Best Lens Length for Panorama Shots? ?

Question

Needing to shoot some panoramic photography for a new client they have "Tour Factory" program that automatically stitches the files together. What is the best LENS to use on a NIKON D300 ? I have a 12-24 and a 50mm as well as a 18-200 as for the lenses in the that are close or cover the wide angle range... keep in mind my cam is a 1.5 frame

Answer 1

You can just use the Nikkor 12-24mm lens, and stitch them together.

With the crop factor, the 12mm Original term, becomes 18mm's, which isn't so wide angle anymore. However, that should be wide enough, because you're going to stitch them together. Oh, and you'll need to use a tripod because it's not possible ( if you're a human ) to hold it steady in all of those positions for all whatever amount of frames.

However, you can always go wider, you can go to 10mm's, which would be 15mm's with the crop factor in place. Which is very wide angle. Use the 12-24mm lens, don't spend anymore money. Hope your shots are very steady, so it  doesn't s***w up your shots. You don't need to spend anymore money.  

Answer 2

That is right ... the 12-24 mm is the perfect lens for doing that.  I use mine to shoot panoramic shots all the time ... usually I only need two overlapping images to produce some amazing images.

I use Photoshop to stitch mine together.

Answer 3

You want as neutral lense as possible.  A super wide angle will stretch the picture unnaturally, which provides challenges for the photo software.

Taking shots that are as similar as possible is important, so if you're not confident in your ability to do that, then a wide angle is probably the least risky.  But if you know what you're doing a 50mm would be much better.

In order to take the best shots, make sure you put the camera on manual so that the exposure doesn't change from shot to shot, and put it on a tripod.  Ideally, you'd rotate the camera on the axis in the middle of the lense rather than the camera body. (technically, the point where the light flips upside down).  There are attachments that can help you do this, but they can be expensive.