Experience Using Nikon EC-9 for Spherical Panoramas

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I'd like to start creating some spherical panoramas for capturing the
insides of buildings (french churches). My thought would be to buy the
fisheye EC-9 lens for my Nikon 8800.

Does anyone have experience doing this with the 8800 or one of its
predecessors that they'd be willing to share?

My goal is to produce pannable web images so I'd appreciate suggestions
about the software to do that as well, with simplicity having the upper
hand over cost. My initial impression is that QTVR is the right
direction to head, but I'm quite confused about the various programs -
strengths and weaknesses.

 

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On 14 May 2005 18:30:30 -0700, in rec.photo.digital AEngineerDU@gmail.com
wrote:

>I'd like to start creating some spherical panoramas for capturing the
>insides of buildings (french churches). My thought would be to buy the
>fisheye EC-9 lens for my Nikon 8800.
>
>Does anyone have experience doing this with the 8800 or one of its
>predecessors that they'd be willing to share?

I wasn't and still are not impressed with photos taken with the FC-E9 and
my older CP-5700. Not very sharp at all. My even older CP-990 with the
FC-E8 produced much better images, imo, and was much more useful as you
could use it as a wide angle lens by zooming in. You can't do that with the
FC-E9. Due to the design with the adapter, you can only use it at the
widest zoom which results in a circular image. Otherwise the area outside
of this circular region is horribly out of focus The FC-E9 is also quite a
behemoth. I went back and forth with Nikon tech support on these issues and
all they ever said was to fully zoom out. I also had some correspondence
with at least two other people dealing with similar issues.

In fact I found the CP-5700 with it's three add-on converters (WC-80,
TC-15, FC-E9) woefully lacking as a "system" compared to the CP-990 and
it's converters (TC-E3, WC-E63, FC-E8).
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 at
http/edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

 

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Ed Ruf wrote:
> On 14 May 2005 18:30:30 -0700, in rec.photo.digital
> AEngineerDU@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> I'd like to start creating some spherical panoramas for capturing
>> the
>> insides of buildings (french churches). My thought would be to buy
>> the fisheye EC-9 lens for my Nikon 8800.
>>
>> Does anyone have experience doing this with the 8800 or one of its
>> predecessors that they'd be willing to share?
>
> I wasn't and still are not impressed with photos taken with the
> FC-E9
> and my older CP-5700. Not very sharp at all. My even older CP-990
> with the FC-E8 produced much better images, imo, and was much more
> useful as you could use it as a wide angle lens by zooming in. You
> can't do that with the FC-E9. Due to the design with the adapter,
> you
> can only use it at the widest zoom which results in a circular
> image.
> Otherwise the area outside of this circular region is horribly out
> of
> focus The FC-E9 is also quite a behemoth. I went back and forth with
> Nikon tech support on these issues and all they ever said was to
> fully zoom out. I also had some correspondence with at least two
> other people dealing with similar issues.
>
> In fact I found the CP-5700 with it's three add-on converters
> (WC-80,
> TC-15, FC-E9) woefully lacking as a "system" compared to the CP-990
> and it's converters (TC-E3, WC-E63, FC-E8).

The TC-15 worked (works) good for me on the CP5700 and CP8700. The
WC-80 is good for very specific purposes, I suppose, but languishes.
The FC-E9, same, although it was fun for a few hours. The Wide-Angle
(not fisheye) on the CP5000 is another matter: it works good and
plenty.


--
Frank ess

 

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On Sun, 15 May 2005 10:10:36 -0700, in rec.photo.digital "Frank ess"
<frank@fshe2fs.com> wrote:

>The TC-15 worked (works) good for me on the CP5700 and CP8700.

It works fine, but it's use is limited to max zoom.

>The WC-80 is good for very specific purposes, I suppose, but languishes.

No ability to use filters and the slipon cover is a joke, especially if
it's hot outside. I carried mine to the top of Diamondhead last July. Had
to hold the lens cover on the whole time I had the lens mounted.

Though the TC and WC use the same adapter, the whole setup isn't thought
out well. The camera end of the adapter is a different size than the close
end of the lens, so the caps don't fit. You need to buy other caps if you
wish to leave the adapter mounted. I use a NextPhoto adapter for filters on
the camera and got the 58mm one so I could use the same filters on the TC.
But you always have to take something off to put something on. The 990
needed no adapters to use any of the converter or filters. In a pinch I've
even mounted a converter on a filter when time did not allow it's removal.

>The FC-E9, same, although it was fun for a few hours. The Wide-Angle
>(not fisheye) on the CP5000 is another matter: it works good and
>plenty.

I still have it, as I sold the FC-E8 for the 990. It's a novelty that comes
in handy at certain times. I'm a packrat so I've kept it for those few
times when it's needed. I may just bite the bullet and get a fisheye for
the D70 and put it up for sale.
----------
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 (Usenet@EdwardG.Ruf.com)
See images taken with my CP-990/5700 & D70 at
http/edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photography/General/index.html

 

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In article <1116120630.382459.251020@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
AEngineerDU@gmail.com wrote:

> I'd like to start creating some spherical panoramas for capturing the
> insides of buildings (french churches). My thought would be to buy the
> fisheye EC-9 lens for my Nikon 8800.
>
> Does anyone have experience doing this with the 8800 or one of its
> predecessors that they'd be willing to share?
>
> My goal is to produce pannable web images so I'd appreciate suggestions
> about the software to do that as well, with simplicity having the upper
> hand over cost. My initial impression is that QTVR is the right
> direction to head, but I'm quite confused about the various programs -
> strengths and weaknesses.

The Realviz stitcher http/www.realviz.com/products/st/ may be what
you're looking for, although it is pretty expensive. Basically you take
a series of photos with the camera on a tripod and then stitch
everything together - unless you're using one of those super-duper G5
Macs I'd advise taking the pictures at a lower resolution - say 600x800
pixels otherwise juggling 100 odd photos with seriously slow down the
pooter.
Photoshop can make panoramas too but not circular or spherical ones. I
think you'll find a fisheye lens will degrade the image or distort the
image so you cannot appreciate the beauty of the cathedral or church.