Andrew,
good question, but I can almost guess the answer! :-)

though maybe there is something I don;t know, so someone please enlighten me

Henrik

machart wrote:

hi, mediavets! good question! but as i understood, this lens is optimised for aps-c... (and not working for full frame) then it would make sense...(?)

Look at the pano max. res. numbers in this table - then ask yourself whether you still want to use a 4.5mm FE on a D300:
http://www.360precision.com/360/index.c … nsinfolist

Last edited by mediavets (2009-06-15 12:55:35)

machart wrote:

hey, thats really satisfying information... thanks alot!
btw: you have the nikkor 10.5 mm AND the sigma 8 mm... are you able to show your experiences? i think, i like more have a circular lens - but which one is better for panorama ?

For me it is all about the number of images required to cover 360x180 vs. desired resolution and image quality.

My initial goal was to spend as little as possible on a DSLR-based system to be able to shoot 360x180 panos of sufficient resolution and image quality to permit fullscreen display on-line - the experts seem to agree that the min. res. for this is about 6000x3000 pixels.

To that end I bought a used Nikon D40, a used Nikkor 10.5mm FE and a Nodal Ninja 5L pano head (a NN3 would have been good enough but I wanted more 'room for growth'). 8 shots (6-around+Z+N) produces a 360x180 pano of about 8000x4000 pixels.

Later I bought a used Sigma 8mm FE which produces a 360x180 pano of about 6000x3000 pixels from 5 shots (4-around+N), the fewer number of shots can make it a bit easier to shoot panos where there is more movement in the scene, but I'm still not competent at shooting such scenes.

The Sigma 4.5mm FE, which produces a full circular image on a cropped sensor, would require 4 shots to cover 360x180 (3-around+N) but the pano would have much less resolution. At best the smaller dimension of a 2:1 equirectangular image with 360x180 coverage can only have the same vertical resolution as the smaller dimension of the camera sensor - which would mean a pano of less than 4000x2000 pixels with my 6MP D40. Not enough for my needs.

Hence I can never understand the attraction of the Sigma 4.5mm FE (or the somewhat similar Sunex FE). For the sake on just one more shot the Sigma 8mm FE will produce a pano of significantly greater resolution. If you seldom shoot panos with lots of movement in the scene then the Nikkor 10.5mm FE will provide the max. resolution (providing more 'headroom' for post processing) and very good image quality.
.........

There is no single camera/lens/head setup that will be 'best' for every type of pano photography.

Last edited by mediavets (2009-06-16 20:32:21)

Andrew,
thanks for the well reasoned answer. What lens do you end up grabbing first from your bag when shooting 360x180?

hi,
thanks again, mediavets!
i got my nikkor 10.5 today and i am very happy with the results...