Which Camera/Lens Solution? |
There are three decisions that
need to be made, when choosing your VR equipment camera/lens
solution.
1. Which camera style? - Consumer
digital (Coolpix) vs digital SLR
2. Which fisheye lens? - Circular
vs Cropped circular vs Full-frame fisheye
3. Which camera resolution? - Standard vs
Medium vs High resolution |
|
Which
Camera? - Consumer digital (Coolpix) vs digital SLR |
Your choice
of camera and lens solution, is based on several factors,
including flexibility, price, primary camera use and quality.
High volume virtual tour providers,
may choose the simpler, lower entry price, but still high
quality solution offered by Nikon Coolpix.
Photographers offering virtual tours as only part of their
business, may prefer the flexibility offered by a digital
SLR solution. |
|
| Factor |
Consumer digital
camera (eg Coolpix) |
digital SLR
camera |
Volume of photography/production
Suitability for high volume photography, efficient
production |
Best |
Best |
Simplicity
of photography
How easy is the camera to use for less experienced photographers |
Best |
Good |
Camera flexibiity
How flexibile is the camera for other photographic applications |
Good |
Best |
Camera
kit weight and size
How compact is the VR equipment kit, for travelling and quick
set-up |
Best |
Good |
Price
What is the total investment required for all equipment |
Best (lower investment) |
Good |
High
resolution panoramas
Best solution for very high resolution panorama uses (eg large
format printing) |
Good |
Best (with 8+ megapixel dSLR) |
High quality internet panoramas
Which solution is best for high quality online panoramas |
Best |
Best |
Number
of fisheye images required
How many fisheye images are required to capture a full-360 |
2 or 3 |
4 |
| Capture a floor-ceiling, spherical
view |
Yes |
Yes |
For more details on available Nikon
Coolpix camera equipment, please
click here.
For more details on available digital SLR camera equipment,
please click here.
|
|
Which
fisheye lens? - Circular vs Cropped circular vs Full-frame
fisheye |
When selection digital SLR cameras,
there are 2 fisheye lens formats to choose between: the 8mm
circular fisheye lens (producing a cropped circular image)
or the 15mm/10.5mm diagonal fisheye lens, (producing a full-frame
fisheye image).
No decision is required for Coolpix cameras, as they have
a single standard circular fisheye lens (FC-E9), which produces
a 180° circular fisheye image. |
  |
| Factor |
Cropped circular fisheye
lens (8mm lens) |
Full frame fisheye lens
(15mm lens) |
Volume of photography/production
Suitability for high volume photography, efficient
production |
Best |
Fair |
Simplicity
of photography
How easy is the photography process for less experienced photographers |
Best |
Good |
Camera flexibiity
How flexibile is the fisheye lens for other photographic applications |
Fair |
Best |
Price
What is the total investment required for the lens equipment |
Good |
Good |
High resolution panoramas
Best solution for very high resolution panorama uses (eg large
format printing) |
Good |
Best |
High
quality internet panoramas
Which solution is best for high quality online panoramas |
Best |
Best |
Number of fisheye images required
How many fisheye images are required to capture a full-360 |
4 |
6 |
| Capture
a floor-ceiling, spherical view |
Yes |
No, partial only |
| For more details on available fisheye
lenses for digital SLR cameras, please
click here. |
|
Which
camera resolution? - Standard vs Medium vs High resolution |
Both dSLR and Coolpix cameras offer
standard, medium and high resolution cameras. The decision
on resolution is typically a function of price vs image resolution.
While a medium resolution camera will produce excellent
high quality panoramas for the internet, high resolution cameras
allow photographers to produce very high resolution images,
perfect for large format printing. |
Factor |
Standard resolution:
4-5 MP cameras |
Medium resolution:
6-8 MP cameras |
High resolution: 8+
MP cameras |
Camera flexibiity
How flexibile is the camera for other photographic applications |
Good |
Very good |
Best |
Price
What is the total investment required for the lens equipment |
Lowest cost |
Good |
Highest cost |
High resolution panoramas
Best solution for very high resolution panorama uses (eg large
format printing) |
Satisfactory |
Good |
Best |
High quality
internet panoramas
Which solution is best for high quality online panoramas |
Good |
Best |
Best |
For more details on standard and medium resolution Coolpix cameras,
please click here.
