Topic: Panoramic image with Mamiya ZD (Read 5925 times)

MichaelEzra · « **on:** June 13, 2007, 10:52:41 am »

I just came back from a trip to Rocky Mountains National park where I had the opportunity to fully try Mamiya ZD camera while shooting multi-image panoramas. I am entirely pleased with the camera. the mirror lockup button is invaluable! the dynamic range easily handles exteme brighness of the sky and dark shades of the forest. The buffer did NOT slow me down on shooting 15-20-image panorama when only RAW files are saved on the card. When RAW and JPG are both saved, buffer limit may be hit. Lens performance: I have used 80mm and 150mm lenses. Both are very sharp. I have not seen any flare when shooting directly into the sun and ZD-s dynamic range is increadible in this situation.

Below is the 3-image panorama (48 Megapixels) stitched with Autopano pro. RAW files developed in SilkyPix 3.0.

mtomalty · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2007, 11:27:51 am »

Hi Michael

Nice dramatic image.

Do you have a link to a larger version(or larger crop) of this image.It's pretty difficult to
appreciate,and evaluate, the detail at this size.

Also,in the course of your trip did you have the opportunity to shoot at exposure times
that exceeded 10-15 seconds?

If so,what are your impressions?

Mark

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2007, 11:39:34 am »

Hi Mark,

I will post a 100% crop later today.
Did not have a chance to use long exposures with ZD yet.

LA30 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2007, 03:27:16 pm »

Quote

Hi Mark,

I will post a 100% crop later today.
Did not have a chance to use long exposures with ZD yet.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122618\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Can you please post a link on how or where you got the stuff for the panorama. Is it mechanical or or did you just shoot 10 photos and run them through software? I am on a mac. What lens did you use for the ZD?

Thanks!

Ken

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2007, 03:56:53 pm »

For shooting panorama I used a spherical bracket made by Kaidan (Kaidan.com).
Yet, I would consider another bracket by Really Right Stuff, although it is x2 more money, because with Kaidan's you can never really 1)level the bracket and 2) you cannot lock the horisontal rotator.
As far as stitching application I use Autopano Pro (www.autopano.net)
They do have versions for windows, Mac and Linux.
The new significant update should be available soon.
Autopano team has excellent forums with a responsive development team.

Mamiya ZD lenses I used were 80mm and 150mm, both very sharp.

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2007, 10:15:03 pm »

Quote

Hi Michael

Nice dramatic image.

Do you have a link to a larger version(or larger crop) of this image.It's pretty difficult to
appreciate,and evaluate, the detail at this size.

Also,in the course of your trip did you have the opportunity to shoot at exposure times
that exceeded 10-15 seconds?

If so,what are your impressions?

Mark
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122613\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Here is a 100% crop

mtomalty · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2007, 11:13:08 pm »

Thanks for providing the crop, Michael.

Mark

LA30 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 13, 2007, 11:34:14 pm »

Dear Michael.

I have a few more questions...Sorry.

I have a Hasselblad H2 and a P30 back, the back has a 1.3 crop. I will be in Iceland next month and I wanted to shoot some landscapes among other things...I looked at the above links. Why not use Photoshop CS3 for stitching the photos? I don't doubt you I am just asking what the other program has over Photoshop, I have never heard of the other program. Also as far as adapters for tripods I see that the really right stuff has a sliding base.....I will be renting a 35mm 645 lens after the P30 crop it is a 28.6mm lens in a 35mm format. I would rather it be a 20mm or a 24mm...So I am wondering how to set up the camera. I don't have an L bracket for the camera so I will have to shoot it in the horizontal format I think?? I have a markins M20 ball head on a gitzo carbon 6x tripod. Where should I go from here?

Thanks!

Ken

mtomalty · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2007, 02:02:09 am »

Ken

Why don't you try out the stitching in CS3 with your back and see if their are limitations.

I've never been a 'stitcher' to date but I've run over 50 (2-9 images with 1Ds and Phase P45+)
since getting the CS3 update and am nothing short of blown away at the results.

I've shot all landscape images and have stitched waterfalls and windblown clouds,among
other things,and can find no detectable seams.

The only composite image where there was a telltale issue was an evening city skyline (exposures
around 15 seconds each) where there was a bit of wind and a high altitude jet contrail.
In this particular case the contrail had physically moved too far between subsequent 15 second
exposures and the resulting stitch had a misalignment on the contrail.

I also took no special precautions in camera setup on the tripod other than to ensure a
generous (+/- 30%) overlap.

Technical architectural images with content close to and far from the lens may require
more care but for most scenic applications I don't see that you will run into problems
stitching with CS3 and your P30

Mark

BernardLanguillier · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2007, 02:20:32 am »

There have been other threads here about pano software.

The general conclusion is that Autopano pro and ptgui come out ahead of cs3, but that cs3 is much improved compared to cs2.

Regards,
Bernard

LA30 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2007, 09:50:46 am »

Folks,

The other day I shot hand held 3 shots in a row and then I tried 9 shots 3 frames for the sky, 3 frames for the middle and 3 frames for the ground. It didn't really look that great in CS3. Then I came across this thread and I learned about the lens Nodal point (ooops). I was shooting outside of my house, not a mountain 10 miles away.... I am thinking of going with a simple RRS setup I will get better results. I was thinking of getting the RRS L Bracket for my Hassie H2 ($183usd) so I can shoot vertically and the Pano Elements Package for ($360) That seems like a lot of money..... I will put in a call to them today to discuss options for me. It seems like I can only do 1 row not up and down to get sky, middle and ground. I will surely post some pics next month with what I come up with.

Thanks,

Ken

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2007, 11:12:01 am »

Ken,

You can also consider a full spherical bracket from RRS (and without the L-bracket). This way you will be shooting vertical frames (this way a single row panorama will be higher resolution) and also could do multy-row panoramas if necessary.

LA30 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 14, 2007, 12:46:27 pm »

........full spherical bracket from RRS.

You mean this?

Ultimate-Pro Omni-Pivot Package for 795.00???

Thanks,

Ken

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2007, 02:12:54 pm »

yes:)) only if you are serious about multi image panos;)
A cheaper solution is Kaidan's existing spherical bracket IV ~$400
they are coming out with a new one for $600 if you pay now in advance...

Quote

........full spherical bracket from RRS.

You mean this?

Ultimate-Pro Omni-Pivot Package for 795.00???

Thanks,

Ken
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=122817\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Author Topic: Panoramic image with Mamiya ZD (Read 5925 times)