how to shoot panoramic photo on k-x?

edd1388 · 07-09-2010, 12:05 AM

Hi everyone i just bought a yellow colour k-x and wondering how to shot a panoramic photo with it?thank everyone

Hightreason · 07-09-2010, 12:23 AM

Just take a number of overlapping photos and transfer them to your computer. Then use Autostitch to piece them together. There's a bit of tinkering needed, but it's an intuitive (and free to demo) tool that gives high-quality results.

hcc · 07-09-2010, 01:29 AM

Originally posted by Hightreason

Just take a number of overlapping photos and transfer them to your computer. Then use Autostitch to piece them together. There's a bit of tinkering needed, but it's an intuitive (and free to demo) tool that gives high-quality results.

Do some Pentaxians know the differences between the two commercial versions of Autostitch?
*Panorama Plus (AUD$29 ~ US$25)
*AutoPano (US$139)

AutoStitch is a great software, but the demo version has an archaic interface.

Why is there such a difference in prices between these two softwares?

Has anyone some experience with one or both ? How is the interface compared to AutoStitch ?

Thank you in advance for any advice....

bigdog104 · 07-09-2010, 04:36 AM

When shooting panos:

1. Try holding your camera vertically to get the most in each shot.
2. Use Manual mode so that the exposure is consistent throughout the scene.
3. Turn off AutoFocus.
4. Overlap each picture by a 1/3rd.

You can purchase an expensive Pano head but you can also shoot handheld, you just have to learn to rotate the camera, not your body. Pick a spot on the ground and make sure the camera stays above that spot for each shot. It's not perfect but will give better results than keeping your feet in one place and swinging your camera in an arc.

I would also suggest AutoSitch, it is actually the engine that other programs use to make panos.

**Lowell Goudge** · 07-09-2010, 06:11 AM

note that for accurate panoramas and to keep work to a minimum, you need to rotate the camera about the optical center of the lens, (I forget the techno-geek term for this)

rotation about any other point will make a perfect stitch-up much more difficult.

Also as others have pointed out,

-set exposure to manual so that you do not have a vertical line at the stitch point if you changed exposure.
-vertical mode is better
-a normal lens and many more segments is better (resolution wise) and has less distortion at the stitch points due to perspective.

**boriscleto** · 07-09-2010, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

note that for accurate panoramas and to keep work to a minimum, you need to rotate the camera about the optical center of the lens, (I forget the techno-geek term for this)

rotation about any other point will make a perfect stitch-up much more difficult.

This is called the nodal point. A panoramic tripod head, like the Panosaurus, lets you rotate the camera around the nodal point of the lens. The Panosaurus Rex is slightly less expensive and restricts you to single row panoramas.

The Panosaurus Panoramic Tripod Head Home Page

MrApollinax · 07-09-2010, 07:06 AM

I use autopano pro. Biggest plus that I've seen so far? It can use Pentax's RAW files natively. I have a couple DC panos I am working on that were stiched together using 3-4 PEFs. You can then export to TIFF or JPEG afterwards.

bigdog104 · 07-09-2010, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by MrApollinax

I use autopano pro. Biggest plus that I've seen so far? It can use Pentax's RAW files natively. I have a couple DC panos I am working on that were stiched together using 3-4 PEFs. You can then export to TIFF or JPEG afterwards.

Interesting, will it support DNG? It makes sense to stich them in some form of RAW and then do PP on the image as a whole.

graphicgr8s · 07-09-2010, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by bigdog104

When shooting panos:

1. Try holding your camera vertically to get the most in each shot.
2. Use Manual mode so that the exposure is consistent throughout the scene.
3. Turn off AutoFocus.
4. Overlap each picture by a 1/3rd.

You can purchase an expensive Pano head but you can also shoot handheld, you just have to learn to rotate the camera, not your body. Pick a spot on the ground and make sure the camera stays above that spot for each shot. It's not perfect but will give better results than keeping your feet in one place and swinging your camera in an arc.

I would also suggest AutoSitch, it is actually the engine that other programs use to make panos.

Actually at a seminar Kelby talked about stepping in the direction your shooting. take a shot and step. What you wind up doing is moving the lens around its nodal point. Closer anyway than standing still. It's improved my panos and I stand by it. With CS3 and 4 I've had to do little to no tinkering.

MrApollinax · 07-09-2010, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by bigdog104

Interesting, will it support DNG? It makes sense to stich them in some form of RAW and then do PP on the image as a whole.

I do not know if DNG is supported or not. My humble K100DS does not capture images to DNG, only PEF or JPEG.

Marc Sabatella · 07-09-2010, 09:32 AM

I don't know if if this will help here, but if you do find that having DNG files will help, you can always use the free Adobe DNG Converter.

bigdog104 · 07-09-2010, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by graphicgr8s

Actually at a seminar Kelby talked about stepping in the direction your shooting. take a shot and step. What you wind up doing is moving the lens around its nodal point. Closer anyway than standing still. It's improved my panos and I stand by it. With CS3 and 4 I've had to do little to no tinkering.

Thanks, that I what I was trying to say but did not express myself very well. Move your feet so you are not swinging the camera in an arc.

GerryL · 07-13-2010, 05:55 PM

You can also use the free software "Microsoft ICE".
I've used it a couple of times with good results.

GerryL · 07-13-2010, 05:56 PM

..and welcome to the forums edd1388!

anthers · 07-15-2010, 11:42 AM

Hugin is another free pano program, a little more powerful than autostitch but it still has a pretty automated UI.

I sometimes try to rotate the camera around the nodal point, sometimes not, either way the panos seem to come out just fine. The only time I've found it might matter is if there is a lot of close foreground stuff that goes out of alignment, but I find that hugin will just pick one or the other frame and shift the join line.

07-09-2010, 12:05 AM	#1
edd1388 Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: chai chee dr Posts: 5	how to shoot panoramic photo on k-x? Hi everyone i just bought a yellow colour k-x and wondering how to shot a panoramic photo with it?thank everyone

07-09-2010, 01:29 AM	#3
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,001	Originally posted by Hightreason Just take a number of overlapping photos and transfer them to your computer. Then use Autostitch to piece them together. There's a bit of tinkering needed, but it's an intuitive (and free to demo) tool that gives high-quality results. Do some Pentaxians know the differences between the two commercial versions of Autostitch? Panorama Plus (AUD$29 ~ US$25) AutoPano (US$139) AutoStitch is a great software, but the demo version has an archaic interface. Why is there such a difference in prices between these two softwares? Has anyone some experience with one or both ? How is the interface compared to AutoStitch ? Thank you in advance for any advice.... Last edited by hcc; 07-09-2010 at 02:58 AM.

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07-09-2010, 12:23 AM	#2
Hightreason New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2	Just take a number of overlapping photos and transfer them to your computer. Then use Autostitch to piece them together. There's a bit of tinkering needed, but it's an intuitive (and free to demo) tool that gives high-quality results.

07-09-2010, 04:36 AM	#4
bigdog104 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 289	When shooting panos: 1. Try holding your camera vertically to get the most in each shot. 2. Use Manual mode so that the exposure is consistent throughout the scene. 3. Turn off AutoFocus. 4. Overlap each picture by a 1/3rd. You can purchase an expensive Pano head but you can also shoot handheld, you just have to learn to rotate the camera, not your body. Pick a spot on the ground and make sure the camera stays above that spot for each shot. It's not perfect but will give better results than keeping your feet in one place and swinging your camera in an arc. I would also suggest AutoSitch, it is actually the engine that other programs use to make panos.

07-09-2010, 06:11 AM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	note that for accurate panoramas and to keep work to a minimum, you need to rotate the camera about the optical center of the lens, (I forget the techno-geek term for this) rotation about any other point will make a perfect stitch-up much more difficult. Also as others have pointed out, -set exposure to manual so that you do not have a vertical line at the stitch point if you changed exposure. -vertical mode is better -a normal lens and many more segments is better (resolution wise) and has less distortion at the stitch points due to perspective.

07-09-2010, 06:58 AM	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge note that for accurate panoramas and to keep work to a minimum, you need to rotate the camera about the optical center of the lens, (I forget the techno-geek term for this) rotation about any other point will make a perfect stitch-up much more difficult. This is called the nodal point. A panoramic tripod head, like the Panosaurus, lets you rotate the camera around the nodal point of the lens. The Panosaurus Rex is slightly less expensive and restricts you to single row panoramas. The Panosaurus Panoramic Tripod Head Home Page

07-09-2010, 07:06 AM	#7
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	I use autopano pro. Biggest plus that I've seen so far? It can use Pentax's RAW files natively. I have a couple DC panos I am working on that were stiched together using 3-4 PEFs. You can then export to TIFF or JPEG afterwards.

07-09-2010, 08:07 AM	#8
bigdog104 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 289	Originally posted by MrApollinax I use autopano pro. Biggest plus that I've seen so far? It can use Pentax's RAW files natively. I have a couple DC panos I am working on that were stiched together using 3-4 PEFs. You can then export to TIFF or JPEG afterwards. Interesting, will it support DNG? It makes sense to stich them in some form of RAW and then do PP on the image as a whole.

07-09-2010, 08:42 AM	#9
graphicgr8s Guest	Originally posted by bigdog104 When shooting panos: 1. Try holding your camera vertically to get the most in each shot. 2. Use Manual mode so that the exposure is consistent throughout the scene. 3. Turn off AutoFocus. 4. Overlap each picture by a 1/3rd. You can purchase an expensive Pano head but you can also shoot handheld, you just have to learn to rotate the camera, not your body. Pick a spot on the ground and make sure the camera stays above that spot for each shot. It's not perfect but will give better results than keeping your feet in one place and swinging your camera in an arc. I would also suggest AutoSitch, it is actually the engine that other programs use to make panos. Actually at a seminar Kelby talked about stepping in the direction your shooting. take a shot and step. What you wind up doing is moving the lens around its nodal point. Closer anyway than standing still. It's improved my panos and I stand by it. With CS3 and 4 I've had to do little to no tinkering.

07-09-2010, 08:59 AM	#10
MrApollinax Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,529	Originally posted by bigdog104 Interesting, will it support DNG? It makes sense to stich them in some form of RAW and then do PP on the image as a whole. I do not know if DNG is supported or not. My humble K100DS does not capture images to DNG, only PEF or JPEG.

07-09-2010, 09:32 AM	#11
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I don't know if if this will help here, but if you do find that having DNG files will help, you can always use the free Adobe DNG Converter.

07-09-2010, 10:25 AM	#12
bigdog104 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 289	Originally posted by graphicgr8s Actually at a seminar Kelby talked about stepping in the direction your shooting. take a shot and step. What you wind up doing is moving the lens around its nodal point. Closer anyway than standing still. It's improved my panos and I stand by it. With CS3 and 4 I've had to do little to no tinkering. Thanks, that I what I was trying to say but did not express myself very well. Move your feet so you are not swinging the camera in an arc.

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07-13-2010, 05:55 PM	#13
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	You can also use the free software "Microsoft ICE". I've used it a couple of times with good results.

07-13-2010, 05:56 PM	#14
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	..and welcome to the forums edd1388!

07-15-2010, 11:42 AM	#15
anthers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 125	Hugin is another free pano program, a little more powerful than autostitch but it still has a pretty automated UI. I sometimes try to rotate the camera around the nodal point, sometimes not, either way the panos seem to come out just fine. The only time I've found it might matter is if there is a lot of close foreground stuff that goes out of alignment, but I find that hugin will just pick one or the other frame and shift the join line.