Lens field of view table?

[pjbw]

I want to start taking panoramas.
I have a tripod mount graduated in 15 degree steps. My lens has focal lengths 16 to 80mm (24 to 120mm equiv.)
Is there a table somewhere on the web which shows how many degrees I should rotate the camera between shots to give different amounts of overlap for a given focal length ?

[Polar01]

Peter easy way, look through view finder, see the grid lines in the view finder. Position camera for 1st shot, see where the right side grid line is, mow move the left hand grid line to where the right one was. Do this until finished. Second method, better tripods have the degrees marked off in steps of 2.5 degrees, setup for 1st shoot as before. Now before moving camera see what the number of degrees is now move camera is in first method. Now see how many degrees what was, take 2nd shot, now move camera that same number of degrees as the first move repeat until finished.
I guess that one could make up a chart of the number of degrees needed at each focal length for their lens if one had nothing better to do with one's time. You would have to commit to memory or print out, what would happen if you lost the print out or forgot the settings. You would be back to method one, best one, by the time spend getting your chart out and looking at it, I would have finished taking my shots.
If you really get into panoramas then you will need a complete different kit to do it right. I do shot a lot of them myself, but for now I suggest just shoot them method one do not worry about charts with number of degrees of movement. I will add a link to a company that provides some very useful panorama info, they also make a lot of equipment for shooting them, and other photography equipment.

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/s.nl...egory.17072/.f

Other companies make equipment also, I find their info very good and their service excellent. For more info got to the pull down "Be an expert" see guides.

Cheers: Allan

[Tringa]

I use the method outlined by Allan, with a little variation.

I tend to overlap the shots by anything up to a third to make sure I don't go a bit too far and miss part of the scene.

Dave

[Manfred M]

Like Allan and Dave, I do mine visually as well, trying for about 10% - 20% overlap on each edge of the frame. It's really not that complicated. The only other point I will make is that I virtually always shoot these in portrait format.

While Allan users RRS gear, I use Kirk (both my "L" bracket and nodal plate come from them).

[dje]

Hi Peter

This field of view calculator may help but as the others have said, it's not really critical and just making sure you have some overlap is the main thing. The panoramic stitching software looks after the rest.

Dave

[pjbw]

Thank you Allan, Dave(s), Manfred,
What have I let myself in for!
Before I get myself into nodal points and such I will try the grid line approach.
My Sony A77 has the option of displaying a 6 x 4 grid in the viewers which might be easier for horizontal panoramas.
Dave Ellis, I have printed off the Field of View table assuming that its Nikon D7000 angles will match the A77 since they both have the same size sensor,
Peter.
Peter