Best place to start

[jwynne164]

Hi Guys

I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would like
some tips from some of you seasoned guys.

I also some questions if I may.

I have a Canon 20D with a 8mm Simca fisheye. Nodal pano head on a ez-
leveler with a uni-loc tripod.

Software PTgui and pano2qvr Photoshop CS3

Is there anything wrong, if so how can I improve the images as the
look a little soft.

Also are there any video tutorals you could recommend.

my site is www.teachitme.com/Assets/Text/My%20Gallery.html

I hope I haven't used up all my asks in one go.

James

[Robert C. Fisher-2]

Hi James
On Jul 12, 2008, at 5:06 AM, jwynne164 wrote:

> Hi Guys
>
> I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would like
> some tips from some of you seasoned guys.
>
> I also some questions if I may.
>
> I have a Canon 20D with a 8mm Simca fisheye. Nodal pano head on a ez-
> leveler with a uni-loc tripod.
>
> Software PTgui and pano2qvr Photoshop CS3
>
> Is there anything wrong, if so how can I improve the images as the
> look a little soft.

Test the camera and lens to find the best sharpness. My Sigma 8mm f4  
fisheye is sharpest at infinity and f8-11. Also when you finish the  
panos you need to add sharpening after resizing to the final display  
size. There are lots of resources on sharpening. I tend to use  
unsharp mask at 40% 0.4 radius, 1 tolerance and apply 1-3 times. It  
really depends. It also looks like you need to add a little bit of  
contrast, this will also help the sharpness.

The first pano needs to be leveled I think there is a tutorial at  
PTGuis site on leveling. You want to make all the vertical poles  
vertical.

You just have to find the sweet spot of the lens for maximum  
sharpness. Also make sure the lens mount is clean and the lens is  
seated correctly as this could also affect sharpness. Good pano eye  
once you get the fine points worked out.
>
> Also are there any video tutorals you could recommend.
>
> my site is www.teachitme.com/Assets/Text/My%20Gallery.html
>
> I hope I haven't used up all my asks in one go.
That's what these lists are for!
>
> James
>

Cheers
Robert C. Fisher
VR Photography/Cinematography

[Sacha Griffin]

Is it sigma 4.0 or sigma 3.5?

Looks like the 4.0 to me. If so, that's about the best it gets.

This would be the best the old sigma lens can get
http://www.seeit360.net/fullscreen.php?id=201

which is about the same.

 

You'll need to buy a better lens probably.

 

 

Sacha Griffin

Southern Digital Solutions LLC

http://www.southern-digital.com

http://www.seeit360.net

404-551-4275

 

 

 

From: PanoToolsNG@... [mailto:PanoToolsNG@...] On
Behalf Of jwynne164
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 8:07 AM
To: PanoToolsNG@...
Subject: [PanoToolsNG] Best place to start

 

Hi Guys

I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would like
some tips from some of you seasoned guys.

I also some questions if I may.

I have a Canon 20D with a 8mm Simca fisheye. Nodal pano head on a ez-
leveler with a uni-loc tripod.

Software PTgui and pano2qvr Photoshop CS3

Is there anything wrong, if so how can I improve the images as the
look a little soft.

Also are there any video tutorals you could recommend.

my site is www.teachitme.com/Assets/Text/My%20Gallery.html

I hope I haven't used up all my asks in one go.

James

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[jwynne164]

Hi Sacha it's the new 3.5 ExDG

Is that any good

thank you for writting I like your Panos

James

--- In PanoToolsNG@..., "Sacha Griffin"
<sachagriffin@...> wrote:

>
> Is it sigma 4.0 or sigma 3.5?
>
> Looks like the 4.0 to me. If so, that's about the best it gets.
>
> This would be the best the old sigma lens can get
> http://www.seeit360.net/fullscreen.php?id=201
>
> which is about the same.
>
>  
>
> You'll need to buy a better lens probably.
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Sacha Griffin
>
> Southern Digital Solutions LLC
>
> http://www.southern-digital.com
>
> http://www.seeit360.net
>
> 404-551-4275
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
> From: PanoToolsNG@...

[mailto:PanoToolsNG@...] On

> Behalf Of jwynne164
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 8:07 AM
> To: PanoToolsNG@...
> Subject: [PanoToolsNG] Best place to start
>
>  
>
> Hi Guys
>
> I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would

like
> some tips from some of you seasoned guys.
>
> I also some questions if I may.
>
> I have a Canon 20D with a 8mm Simca fisheye. Nodal pano head on a
ez-

> leveler with a uni-loc tripod.
>
> Software PTgui and pano2qvr Photoshop CS3
>
> Is there anything wrong, if so how can I improve the images as the
> look a little soft.
>
> Also are there any video tutorals you could recommend.
>
> my site is www.teachitme.com/Assets/Text/My%20Gallery.html
>
> I hope I haven't used up all my asks in one go.
>
> James
>
>  
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[jwynne164]

Thanks for the tips Robert will try them out

Regards

James


--- In PanoToolsNG@..., "Robert C. Fisher" <bob@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi James
> On Jul 12, 2008, at 5:06 AM, jwynne164 wrote:
>
> > Hi Guys
> >
> > I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would
like
> > some tips from some of you seasoned guys.
> >
> > I also some questions if I may.
> >
> > I have a Canon 20D with a 8mm Simca fisheye. Nodal pano head on a
ez-
> > leveler with a uni-loc tripod.
> >
> > Software PTgui and pano2qvr Photoshop CS3
> >
> > Is there anything wrong, if so how can I improve the images as the
> > look a little soft.
> Test the camera and lens to find the best sharpness. My Sigma 8mm
f4  
> fisheye is sharpest at infinity and f8-11. Also when you finish
the  
> panos you need to add sharpening after resizing to the final
display  
> size. There are lots of resources on sharpening. I tend to use  
> unsharp mask at 40% 0.4 radius, 1 tolerance and apply 1-3 times.
It  

> really depends. It also looks like you need to add a little bit of  
> contrast, this will also help the sharpness.
>
> The first pano needs to be leveled I think there is a tutorial at  
> PTGuis site on leveling. You want to make all the vertical poles  
> vertical.
>
> You just have to find the sweet spot of the lens for maximum  
> sharpness. Also make sure the lens mount is clean and the lens is  
> seated correctly as this could also affect sharpness. Good pano

eye  

> once you get the fine points worked out.
> >
> > Also are there any video tutorals you could recommend.
> >
> > my site is www.teachitme.com/Assets/Text/My%20Gallery.html
> >
> > I hope I haven't used up all my asks in one go.
> That's what these lists are for!
> >
> > James
> >
>
> Cheers
> Robert C. Fisher
> VR Photography/Cinematography
>

[Sacha Griffin]

Then its most likely that the panoramas are not published at high enough
resolution.

I would expect a LOT more from that lens.

So that's good news, you can improve your quality once you detail your
workflow and we figure what's going on.

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

 

Sacha Griffin

Southern Digital Solutions LLC

http://www.southern-digital.com

http://www.seeit360.net

404-551-4275

 

 

 

From: PanoToolsNG@... [mailto:PanoToolsNG@...] On
Behalf Of jwynne164
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 3:03 PM
To: PanoToolsNG@...
Subject: [PanoToolsNG] Re: Best place to start

 


Hi Sacha it's the new 3.5 ExDG

Is that any good

thank you for writting I like your Panos

James

--- In PanoToolsNG@... <mailto:PanoToolsNG%40yahoogroups.com> ,
"Sacha Griffin"
<sachagriffin@...> wrote:

>
> Is it sigma 4.0 or sigma 3.5?
>
> Looks like the 4.0 to me. If so, that's about the best it gets.
>
> This would be the best the old sigma lens can get
> http://www.seeit360.net/fullscreen.php?id=201
>
> which is about the same.
>
>
>
> You'll need to buy a better lens probably.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sacha Griffin
>
> Southern Digital Solutions LLC
>
> http://www.southern-digital.com
>
> http://www.seeit360.net
>
> 404-551-4275
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: PanoToolsNG@... <mailto:PanoToolsNG%40yahoogroups.com>  

[mailto:PanoToolsNG@... <mailto:PanoToolsNG%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On

> Behalf Of jwynne164
> Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 8:07 AM
> To: PanoToolsNG@... <mailto:PanoToolsNG%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [PanoToolsNG] Best place to start
>
>
>
> Hi Guys
>
> I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would

like
> some tips from some of you seasoned guys.
>
> I also some questions if I may.
>
> I have a Canon 20D with a 8mm Simca fisheye. Nodal pano head on a
ez-

> leveler with a uni-loc tripod.
>
> Software PTgui and pano2qvr Photoshop CS3
>
> Is there anything wrong, if so how can I improve the images as the
> look a little soft.
>
> Also are there any video tutorals you could recommend.
>
> my site is www.teachitme.com/Assets/Text/My%20Gallery.html
>
> I hope I haven't used up all my asks in one go.
>
> James
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Milko K. Amorth]

Hi Sacha,
> Looks like the 4.0 to me. If so, that's about the best it gets.
>  
C'mon man. It's not just about the lens. I does get better than this.
The Sigma 8 f3.5 is much better than f4 but still acceptable. On the f4
you loose a full f stop due to vignetting.

To me it looks like the infinity mark is exceeding...thats something you
dont want to do with the Sigma.
Set it to hyperfocal distance for your aperture ( f8-11) needed and lock
it down for max  dof for that aperture.
Also do min 4 shots a round and keep the used fov to 90° for each
segment with the f4 lens. If you go 6 shots and use 60° fov with it, the
sharper it gets.
Canon CMOS is soft.....increase sharpening in RAW considerably and apply
a sharpening mask. Do the final sharpening in CS3 with  unsharp mask
high percentage...low radius for delicate sharpening and high radius low
percentage for saturation sharpening.
No need for a new lens at all, unless you want to increase your
resolution, in my opinion.

A good place to compare is to browse the WWP and pick data as you like.

Cheers, Milko


--
Milko K.Amorth
ph:604.561.5101
fx:604.909.5125

www.VRCanada.ca
360° Immersive Imaging
Skype: VRdundee

[John Houghton]

--- In PanoToolsNG@..., "jwynne164" <jwynne164@...> wrote:
>
> I'm new to pano's have taken half a dozon they seem ok but would like
> some tips from some of you seasoned guys.

Your files are quite small (<1MB), which suggests the equirectangular
image used to generate the swf file is not big enough.  You need around
5000x2500 to 6000x3000 pixels, which will result in a swf file size of
around 2Mb.  Some sharpening is certainly needed; you will find good
advice at http://ronbigelow.com/articles/sharpen1/sharpen1.htm .  

Levelling is conveniently done with vertical line control points (at
least, when there are vertical features available in the panorama).  It
takes about 40sec.  See this tutorial:
http://www.johnhpanos.com/levtut.htm .

The nadir patching needs to be done a bit more carefully so the joins
don't show.  The Pro version of PTGui has a useful viewpoint correction
feature that makes this easier.  Otherwise, you can use the Edit-
>Transform tools in Photoshop to coax the nadir into alignment.  
There's a viewpoint tutorial and panoramas taken with the Sigma 8mm
f/3.5 (a few with the old f/4 version too) at www.johnhpanos.com .

John

[karrisky]

>
> Your files are quite small (<1MB), which suggests the equirectangular
> image used to generate the swf file is not big enough.  You need around
> 5000x2500 to 6000x3000 pixels, which will result in a swf file size of
> around 2Mb.  Some sharpening is certainly needed; you will find good
> advice at http://ronbigelow.com/articles/sharpen1/sharpen1.htm .  


i know this is probably a dumb question, but....
If I make a pano that is 2MB and want to re-size it down so it is
smaller, can I do this to the moovie file, or do I need to make it a
smaller equirectangular image to start with? I assume it can be done
to the movie file - but how? :/
Thanks!

[Sacha Griffin]

It is best to do all your resizing from the same master source file. This
eliminates a succession of jpg artifact build ups and most likely will allow
smaller file sizes at the end resolution.

Like master tif 8000x4000 to 3000x1500 will be better looking and smaller
than 8000x4000 -> 6000x3000 -> 3000->1500 since you have probably used jpg
at a high compression along the way.

Jpeg compression will add noise to otherwise noiseless areas, and artifacts
along all detail edges which then become details themselves which add to the
file size at the end whereas your tif to small jpg will only have one
compression step.

 

Soo, you should always work from your tifs, (or large jpg level 10 or high
jpg if you must) and never off your published movs or smaller cube faces or
small equirectangulars or whatever you use.

 

 

Sacha Griffin

Southern Digital Solutions LLC

http://www.southern-digital.com

http://www.seeit360.net

404-551-4275

 

 

 

From: PanoToolsNG@... [mailto:PanoToolsNG@...] On
Behalf Of karrisky
Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 6:50 PM
To: PanoToolsNG@...
Subject: [PanoToolsNG] Re: Best place to start

 


>
> Your files are quite small (<1MB), which suggests the equirectangular
> image used to generate the swf file is not big enough. You need around
> 5000x2500 to 6000x3000 pixels, which will result in a swf file size of
> around 2Mb. Some sharpening is certainly needed; you will find good
> advice at http://ronbigelow.com/articles/sharpen1/sharpen1.htm .

i know this is probably a dumb question, but....
If I make a pano that is 2MB and want to re-size it down so it is
smaller, can I do this to the moovie file, or do I need to make it a
smaller equirectangular image to start with? I assume it can be done
to the movie file - but how? :/
Thanks!

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]