how do you take panarama photos with the fz30

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corks - 16 Dec 2005 07:53 GMT

doest seem to be a dedicated panorama feature/function , like im admittedly
use to ???

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David J Taylor - 16 Dec 2005 09:14 GMT

> doest seem to be a dedicated panorama feature/function , like im
> admittedly use to ???

Well, I have the FZ5 and other cameras, but I've never used a dedicated
panorama feature. I'm usually taking 3 - 7 picture panos, so I expose and
take the central image, then expose on the centre but position for the
right image, expose on the centre and take the 2nd right image etc. I
suppose using the manual exposure setting might be easier. For joining
images, I most often use AutoStitch:

http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html

David

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Don Wiss - 16 Dec 2005 11:57 GMT

david-taylor@blueyonder.co.not-this-bit.nor-this-part.uk.invalid wrote:

>Well, I have the FZ5 and other cameras, but I've never used a dedicated
>panorama feature.

Your 8400 has one in the scenes mode.

> I'm usually taking 3 - 7 picture panos, so I expose and
>take the central image, then expose on the centre but position for the
>right image, expose on the centre and take the 2nd right image etc. I
>suppose using the manual exposure setting might be easier.

Much easier to turn on exposure lock before taking the first picture. Then
all will be the same. Then you have to remember to turn it off.

With a panorama mode, like in the 8400, turning on and off the mode turns
on and off the exposure lock. And panorama mode also will show you a ghost
image of the prior shot shifted, to help you line up your next picture with
just the needed overlap. Then on the 8400 if you go into pano mode twice,
it switches direction to showing your ghost images in the vertical
direction.

Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

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Daniel Silevitch - 16 Dec 2005 12:25 GMT

> david-taylor@blueyonder.co.not-this-bit.nor-this-part.uk.invalid wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Much easier to turn on exposure lock before taking the first picture. Then
> all will be the same. Then you have to remember to turn it off.

Where is exposure lock on the FZ5? I looked through my manual and didn't
see it.

My general practice with panos is to go into manual mode, pick an
aperture (usually wide open or stopped down slightly to f/4), and adjust
shutter until the histogram looks reasonable.

-dms

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David J Taylor - 16 Dec 2005 15:25 GMT

[]

>> Much easier to turn on exposure lock before taking the first
>> picture. Then all will be the same. Then you have to remember to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> -dms

Don was referring to the Nikon 8400 which I also own. On the Panasonic
FZ5, you can either hold the shutter half-pressed, or use the manual
exposure technique you mentioned.

David

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Daniel Silevitch - 16 Dec 2005 16:05 GMT

> []
>>> Much easier to turn on exposure lock before taking the first
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> FZ5, you can either hold the shutter half-pressed, or use the manual
> exposure technique you mentioned.

Got it, thanks. I think I remember reading somewhere that the FZ30 has
an AE lock button, and I must have mapped that onto the FZ5.

I should note that for simple panoramas, the software that comes with
the FZ5 (and other FZs), PanoramaMaker, does a reasonable job, and can
even do OK when you forget to lock the exposure.
This shot:
http://ri22.uchicago.edu/~dmsilev/Millenium_Park/Millenium_Park-Pages/Image12.html
was stitched together from 3 individual photos, and since I forgot to
take the camera out of auto mode, all the exposures were different.

-dms

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Charles Schuler - 16 Dec 2005 23:12 GMT

Nice work David!

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David J Taylor - 16 Dec 2005 15:16 GMT

> david-taylor@blueyonder.co.not-this-bit.nor-this-part.uk.invalid
> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Don <www.donwiss.com> (e-mail link at home page bottom).

Don,

Many thanks for that - yes, I know the camera has pano modes but, to my
shame, I've never used them. Perhaps not a challenge for over Christmas,
but something I must learn!

Cheers,
David

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Nig - 07 Feb 2006 04:48 GMT

In article
<43a2724a$0$1369$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au>,

> doest seem to be a dedicated panorama feature/function , like im admittedly
> use to ???

I find using a tripod is advised.

Make sure each successive image overlaps the previous by about half.

Set the Exposure Sensor to wide so a light or dark patch doesn't put one
frame out of sync.

I suspect that the Exposure Lock (to right of Viewfinder) risks over or
under exposing especially as you toward or away from the sun.

I've had good results with Canon's PhotoStitch software. I have
downloaded it from Canon in the past, because the current version I have
is later than the version that was bundled with my previous S1IS camera,
but for the life of me I can't find anything now. You may have to call
Canon and ask for a 'replacement' copy. Or updated version from the v3.1
that came with your camera (if you get my drift)

Keep the zoom at 50mm or bigger, wide angle makes it more difficult to
merge.

Signature

Nigel
(I came into this world with nothing and still have most of it left)

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David J Taylor - 07 Feb 2006 08:09 GMT

[]

> I've had good results with Canon's PhotoStitch software. I have
> downloaded it from Canon in the past, because the current version I
> have is later than the version that was bundled with my previous S1IS
> camera, but for the life of me I can't find anything now. You may
> have to call Canon and ask for a 'replacement' copy. Or updated
> version from the v3.1 that came with your camera (if you get my drift)

[]

You could also try the free AutoStitch software:

http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html

David

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