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Got the GigaPan Epic Pro, don't know if I like it. Comments?

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Alex Ethridge

Alex Ethridge

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I posted this in the Accessories Talk forum; but, I'm not getting much feedback so please forgive my double posting.

I ordered the GigaPan Epic Pro from B&H Photo after seeing a few YouTube videos. I've tried it out and am having to return it for gear chatter. I don't know if I want a replacement or refund to get a different panorama bracket.

It works as advertised; but, having no experience with panorama heads and having, therefore, no other experience to compare it to, I'm not sure what to do.

My nature is to compare several options like this before making a decision on what to buy, sort of a 'this vs that vs the other' thing; but, there isn't a store in my city that carries panorama brackets so in this case, the best I can do are YouTube videos. After having hands on the GigaPan in operation, I'm wondering whether I will like it better than a non-robotic type of panorama head.

I would like to hear opinions from other DPR members with appreciable experience in spherical panoramas.

Thanks for reading.
 
I don't have one, but it seems to me that the GigaPan can do things that no manual solution can do: automate the capture process. Also, with their software you can produce images that are simply huge. But my question is this: what do you plan to do with the images? While viewing on screen is possible, but somewhat tedious, printing would pretty much require huge prints to really take advantage of images of that size and resolution. So ask yourself; what's my goal for the final image?
 
dmanthree said:
I don't have one, but it seems to me that the GigaPan can do things that no manual solution can do: automate the capture process. Also, with their software you can produce images that are simply huge. But my question is this: what do you plan to do with the images? While viewing on screen is possible, but somewhat tedious, printing would pretty much require huge prints to really take advantage of images of that size and resolution. So ask yourself; what's my goal for the final image?
Click to expand...
Virtual detailed tours.
 
Alex Ethridge said:
Virtual detailed tours.
Click to expand...
I use the 360P Atome Panaroma Head with a Sigma 10mm Fisheye on a D810.


very simple to use.

PTGui makes a great job of doing 360's and the pro version can do virtual tours I believe.

A friend of mine uses one of their more expensive models and does 360's and tours commercially in a small way.

One of my 360's

www.360cities.net

Inside St Mary's Church. Welwyn. Hertfordshire. UK 360 Panorama | 360Cities

360° panorama photo from England by Peter Budd. This is a 360 Panorama taken inside St Mary's Church . Welwyn . Hertfordshire . UK on the 4th ...
www.360cities.net www.360cities.net
 
dmanthree said:
Nice work, but why the 10mm fisheye? Why not a FF lens, or an ultra wide?
Click to expand...
I don't criticize the work. It is very nice.

What I would like to do is add more detail and zoom-in-ability by using something like a 135- or 150mm on a full-frame (D800e) or a 75mm on the OM-D E-M5 II running in High Resolution mode. It just seems like it would be a fascinating feature for a virtual tour to be able to see that much more detail.

At this point, I haven't done any of it and I applaud the work and the skill to do it.

Here are a couple of examples of what I would like to learn to do:

Virtual tour of a boat.

I like the sound as an added feature in this one.
 
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MJSfoto1956 said:
not mine, but found on the internet:

Automated Pano Heads
Click to expand...
Thanks for those links. It at least broadens one's knowledge of what is available; but, I have to keep this under $1000 so I will try to find independent reviews of the KOLOR Panogear, preferably of the video type.
 
I have one and love it; I use it to make massive indoor murals (often 10-40 feet) that you can walk right up to and see detail. You wrote: "I've tried it out and am having to return it for gear chatter" . Mine is smooth and quiet - I think you just got a defective copy.

Regards,
Mike
 
dmanthree said:
Nice work, but why the 10mm fisheye? Why not a FF lens, or an ultra wide?

--
-------------------------------------------------
---clever tag line---
Click to expand...
My thinking is thus: this is a combination which provides all the resolution he needs for his purpose. and what he pays for in ultimate resolution he more than makes up for in gains in both shooting and processing speed?

--
Ellis Vener
http://www.ellisvener.com
Free your eyes and the rest will follow. (With apologies to George Clinton.)
 
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MJSfoto1956 said:
not mine, but found on the internet:

Automated Pano Heads
Click to expand...
Another one that was recently announced, and it seemed pretty quiet according to the video (the beep to indicate a completed exposure was louder than the motors):

http://www.ioptron.com/product-p/3600.htm
 
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It all seems very US biased
 
MJSfoto1956 said:
not mine, but found on the internet:

Automated Pano Heads
Click to expand...
Kinda disappointed there weren't more choices at $1000 and down. There were no independent video reviews of the KOLOR Panogear so I finally ordered a replacement of the GigaPan Pro from B&H Photo a few minutes ago.

Those Rodeons were very nice and I would sure like to have one; but, for the extra $5000+, there are a lot of other things I would like to have -- like a year's supply of food. :-D
 
just Tony said:
MJSfoto1956 said:
not mine, but found on the internet:

Automated Pano Heads
Click to expand...
Another one that was recently announced, and it seemed pretty quiet according to the video (the beep to indicate a completed exposure was louder than the motors):

http://www.ioptron.com/product-p/3600.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks for that link.

GOT IT!

AND, compared to the GigaPan, it is QUIET!

I returned both GigaPans and ordered the recently released iPano AllView Pro and I am pleased to report it does not suffer from that shrill loud noise characteristic of the GigaPan.

I made recordings of both from identical distances, about 6+ feet, in the same room locating the recording device and the panning devices in the same place for each recording.

GigaPan

iPano
 
Nice! Do you know if there's a UK supplier for the iPANO?
Shipping from the US is a HUGE $131 !!! How do they justify that??

--
Flickr gallery - http://flickr.com/horrgakx/sets
 
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Horrgakx said:
Nice! Do you know if there's a UK supplier for the iPANO?
Shipping from the US is a HUGE $131 !!! How do they justify that?
Click to expand...
Sorry, I don't know about UK land. I do know it is a new release, so new that they haven't even published a comprehensive manual yet, just a quick start guide. But, so far, what little I have discovered in the half-hour of tinkering seems fairly intuitive.

How do they justify that? Because it fits into their bank account nicely.

Good Luck!
 
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