Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
Hi everyone, my first post. I have just discovered panoramic photography, so please forgive my ignorence.I am not a photographer and do not know that much about computers, so the keyword here when answering is SIMPLE.I am trying to create a virtual tour of my home town using tchsoft panoramaStudio viewer. For a first attempt I am quite pleased with it. Only then I read the topic about "Just say no to Fisheye". Clicked the link to www.dmcdigitalmedia.com/hostvt/sample/index.htm , watched the Quicktime 360x180 in Fullscreen,of "Chumley's bar", and my heart sank.This is now my goal.I dread to think how much it cost to make,unfortunately as this is more of a hobby than a business I go weak at the knees looking at the price of Fish eye lenses. So can I use a normal lens and PTgui to stitch several rows of images above each other to give me the 180 option? or does anyone have a better sugestion especially if that software could give me the ability to include Hotspots. Thank you in advance. arbie
Re: Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
Hi Arbie,
Welcome ! That is my Pano you viewed, first question.....why did your heart sink ? lol
People tend to throw around the term fish eye so I need to ask....why do you need an alternative ? is it a matter of the lens cost ?
That pano was shot with Nikon D200, Nikkor 10.5 fisheye lens and required 8 Shots (6 Around, 1 up and 1down..actually I substituted my logo for the down shot)
It could have been shot with almost any digital camera, it could require fewer or Many, many more shots depending on the lens used and no they dont need to be "fish eye lenses"
Immervision has a free player that has the ability to use hotspots and do all kinds of cool stuff ...that is what the Java sample on the link you referenced is using. It has no hotspots because that "Tour" was just to illustrate the difference in Java/Flash/Quicktime for the sake of the Thread i was responding to.
Dennis M. Carbo
Re: Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
Arbie,
Welcome to the IVRPA.
I am a photographer and not a programmer - I am very happy with my Cubic Converter and Quicktime. However, I bought the Immervision player and, since then, have not been able to figure out hotspots or anything! Although Immervision is a fantastic product, I am simply too old and stupid to understand it. If you get anywhere, maybe we should link up and you could teach me!?
All the very best and I'm sure you'll soon be making panos like Dennis ...
Regards,
Stuart
Re: Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
Hey Stuart,
Bein a little hard on yourself no ? lol.....If I can help with your immervision frustration let me know...It took me a while to figure it out as well.
I actually dont usually even use the hotspots !
Dennis M. Carbo
Re: Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
Denis,
I won't take up space on this particular "fisheye lens" topic, suffice to say that I'll get i touch with you via your website.
Thanks for the offer!
Stuart
Re: Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
Firstly thank you all for your warm welcome and really helpful advice.
Ian. EXCELLENT choice of subject the good old UK. What no Panoramas of the Midlands? You must try and venture in there, it's not all heavy industry we have some beautiful countryside AND fresh air now. Stay clear of Wolverhampton though ,there is a new kid on the block trying his hand at Panos there.
Dennis. I am sure you realised what I meant, comparing your work to mine made me see how much I had to learn.Hope I have not scarred you for life.
Yes it is purely the cost, as my skills improve I know I will buy everything on my wishlist
Stuart. Much too hard on yourself, they are immpressive Panos,I hope one day I can afford a plane like yours.This age thing, I am a very immature 52, I think in computer terms that is about 150 years old.As for stupid I took a scarf back to the store because it was too tight.
arbie
Re: Fisheye lens, is there an alternative?
You certainly can do full spherical panoramas without a fisheye lens, you just need more and more shots the longer the focal length.
For adding hotspots you're best bet is to use a separate piece of software from the stitching software, such as Pano2VR (Windows or Mac) or CubicConnector (Mac).
Ian Wood
Landmarks of Britain
Azurevision