Pro Tips for Getting More Out of Your Panoramic Lenses
11/26/2017
Curators’ Corner
To capture panoramic photos with the most depth and vision, you have to choose the right lens. Keep your options open, because there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to panoramic photography. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Avoid Distortion
Choosing 35 mm or 50 mm lens may not be the first idea that pops into your mind, but they can work very well if you’re aiming for sharp images – especially if you’re stitching images together. The results will be that much tighter than if you were to pick a 28 or 24 mm lens.
Wide Angle Isn’t Always Best
Even a telescopic lens may be better than a wide lens, but that largely depends on the distance between you and the subject you’re shooting. By choosing a wide lens, you will not be as likely to capture intricate details in your panoramic photos.
Prime Lenses Are Superior To Zooms
When you go with a prime lens, you’re using a lens with one focus length, which is actually preferable when it comes to shooting panoramic photos. The nodal point, otherwise referred to as the entrance point of a lens, is much better in prime lenses. They’re shorter and they won’t move as much, allowing you to prevent parallax errors.
Focus On The Overlap
The correct overlap depends on which lens you’ve chosen to work with. If you’re dealing with 50mm or longer, a 25% overlap is preferable. If you’re dealing with a lens with a shorter focal length of less than 50mm, you should generally aim for a 50% overlap. Whatever you do, don’t choose automatic settings.
Follow the above tips, and you’ll spend less time getting frustrated in the editing process and more time enjoying the results of your labor!