YATQ (Pano)

StevenVStevenV Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
edited February 4, 2007 in Accessories
Yet Another Tripod Question - Panorama equipment this time.

I'm looking for inexpensive equipment tips - the emphesis since I'm 5 months out of work so far (and the photography business ain't paying any bills either :cry ). I'm thinking about grabbing an Ultrapod II and I'm also interested in doing some panoramas - anyone know of good but less costly pano heads that would be good for a 10D?

ADtanksVANCE :ivar
-Steven
my words, my "pro"pictures, my "fun" pictures, my videos.

Comments

  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,938 moderator
    edited February 3, 2007
    Read up on the Pano technique. I think you'll find that you can shoot
    panos without too much "extra" stuff--oh it'll be a tad difficult but you
    can make it work.
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • StevenVStevenV Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2007
    True, and I've even done a couple handheld, I was just hoping that I could find some inexpensive equip that would make 'em a tad easier.
    -Steven
    my words, my "pro"pictures, my "fun" pictures, my videos.

  • hgernhardtjrhgernhardtjr Registered Users Posts: 417 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2007
    StevenV wrote:
    I was just hoping that I could find some inexpensive equip that would make 'em a tad easier.

    Would you be interested in making your own pano head? I've enjoyed playing around with QTVR, but found appropriate pano head prices out of this world. This one by "Sondra C" http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Panoramic-Tripod-Head is one of several I have tried in the past, and it works ... I used some scrap box stuff so it cost me nothing ... however

    ... the one I ultimately liked best was Sony F828-specific using aluminum 3" angle and designed by Johannes Czernin http://www.pbase.com/jczwien/sony_828_panorama_bracket

    I am still considering splurging for a Nodal Ninja or similar, but I think that will come after I purchase a Tokina AT-X 107 DX 10-17mm for my Canon in a couple months.
    — Henry —
    Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
  • StevenVStevenV Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2007
    hgernhardtjr wrote:
    Would you be interested in making your own pano head?
    not as interested as I am in taking the pictures, but yes. those are great links, thanks.
    -Steven
    my words, my "pro"pictures, my "fun" pictures, my videos.

  • controldcontrold Registered Users Posts: 146 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2007
    Steve,

    I've had good experiences with this guy:

    http://gregwired.com/pano/Pano.htm

    It's not telco-grade, but for $75 it does the trick. I've used with 10D/30D and 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 USM mostly. You can get decent results from handhelds with the software out there as long as you have no foreground objects of import. If you do then you will get serious parallax problems with even a regular tripod. I have done most of mine with a monopod and the Panosaurus... I use the bubble level to keep the shots inline - don't even need to look into view finder.

    Sample pics (for pano, not image quality or artistic merit):
    95381766-M.jpg

    95381392-M.jpg

    95382249-M.jpg
    http://mikeapted.smugmug.com/

    Canon 30D | 10D
    Canon 10-22 | 28-135 f3.5-5.6 | 70-200 f4L | 100-400 f4-5.6L
    Canon Speedlight 580EX
    Kenko Extension Tubes
  • TanukiTanuki Registered Users Posts: 184 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2007
    StevenV wrote:
    Yet Another Tripod Question - Panorama equipment this time.

    I'm looking for inexpensive equipment tips - the emphesis since I'm 5 months out of work so far (and the photography business ain't paying any bills either :cry ). I'm thinking about grabbing an Ultrapod II and I'm also interested in doing some panoramas - anyone know of good but less costly pano heads that would be good for a 10D?

    ADtanksVANCE :ivar

    How about the Panosaurus. It's only $76. I don't have one, but it looks like it will work well.

    If you want to go ultra-cheap to match your Ultrapod, you could consider using a $10 sliding flash bracket that has the right connectors for your camera. That's what I use for my point & shoot cameras, and it should also work for your 10D if you use a lightweight lens. It won't allow you to rotate above or below horizontal or to use portrait orientation, but it's probably enough to get your started. It's critical to get one that has the right connectors for your camera and tripod. I'm trying to find mine so I can tell you the manufacturer and model, but unfortunately I can't find it this morning. If I find it later, I'll post the info.

    Good luck.

    Mike
  • dbddbd Registered Users Posts: 216 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2007
    StevenV wrote:
    True, and I've even done a couple handheld, I was just hoping that I could find some inexpensive equip that would make 'em a tad easier.
    Any decent stitching software will let you get by with a level and a tripod with a pan head (and maybe not the level or the pan head). This was taken with a tripod and level:
    84431570-O.jpg

    The original was 27980 by 1714 pixels from a Canon S2. The only problem is if you try to compose a close foreground. If handheld you can just try to keep the camera position from shifting.

    In mountain landscapes like this it is usually easiest to spot stitching errors on the mountain skyline interface.

    But do you think this is a good time to invest time in panoramas when Smugmug has started to convert to panorama hostile formats?

    Dale B. Dalrymple
    http://dbdimages.com
    "Give me a lens long enough and a place to stand and I can image the earth."
    ...with apology to Archimedies
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited February 4, 2007
    dbd wrote:
    Any decent stitching software will let you get by with a level and a tripod with a pan head (and maybe not the level or the pan head). This was taken with a tripod and level:


    The original was 27980 by 1714 pixels from a Canon S2. The only problem is if you try to compose a close foreground. If handheld you can just try to keep the camera position from shifting.

    In mountain landscapes like this it is usually easiest to spot stitching errors on the mountain skyline interface.

    But do you think this is a good time to invest time in panoramas when Smugmug has started to convert to panorama hostile formats?

    Dale B. Dalrymple
    http://dbdimages.com

    man ..you'd want to make sure your ears are clean in that sized shot eek7.gif
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