Help with panorama problems

In my experience the A77 camera takes all its exposure decisions in the first shot. I use the EVF to practice the sweep and look for pint of the shot I want my exposure and/or focus to concentrate on. I then lock the AEL and half depress the focus to lock the focus , then return to where I want the shot to start from.

I usually choose a few different spots to lock the AEL, to give me different options to work with, particularly for interiors.