VR Panoramas > Taking Photographs

Using a tripod is definitely recommended when you’re shooting photos for a panorama. It is possible without one (see Handheld Photos for details) but makes the task much more difficult. You can also get hold of “Panoramic Heads” - made by companies such as Kaidan – these aid the process. First of all they have markings that indicate how far the camera has turned – with the addition of a “clicking” into place of the rotation, this means an optimal angle for each shot. In addition to the degree markings, these “pano heads” are designed so that the camera rotates around a central axis, as demonstrated by the object movie below. This is because you MUST be able to rotate the camera around the focal point of the lens. This is not necessary for panoramas with no nearby objects in the image, but absolutely indispensible if you're going to make a panorama from an indoor scene, for instance.

<< Click and drag over the image to the left to rotate it.

You will also need a "cradle" on which to mount the camera. It allows you to keep the camera affixed to the bracket in an upright position. Here is an example of how it works:

The cradle keeps the camera completely straight and level on the panohead.