monochrome Digital

Professional DSLR dont have a monochrome (or any other special effect) mode. If you convert you really want to do that in PS with the maximum of control and flexibility. The monochrome mode you find in consumer camera is pure crap and you use it one time only (after buying the camera and playing with all menus!).
But the LX3 is the first camera that changed my opeinion about this. The (dynamic) bw mode is really coming close to "real" bw and its fun to use it. The below samples are all shot in ISO100, 16:9, JPG fine and dynamic bw mode.

Hacking your camera: Remote Trigger

I am still working on my panorama-rig with 10 cameras. To be frank, all the equipment is still sitting in the drawer collecting box with 1 opened camera and a soldering iron beside it.
Anyway, I found some "free" info on creating a remote trigger:
Wiley is publishing a book "Hacking Digital Cameras" (link). Check out the free pdf prevew chapter, it contains exactly what we are looking for !

Canon Camera Hack

I came across some websites with in-detail information about hacking Canon cameras. Not all, but some models allow changing the firmware in a temporary fashion, means it is non-destructive and reversible. Some pretty cool new functions you get out of an el-cheapo consumer cam. RAW, timelapse, scripting, to name a few.
Unfortunately I dont have one of the supported cameras and I fear if I buy one, it wont support because of a different firmware version.
Why is it interesting for us ? Because we can turn a camera with full-auto only into a manual camera ! (please note I am not 100% sure about this)

Links:
Lifehacker.com (link)
CHDK Wiki (link)

Closing Remark: This "hacking" function seems to be a support function backdoor that found its way into public. X-Files: Maybe it was leaked intentionally to make the camera more hip to the tech geeks ?

New Stitching application

During the last few years a couple of image stitching applications appeared on the scene and most of them matured well, means upgrades with faster performance, more functionality, better results and so on. Just to name a few (at leats these ones I ever used):

Panorama Factory (link)
Autopano Pro (link)
PTGui (link)
Hugin (link)

Today I prefer to work with PTGui with a truckload of manual functionality, as well superb results in auto-mode.

Btw, the Gigapan system is "shipped" with a stitcher as well. (link)

Microsoft Research just launched another new stitcher (ICE, Image Composite Editor) in the neighborhood of Deepzoom Composer and co. I just gave it a try and the results are pretty good. I will continue to test.

Some more info (link)
Download (link)

Update In-Camera-Stitch Cameras

Just stumpled upon two brands who are offering consumer cameras with (in camera) panorama-mode. Even starting at 35mm is not that exciting like the 24mm of the Kodak, but still worth looking at:
- Praktica luxmedia 8403 (link)
- Rollei XS-8 (link)

GIGAPAN Tips and Tricks (Part 1)

• Check if the camera fits into the GIGAPAN camera bracket, the Panasonic LX3 almost doesnt fit. Check the list of tested cameras here (link)
  
• Use a camera that allows manual override, at least with a exposure lock, otherwise dont waste your time. Results are disappointing (due to the camera producing different exposed pictures, not the fault of the gigapan system).
• You might want to look out for a camera that supports RAW to get some extra control on color, exposure and detail(?).
  
• Best result with these camera settings: manual exposure, manual or fix whitebalance (aka sun, cloud,..), fix focus.
  
• Dont use digital zoom ! It is not going to increase the resolution ! Switch it off.
• The more overlap you have between the images, the higher the chance you can patchwork (in PS or GIMP) some of the moving and most probably half objects.

First GIGAPAN

Finally I get my hands dirty with the GIGAPAN head. I brought it from Singapore (after it was shipped from US) back to Germany to spend some time experimenting with it. I share some first hands-on experience with it. Ultimately I will compare the GIGAPAN setup with stitched images from 1Ds and Mamyia ZD and a spherical scanner (even complete different league of equipment!). I will look into usability in the field.

Technical Data:
- Camera New Panasonic LX3 (10 MP, jpeg high). Manual settings, fix white balance. Manual focus.
- 25 images in 3 rows and 5 columns
- Setup and shooting in less than 5min. Finding a spot 30min.
- Stitched with Gigapan Stitcher 12.619 x 4.687 pixel (59.1MP) in roughly 10min.
- Photoshop to crop and slight curve adjustments.

Conclusion:
- The setup of the head is fast. The one-time (per camera) setup you better do at home and get comfortable with the settings of both camera and GIGAPAN
head.
- The total shooting time depends on the camera, (How fast can it store the image data ? Does it run out of buffer after 10 or so shots ?), the size of FOV and the area you want to cover. The more you can zoom in (with the lens), the smaller the FOV the more pictures you have to take.
You should experiment with the settings, especially with the break in seconds between the shots before you go out and start shooting.
I tried with the (slower) BenQ camera and the GIGAPAN head was triggering faster than the camera can digest, ending up single shots got lost.

Options:
- Shooting in RAW, would give a bit more control later on color temperature, maybe a slightly (?) higher level of detail. But most cameras cannot shoot continously in RAW without the need to clear the buffer to the memory after a number of shots (the same time you cant do anything but wait). Note there is no "data" connection between head and camera. The head does nothing but moving the camera and triggering mechanically.
- Stitch with PTGUI to achieve more flexibility, eg. stitch to PSD format with individual layers, provided you have enough memory and CPU power.
I will upload the result in original size to gigapan.org once I am back to my office with fast broadband connection. So this is a downsized preview only.
I will add more test results and feedback as I proceed testing. Stay tuned.

Gigapan out of the box

In less than a week after ordering my beta-tester set of the Charmed Labs (link) Gigapan head arrived. Under the Gigpan-Systems (link) label they started the production of this automatic panohead for consumer sized cameras. The results are currently on an own website (link).

My first impression:
smaller and lighter than expected
no prototype look-and-feel
easy to setup and use,
fun,looking forward to experiment with it

I will use it with a Panasonic LX3.
You need to wait for my first results and in-deep test, since I am just packing for Germany for 3 weeks.

The picture show the unpacking ceremony and the test setup with el-cheapo Benq cam.

New Panorama Engine on the way

For quite some time panorama photographers already working on multirow panoramas with highres equipment and/or large computing setups to process the huge amount of images/data (check out the Harlem 13 Gigapixel Panorama at link). If you do a manual multirow you are challenged, if your go for more than 3 rows because I find it not easy to manually adjust the (panoramic) head accordingly. There are a number of automated solutions out there, most of them in beta state or homebrew stuff. If you followed the Gigapan (link) project you saw their prototype more than one year ago. Finally they ship the first batch of panoheads. Since I am registred as beta user, I ordered (its not free) my tripod head today. Looking forward to work with it. I will keep you updated.

Time for Worldwide Panorama again

The next event "COLOR" is about to start next week from 18. to 23. September 2008 during the upcoming equinox. Exactly at that time I will be back home in Germany for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to do my first "home" contribution after 7 contributions made somewhere in AsiaPac. Still need to work on this topic. (link)

Kandooma Getaway day 3

This island is 35 hectares! After 20min you return to the same spot going along the beach. The island a bit deserted in a off-peak period with 30 people around. On the third day I start feeling like the chap in the Castaway movie ! Wonder how you feel without the luxurious stuff around you.

Kandooma paranormal

Awesome ! A last minute trip to Maldives, only planned 2 days in advance while getting some extra good price. I didnt expect this level of comfort with plamsa tv, ocean view (actually in the ocean), wireless and Ipod docking station. So this is "live" panorama. I brought the snapsnap V705 and the 1Ds, so some decent panos are in the pipeline. Here some stitch-on-the-spot with Kodak V705.
Incase you want to drop by: www.kandooma-maldives.com

Gigapan Marina Keppelbay

A recent short fieldtrip brought me to Labrador Nature Reserve Park. A handheld shot showing Marina Keppelbay, Reflections at Keppelbay, Sentosa Gateway and more.
Canon 1Ds with 24-105 L IS @ 105, 25 images
125MPixel, 32.500 x 3.800 pixel

Singapore greens spots disappearing

More and more green spots, or little areas of grass in midst of the city, that provide some air and space to breathe, are disappearing. The city, in an attempt to become the ultimate metropole, is busy filling up all these "gaps" with concrete, steel and glass shopping-centre cum condo to compete with Hong Kong. Specifically I liked this green area around Rochor Road, in front of Parkview Square (wikipedia link). It was unchanged since I came to Singapore in 2002, but now finally URA decided to cash in this prime area.

Singapore Graffity is alive

..sometimes. I love it as an urban art form, even I dont really need to have it on everything like in Europe (buses,cars,trains,windows,..). But in Singapore there is such a lack of it (due to heavy fines), that its a delight to see some at least occasionally. Wonder how long it takes before they remove it.