What equipment do I need to take TRUE panoramic photographs? I don't mean the little point-and-shoot cameras that take long, narrow photos.
2007-01-25 05:22:42 · 5 answers · asked by huntingrl 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
Well basically there are three types of true panoramic cameras. 1. widefield camera, which basically uses a wideangle lens and a flat and wide film plane. The Hasselblad X-pan fits into this category.
2. swing lens camera. As the name suggest the lens on the camera swings to provide a 120-150degree angle of cover. Noblex and Brooks cameras typically fit into this category.
3. Rotation camera. The camera actually rotates around a single axis point usually to give a 360 angle of view.
Most of these cameras can be purchased used in the $1500-$2000 price range and can be found on occasion at keh.com or camerawest.com.
Although a lot of people would argue that the Hasselblad x-pan isnt a true panoramic camera, I have found this camera the most satisfying to use. Unlike rotating lens cameras, if you decide to take a photo with any action inside it, you dont have to worry about strange ghosting or cropping which I have had problems with using noblex cameras, a true panoramic camera. Although someone mentioned using digital stitching, again if you have any action in the shot, be prepared for some ghosting or cropping. Furthermore, since you are creating one image from multiple ones, you have to be sure that you are using the same exposure for each shot, because if you don't then you will have what looks more or less like a patchwork quilt. So if you are really into panoramic photography, consider a true panoramic camera.
2007-01-25 07:53:53 · answer #1 · answered by wackywallwalker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe what you're thinking of would be pretty expensive if you aren't into that as a business! Unless I'm wrong, you're thinking of a very specialized camera, mounted and set to rotate -up to 360 degrees. It moves at a fixed speed, with the shutter open, and the film inside moves (in the opposite direction) at the same speed. Depending on available light, the camera turns faster or slower, so that the actual exposure time is the same as if the shutter or iris had "clicked."
I frankly doubt that anybody still makes these, but I'd advise to check out some of the big camera stores. You certainly won't find one at Wal-Mart or Best Buy! You might even get lucky on eBay.
2007-01-25 05:42:08 · answer #2 · answered by BuddyL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you want to do is stitch your photos together. This will depend on how picky you are with the output. You need some very good equipment (tripod with head for panoramas) to go upscale and a steady hand for lesser quality and price. What you do is start taking pictures at one far side of what you want to include, and keep shooting, including 50% of the last shot into your next shot, until you have reached the other side of what you want to include. Once you do that you need software to stitch them all together. Again, there is high-end and low-end...Photoshop is high end, autostitch is low end.
Here is a link to autostitch:
http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html
I hope this helps some.
2007-01-25 06:33:09 · answer #3 · answered by themasterofpeaches 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local camera store and buy a panoramic lense for your camera...can be pricey...
2007-01-25 07:09:05 · answer #4 · answered by Sarah S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your best bet is to get Adobe Photoshop and learn to stitch your images together - type photoshop tutorials into your search and you should find all you need
2007-01-25 05:31:01 · answer #5 · answered by margarita 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋