Brent wrote:
> On 31 Aug 98, Jack Killpatrick wrote:
>
> > I am wondering if anyone has any experience with them (other
> than the one
> > Brent brought to us). Particularly, I am interested in hearing about the
> > process of taking the picture(s), the equipment needed and the
> process of
> > merging photos and converting to the "required" format. Each
> product site
> > has described the process, but I'm wondering if there are any hidden
> > "details" that they left out. Ideally, the "viewer" I end up
> using will be
> > a java app and require no plugin.
<snip>
> I used a standard 35mm camera with regular film; the only special
> equipment was a calibrated tripod that a photographer friend provided,
> which (a) used a gyroscopic thingy to remain constantly level, and (b)
> was notched such that you could turn the tripod head in precise 20-
> degree increments. Thus, 18 photos X 20 degrees = 360 degrees.
>
> The Quicktime authoring software was fairly easy to use. I had the rolls
> of film I shot developed onto a PhotoCD, and transferred them as
> (I think)
> JPEGs direct into the Mac, where the software did a decent job of auto-
> stiching them together, making aspect corrections, and so on. A couple
> of days work in the end.
>
> Haven't looked at ipix or behere in any detail, but I imagine the
> process is
> similar
I've already nixed Quicktime as a solution. I've examined LivePicture's
PhotoVista, IPIX and BeHere.
PhotoVista works similar to the way you described above, stitching a series
of photos together side by side. You can use any 35mm or digital camera (a
plus). A tripod like the one you describe would be a plus.
BeHere uses a special "dome" lens attachment that allows you to take one (!)
picture to create your panorama. The lens works with Nikon 35mm cameras. I'm
not sure if it works with any digital cameras. Uses standard tripod.
IPIX has a special lens, too, which can only be attached to a few kinds of
digital cameras (Olympus D-340L, Kodak DC200 or Nikon Coolpix 900). Two
pictures are taken, each one represents a "hemisphere" of, for example, the
room you are taking the pictures of. The two hemispheres are stitched
together using software provided by IPIX. A tripod that will allow you to
take one picture, turn the camera exactly 180 degrees and take another is
required (ideally, one that will lock at 180 degrees).
I prefer the IPX and BeHere solutions because they require less photos to be
taken. The resulting images also capture more of the "room", top to bottom.
Ie. when using the viewer you can swing up and see what the ceiling looks
like. For panorama solutions, like LiveVista, you use a "straight" lens,
thus the lens doesn't capture as much "ceiling" and "floor".
If anyone has any experience with BeHere or IPIX, or knows of any competing
(or better) products, please let me know.
TIA,
Jack
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