Alternative techniques to using a wide angle lens. Advice sought.

[NorthStone]

Hello,

I'm interested in learning alternative techniques to capture a wide angle view when taking photos i.e. sweep panorama shooting but without buying a wide angle fisheye lens which is too expensive for me at present. Can any of you offer any tips i.e. stitching individual photos into a panorama.

Best wishes,
NorthStone

[Richard]

Hi NorthStone,

If you want to stitch a load of photos together in a pano, it's important to use a tripod. Mount the camera in a portrait orientation and make sure the tripod head is level and the axis of the lens is level with the horizon. When you take the shots allow some overlap between them to help with the stitching process. Work quickly between shots to minimise movement in the scene (Like clouds moving).

I normally use photoshop to stitch my images together but I think there are some free applications available.

[NorthStone]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm going to try that one out. I've used the panning landscape mode on my camera and it's ok but I think your methods is a good one. Having the camera in portrait whilst panning is going to make the final image gigantic. I hope my computer can cope with that :) I'll give that one a go next time I'm out.

Regards,
NorthStone

[Iguanasan]

Any other suggestions?