for the time on locking the exposure and such. Didn't think of that, but it makes a lot of sense