Wizard step 3/9 – Describe your camera
The third step of the Wizard helps you describe the camera you used to make the images. The Panorama Factory requires a description of your camera to correctly merge the images. The Panorama Factory skips this step for document stitching.
NOTE: The Panorama Factory’s focal length detection is normally very accurate. We strongly recommend that you select Automatically detect focal length and Correct barrel distortion, especially if using the Fully automatic or Semi-automatic stitching method.
Camera
type
Start by selecting the type of camera you used from the drop down list:
35mm — Select this option if you used a 35mm camera and scanned negatives, transparencies or prints.
APS film scan — Select this option if you used an APS camera and scanned full frame negatives or transparencies.
APS hdtv print — Select this option if you used an APS camera and scanned HDTV format prints (APS H).
APS classic print — Select this option if you used an APS camera and scanned Classic format prints (APS C).
APS panoramic print — Select this option if you used an APS camera and scanned Panoramic format prints (APS P).
Digital camera — Select this option if you used a point-and-shoot digital camera.
Digital SLR — Select this option if you used a digital camera with interchangeable lenses.
Other digital camera -- using 35mm equivalent — Select this option if you used a digital camera that is not in the camera library and you know (or can guess) the 35mm equivalent focal length. If you are unfamiliar with the term “35mm equivalent focal length,” please read “What is ‘35mm equivalent focal length?’” at www.panoramafactory.com/equiv35/equiv35.html.
Other digital camera -- using focal length multiplier — Select this option if you used a digital SLR that is not in the camera library and you know the focal length multiplier for your camera. The focal length multiplier is a number that relates the focal length of the lens to its 35mm equivalent.
Other digital camera -- using sensor dimensions — Select this option if you used a digital SLR that is not in the camera library and you know the dimensions of the imaging sensor (CCD or CMOS array).
Swing lens or rotational camera — Select this option if you used a swing lens or rotational panoramic camera.
Other film size — Select this option if you used some other type of camera (e.g. medium format).
Other information depends on the type of camera:
Make
and Model
If you selected Digital
camera or Digital
SLR choose your camera's Make (manufacturer) and Model
from the drop down lists.
If your digital camera is not available, you should choose one of the following camera types instead:
Other digital camera -- using 35mm equivalent
Other digital camera -- using focal length multiplier
Other digital camera -- using sensor dimensions
Film
dimensions
If you selected Other film size enter the
width and height of the film image in millimeters.
If you selected Other digital camera -- using sensor dimensions enter the dimensions of the imaging sensor (CCD or CMOS array).
For 35mm and APS cameras, the width and height of the film image is displayed for your information.
The film dimensions controls are not needed for other types of cameras.
Focal
length multiplier
If you selected Other
digital camera -- using focal length multiplier, enter your
camera’s focal length multiplier value. This is a multiplying factor that
relates your camera’s true focal length to its 35mm equivalent value. The
focal length multiplier should be printed in the owner’s manual for your
camera.
Horizontal
field of view (degrees)
If you selected Swing lens or rotational
camera, enter the angular width of your images in degrees. This
value is required to compute the field of view of the completed panorama. It
is important to enter an accurate value if you intend to export your images to
a VR format or if you wish to use the Perspective projection option.
Document
stitching
You should select this checkbox if you are using the Swing
lens or rotational camera option to stitch scanned documents as
described in some of The Panorama Factory Forum and FAQ articles. Selecting Document
stitching together with Swing lens or rotational camera disables
image warping and enables you to stitch your documents without entering a value
for the field of view.
Automatically
detect focal length
Select this checkbox to request The Panorama Factory to determine
the focal length automatically.
Focal
length
Enter the focal length of the lens in millimeters.
If you selected an APS camera, enter the actual focal length. DO NOT enter the 35mm equivalent focal length.
If you selected Digital SLR, Other digital camera -- using focal length multiplier or Other digital camera -- using sensor dimensions, enter the actual focal length. DO NOT enter the 35mm equivalent focal length.
If you selected Digital camera or Other digital camera -- using 35mm equivalent, enter the 35mm equivalent focal length focal length.
You don't need to specify the focal length for swing lens or rotational cameras.
If you are unfamiliar with the term “35mm equivalent focal length” please read “What is ‘35mm equivalent focal length?’” at www.panoramafactory.com/equiv35/equiv35.html.
If you do not know the focal length, don’t worry. Just select Automatically detect focal length and The Panorama Factory will try to determine the focal length for you.
I guessed the focal length — The Panorama Factory will try focal lengths from 50% less than the number you entered to 50% more.
I am pretty sure of the focal length — The Panorama Factory will try focal lengths from 10% less than the number you entered to 10% more.
I am certain of the focal length — The Panorama Factory will use the focal length value you entered without trying to refine its value.
Please read “Adjusting focal length and barrel correction” in Chapter 6, “Correcting stitching problems” for more information about manually adjusting the focal length after stitching.
There is a wide variation in how
digital camera manufacturers determine their 35mm equivalent focal length.
For conventional cameras, there is a wide variation in the effects produced by
scanning and printing methods. Finally, focal length specifications are
usually only an approximation to the true focal length value. For these
reasons, it is a good idea to use focal length refinement the first time you
stitch a panorama with a particular camera, lens and imaging setup even if you
are confident that you know the focal length specification.
Wide
angle or tele converter:
Select this checkbox if you added a wide angle converter or
telephoto converter to the standard lens used on your camera. Enter the
converter’s magnification factor into the entry field.
Wide angle converters have a magnification factor that is less than 1. Telephoto converters have a magnification factor that is greater than 1. The Panorama factory will adjust for the magnification factor when it refines the focal length value.
Correct
barrel distortion
If your camera and lens combination exhibit barrel (or
pincushion) distortion, you can select this checkbox to request that The
Panorama Factory try to automatically correct it.
See “Adjusting focal length and barrel correction” in Chapter 6, “Correcting stitching problems” for more information about manually adjusting the barrel correction after stitching.
NOTE: Correcting barrel distortion will increase the time required to compute your panorama.
Correct
brightness falloff
If your camera and lens combination exhibit brightness falloff in
the corners you can select this checkbox to request that The Panorama Factory
try to automatically correct it.
See “Adjusting exposure matching and brightness falloff” in Chapter 6, “Correcting stitching problems” for more information about manually adjusting the barrel correction after stitching.
NOTE: Correcting brightness falloff will increase the time required to compute your panorama.
When you are satisfied with your settings, press the Next> button to advance to the next step of the Wizard.