For my zooms, 12-24, 16-45 (I have not done anything for the 55-300 yet), is to go to one of the lens testing sites and use the data there to determine the best focal length of the lens, and also the optimum f stop value for the best resolution, and least vinginetting. Then, for the focal lengths (including the 31 and 50) and using the best f stop, I use a DOF calculator (online) to determine the hyperfocal distance, and use that to set the lens to. To date, I have just been using a panning ball head (acratech GP) for single rows, and also trying it off level but knowing that was not going to work too well.
Getting the 31, pushed me into the pano head. Its sharpness and color rendition is just too good. The A50/1.7 I might try out tonight and see how it compares. The sun is just starting to go down here.
I figure that the NN should come tomorrow and I can test it out tomorrow evening, since I have another week of vacation. Also, thinking of driving up to the Montezuma's Castle about an 90 minutes north and trying a number of things out there.
montezuma's castle arizona - Google Images
I figure that if I get there around 10am I'll have the sun behind me until about noon. I can try the 31, 50, and 55 - 300 and see what I get. I figure that I'll go to google earth and use the measurement tool to get a set of distances and figure out some angles for each lens, and especially try out the 55-300 (at least at 77mm) that I have no feeling for at all in this situation. I'll probably take my calculator along, and maybe even borrow my son's netbook so I can possibly load up the images and see how they look before driving back.
I also, want to see how the shadows work at this site, along with the lenses, as opposed to just a flat face on set of shots. I am thinking that the shadows should give it some level of depth to the shots. I think that with a wide array of lenses, I can load up with a sufficient variety of shots to play around with in the future and see what works well and what is not worth the effort. We stopped there earlier this year when taking our older son up to Flagstaff for school and there were two sets of paths that offered some great and different vantage points. I think that these would be a pretty easy way to get started with a rather interesting target of opportunity.
From what I have experienced so far, I have to agree that the 31 is a lens that appears to be absolutely perfect for this. Its also a lens that I would have not probably purchased for myself. Based on what I see here, I maybe saving up my lunch money for a 77 since everything is going up in price (probably used - especially the way folks here treat their equipment, I'll watch the marketplace).
Also, just thinking a minute about bracketing here, especially with the potential of the deep shadows at the castle. Bracketing may indeed bring out some of the more interesting features. I might even try maybe a 3x3 with either a 3 or 5 bracket shot just to see what turns out. I think for this type of activity, the K20 really can not be beat. I am glad that I splurged back in May when the price dipped. Its additional resolution, and I think especially in this respect will be an interesting test.
The other thing is that I just found out that the Costco here prints 20"x30" full color for $8.99. You just upload your JPG and then drive by to pick it up. This may be a wonderful test all the way around.