topic Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama? in EF & RF Lenses

What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

dinghankar — Fri, 19 May 2023 13:20:04 GMT

I have a m50mk2 with all efm 15/45, 22, 55/200 lenses. As we know too wide of a focal length will cause distortion the landscape and if I go too high of a focal length I will loose the landscape outside the zoom edge or I'll have to take more photos to cover the same area with a wide focal length. So what's the optimism focal for minimum landscape distortion?

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

Waddizzle — Fri, 19 May 2023 13:57:22 GMT

When it comes to photography, there is no “one size fits all” solution to anything. For example, imagine asking an experienced painter what is the best color to use paint a pla escape.

You can use almost any focal length you wish for a panorama, provided you’re not trying to use a wide angle focal length. It all depends upon your desired result and what tools you have available.

I often capture landscape panoramic shots. I use a full frame camera body. My favorite lens is my 70-200mm, mainly because of the tripod foot. I can roll the camera to portrait mode on a tripod without the need for a cumbersome L-Bracket. I shoot most of my panos in portrait mode.

I believe this was (8) shots at 70mm. This portion of the bridge span is over two miles long.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 19 May 2023 15:39:37 GMT

I agree any FL can do landscapes or panos. Use what works and it looks like you have a decent selection of FL to choose from. I disagree that a too wide or even a wide angle adds unwanted distortion to a landscape or pano shot.

Check this out. Photo shot with a 15mm lens.

This is a pano shot with a 70mm lens but in the vertical position. It is 5 separate shots.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

Tintype_18 — Fri, 19 May 2023 20:00:08 GMT

Waddizzle, interested that you use the portrait setting for landscape. Mind sharing why? Thanks.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

rs-eos — Fri, 19 May 2023 22:10:36 GMT

It will ultimately depend upon what your desired final result will be.

However, for a single row (horizontal) panorama, you’ll end up with a large amount of horizontal pixels. If you shoot with a a landscape orientation, you’d not be maximizing the vertical resolution. So you capture images in portrait orientation.

It’s less of an issue when capturing multi-row panoramas. However, there may still be advantages with either orientation.

I’ve done the following two types of panos producing a person’s portrait. First, a single column of 3 images captured in horizontal orientation. Then 9 images (3 x 3 matrix) captured in vertical orientation.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

Tronhard — Fri, 19 May 2023 23:20:11 GMT

I agree with Bill (Waddizzle) on this. The following panorama was taken with a Canon EOS 60D and the EF-S 15-85mm, using a focal length of 33mm (which is around 50mm Equivalent), so about what is considered normal Field of View.
f/10, 1/320sec, ISO-200

It was created using about 9 images, shot in landscape mode, each overlapping about 30%. Having decided on the focal length, aperture and ISO, I took a range of exposure settings across the range and then set the camera on manual using the average shutter speed of those settings. I looked for any moving elements in the panorama and would shoot in the opposite direction, so they would not 'double dip' into to side by side images.
I put the selection together in post using Photoshop's panorama tools.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

ebiggs1 — Sun, 21 May 2023 15:13:29 GMT

"It was created using about 9 images, shot in landscape mode, each overlapping about 30%."

Mostly this problem as I see it is if you use landscape orientation you wind up with a pano that is very long and very short. The ratio is screwed up. I guess if you like long skinny pictures it is fine. But you can easily end up with a 24" x 4" picture for example. Just an example not an etched in stone size.

That's why I shoot panos in portrait orientation.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

Tronhard — Sun, 21 May 2023 20:32:40 GMT

How nice for you! . One of the joys of photography is that people see and create images differently. I'm dreadfully sorry that my image didn't conform to your ideal, but I wanted the image that I got Ernie and so did the client, which was the Victoria Tourist Board that used it as a banner picture across the back of their service desks for visitors and was also on their letterhead.
So, much depends on the desired outcome, but the principle of how the picture was taken is absolutely valid.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

ebiggs1 — Sun, 21 May 2023 20:48:26 GMT

Trevor man you need to chill. It’s an opinion not a condemnation. Folks have different tastes and if it offends you to hear mine, I won’t comment on your posts any longer. Glad your client loved it.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

Tronhard — Sun, 21 May 2023 20:53:18 GMT

Yes Ernie, that would be fine by me.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

ebiggs1 — Mon, 22 May 2023 13:50:26 GMT

Wow, you've changed but OK.

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

johnrmoyer — Fri, 26 May 2023 13:58:16 GMT

You can use most any focal length if your stitching software knows the focal length and is able to calculate a projection.

This is 6 images at 100mm from a moving tour boat. Stitched using hugin on Linux. Reduced size for upload. EOS 80D.

Glacier in Chugach National Forest near Whittier, Alaska, August 7, 2019

Re: What's a good focal length for landscape panorama?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:33:07 GMT

Nice shot!