Questions on P5100 and FC-E8 combination with 360 percision
I like the Combination of the Nikon P5100 and Fc-E8 with a the 360 Precision pano head that goes with it. I am new to the VR Business.
QUESTION 1
Can anyone show me some Virtual tours that were done with this combination. And please let me know what software was used.
QUESTION 2
I find that the pano head from 360 Percision to be Expensive is there any other pano head i can use with the Nikon p5100 and FC-E8 Combination that is a little cheaper and get good full 360 X 360 Tours.
Question 3
Can the P5100 by 360precision actually give me full 360 X 360 Tours.
Thanks in Advance
Re: Questions on P5100 and FC-E8 combination with 360 percision
Thanks doug
I have purchased a P5100/FC-E8 combination. My next step is to get a tripod head. I was thinking about the 360Precision p5100 which is about $500 US. But lately nodel ninja is about to release their NN 180 which has about 2,3 and 4 stops. seems to be good for the price of $190 but it is new so i am a little worried. I trust their reputation so i am going to go along with the (Nodel Ninja) NN 180
Next i also need a software for stitching
PTGUI seem to be the best choice and price for stitching software.
And I am thinking about Tourweaver and Pure Player for creating tours. Which one do you like?
Please advise me about your thoughts of these choices, any advice will be greatly appreciated
Westline10
Re: Questions on P5100 and FC-E8 combination with 360 percision
Westline10
I tested a prototype NN180 with my Coolpix 5400 and 8700 with the FC-E9 lens
The NN180 is a "single point mount", only screwing in to the bottom of the camera.
The 360Precision P5100 is a "two point mount", also screwing in on the bottom of the camera but also having a "cradle" that aims the lens. It's generally the same foolproof design as the old iPIX Rotators that I have.
Single Row Rotators like the NN180 and 360Precision P5100 need to do 4 things besides rotate. Ideally they align (non-adjustable) or maintain alignment (adjustable) of the Pitch, Yaw, Roll and No Parallax Point.
The 360Precision P5100 does all 4 things for the Coolpix P5100. Set the camera down on the rotator, neck of the FC-E8 in the cradle, screw into the bottom of the camera and all 4 are preset. Its foolproof, but more expensive
If you buy the NN180 you'll have to find the NPP position (fore and aft on the Rail) unless they have it for your camera & lens setup like they have the Upper and Lower Rail Positions for various camera & lens combos on their website. The problem is its easy to get the aim or direction of the camera lens out of alignment with the Rail, that's Yaw. The camera & lens can easily be a aimed a little to the left or right of the direction of the rail. That's the problem with the "single point mount"
I'd get the 360Precision P5100
PTGui does a great job stitching 3 fisheyes from my Coolpix 5400/FC-E9, but I've never gotten a stitched image that I would charge for from just 2 fisheyes.
So if you plan to do 3 fisheye captures, PTGui is great. If you plan to do 2 fisheyes like I do, get Autodeak/Realviz Stitcher Unlimited. It does a good job stitching just 2 fisheyes. Not as good as my iPIX Interactive Studio, but IIS is way overpriced unless you already use it like me.
I'm not sure PurePlayer actually makes tours. I think its just a java viewer like the free PTViewer and my iPIX Java Viewer. Tourweaver is s full-fledged virtual tour authoring program, understanding that stitching is a separate funtion.
If you order the 360Precision P5100 I think you choose how many "stops" you want when you order, but its not changeable. Go with 3 to be safe. If you want 2 stops later, see if you can order a 2 stop stem or get a 300N and just put the 360Precision on top of it. It's the original changeable rotator base/stem
Douglas Aurand
Albuquerque, NM
Re: Questions on P5100 and FC-E8 combination with 360 percision
Westline10
1. The P5100/FC-E8 will produce "good" results from 2 fisheyes, better from 3 because the additional ovelap. The P5100/FC-E8 just barely has enough overlap for 2 fisheye stitching. It won't produce the the quality of a dSLR like a Nikon with the Nikkor 10.5mm or a Nikon/Canon with the Sigma 8mm. The lenses are simply much better and the sensors are much larger than the Coolpixes
2. The 360Precision P5100 is the best there is for this combination. You'll stuggle with most other panormanic heads for them.
3. Yes you can produce full 360°x 360° from 2 or 3 shots. The P5100/FC-E8 takes photos that have a Circular Image that hase a Field of View of about 183° (nobody seems to have an exact number). Think of them as 183° "hemispheres". You shoot 2 that are 180° opposite each other and you have just enough overlap to produce a 360°x 360° spherical image.
I've produced hundreds of virtual images from 2 fisheyes shot with a Coolpix 5400 and FC-E9.
Douglas Aurand
Albuquerque, NM