bad stitching results with prof. software

[fab4ce]

Hi there,
i read a lot about the technics how to stitch the panos. But the thing is,that right now i donґt have a fisheye lens neither a wide angle cam.
So iґm shooting the pics with my ixus. I know that i also need more possiblities for manual settings.... But letґs say: Itґs possible to make a full cube with my cam, and thatґs enough for me right now.
I used to use Arcsoft Panorama Maker to stitch simple Pano pics and it still does a perfect job.
Now iґm trying to shoot a big bunch of pics to make a cube, row by row (multirow :)
First i tried REalviz stitcher and it canґt even stitch one of my rows automatically. how bad :/
Thereafter i tried the same pics in Arcsoft Pano Maker and everything works fine, perfect stitch.
So i thought that maybe realviz stitcher is crap and i tried PTGui, but the same problems.
Why canґt the professional software stitch my pano whilst the semi-prof does a perfect job ? thatґs so frustrating.

[phberlin]

Hey fab3ce,

first: If you get your "perfect results", why worry about another software?

Well, I use PTGui regularily and it does a very good job (Fisheye lens). I guess it might be a question of your equipment: Do you have a no-parallax-setup (aka "nodal adapter")? Depending on what kind of panos you want to make (indoor vs. outdoor etc.), you can't be without if you want really professional results.

Since it's such a trouble with consumer cameras and bad lenses (low quality, noise, no or little manual settings and so on), in my opinion you should absolutely think about buying a DSLR and a Fisheye lens. If you want good results, you would also have to shoot bracketed exposures, which would even multiply the number of necessary pictures a lot.

Regards, Ph.

[fab4ce]

Hi phBerlin,
i will buy a new cam, but this is planned for earning money with QTVR. Iґm student and donґt have much money. I think about buying a Panasonic DMC LX2 and a fisheye lens. At this point i need to ask: Does anyone strongly disadvise me buying this cam ? If so, for what reason ?

Before i will have bought the cam, i already want to make some panoramas, some equirectangular ones. These i canґt do with my Arcsoft Panorama Maker. So i started thinking about how to do it with my Ixus 30.
Well i donґt have any adapter and i donґt think that iґll need it right now.
I tried to make a pano of my room and another one outside which iґm stitching right now. Letґs have look if iґll make it....the first row worked nice with PTGui.

[phberlin]

AFAIK the DMC LX2 also is a compact camera, isn't it? So it doesn't support interchangable lenses... I'd advise you to have a look at the DSLR section of Olympus. While many photographers prefer Nikon or Canon, you can also get superior results with an Olympus DSLR while spending only a fraction of the money you'd need for a Nikon/Canon system. If you really want to earn money with panoramas, you'll have to invest in good equiment, or give it up. Sorry, but that's just how it goes. I work with an Olympus E-330 and the Zuiko ED8 Fisheye which gives very good results (if you really know how to take photographs, of course).

Regarding your statement of indoor panoramas: It's surely worth a look at what the no-parallax-point is and why a nodal-adapter is indispensable if you want to achieve professional results (http://wiki.panotools.org/No-parallax_point).

If you don't want to spend money on professional software yet, but already need something decent, you should have a look at Hugin (http://hugin.sourceforge.net/).

Regards, Ph.

[Joro]

well, lenses r an issue, but what i think u should really get, Is a good camera, and a pano head, i can recommend u the nodal ninja 3, im very satisfied with the results. Also, a very good software for stiching is kolor autopano pro 1.4.0, and the PTGui, im using both of them, depending on the project. but again, pano head is a must. :)

Also, somethng very important for the stitching programs to work properly, is all ur pics to be in focus. good luck!

[johnwilletts]

Hi,
Take a look at my website:

www.j-a-willetts-esq.com (http://www.j-a-willetts-esq.com)

All the pans were taken on a Sony DSC-R1 with a Ranox fisheye adaptor (6 shots).
Both are usually available secondhand on ebay.

I built a bracket to get the nodal point correct.

Three other items are essential: a hot-shoe spirit level, a shutter release cable and the most stable tripod you can afford/carry.

PTGui is, in my book, the 'only' stitching software - but it does take a little time to learn. Realviz is too expensive to consider.

I've just upgraded to a Nikon D300 and Sunex super fisheye and the results are spectacular.

Good luck,

John

[fab4ce]

thanks a lot for your advices. But iґm still looking forward to buy the Panasonic LX 2 with a fisheye lens. Yes it is a compact camera but it has all manual posibilities you need and you can add a fisheye lens. look here:
http://www.pbase.com/cganter59/nimix2
and here
http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=896&PT_ID=876&lg=1&c=FISHEYE_LENS_WITH_MACRO_FOR_DIGITAL_CAMERA_PANAS ONIC_LUMIX_DMC-LX2

I have to say that you are right, it doesnґt make sense trying to stitch a cube with an Ixus. So i will present some cylindrical panos to the companies i want to pay me :) explaining what more is possible. And when iґll get the job iґll buy the cam. In fact i was just waiting for the release of the LX3 so that i can buy the LX2 cheaper.

I like PTGui already. Itґs a lot faster than realviz, more flexible and better to understand. Even if iґll need some more time to understand it all.

About shooting fotos....let me say....i can feel a nice foto. iґm not that technical orientated, even if i also learned that stuff during my education :)
Here is my foto website and an nice impression of what you can do with an Ixus 30. http://www.mischen-impossible.de