For each panorama, you'll be capturing 4 sets of 3 images = 12 images total. The camera rotates 90° clockwise to the next position, so thinking about a clock, you'll shoot a set at 12 o'clock, at 3 o'clock, at 6 o'clock, and at 9 o'clock.
Panoramic tripod head set up to capture overlapping images with no parallax errors
Fisheye lens height should be between 4 and 5 feet from the ground (1.2 to 1.5 metres)
Level pano head only once, before you capture the first set of images (12 o’clock)
With the camera in C1 mode, the aperture is fixed at F9 and you will dial in the shutter speed only once for the set of 12 shots - don't change it again in between rotations.
Metering - using a fixed Aperture, adjust your shutter speed once per panorama, before you start shooting the 12 o'clock bracket (the first one), based on light conditions
Tip: it’s better to slightly underexpose than overexpose
Maintain the same shutter speed setting across all positions of the 360
Use bracketing to capture 3 exposures (-2, 0, +2 EV) at each of 4 positions (12, 3, 6, 9 o’clock, moving clockwise), you will end up with 12 images for each panorama/node
12 source images is a minimum. If you shoot a 5x3 or 6x3 array, that is acceptable as well.
Meter once - do not adjust the shutter speed between brackets
Moving clockwise, capture each of the 4 positions of the panorama
Maintain the same shutter speed setting across all positions
For photos with people, try to ensure that subjects freeze motion during capture
During post-processing, if any panoramas have excessive motion blurring, these may be best stitched using a set of single exposures.
Avoid placing subjects close to camera, keep 6 to 8 feet away at minimum
Use remote to avoid camera shake
Avoid a full shot of a blank, featureless wall to provide details that will later establish control points for stitching
Watch for reflections of the camera/tripod and yourself (photographer), and avoid reflections whenever possible
Additional Tips
Check to ensure the lens focal range and focus hasn’t changed when moving the camera from scene to scene
Check the lens focus by magnifying the scene on the screen with the lens pointing at something contrasted (like some lettering) in the distance (15 to 20 feet away) and if needed adjust
Ensure the lens is clean of dust or fingerprints before shooting each scene
Exposure settings will need to be adjusted for every scene depending on the lighting conditions (one time for the entire scene)
Track each location captured using the file number (photo 1 of 12) on a notepad as you shoot, and add these into your shot list at the end of each shoot day. This will help to match back the locations and the files later on.
That's it! Happy filming, and get in touch with any questions at support@madewithcircuit.com!
Have you prepared the space before capturing your 360° panorama image? Check out our best practices before you click the shutter button!