Recently I have been working with a panoramic camera rig of 7 GoPros in a nylon holder. This allows you to capture sky, ground, and an exceptionally crisp horizon all stitched together by software after the shoot. The first two videos show Webster’s Falls in Hamilton on a cold January day.
The other two videos are of Säntis, Switzerland (with only 4 cameras) and an unassuming field by the Don Valley trail last fall. As this is still a semi-experimental pursuit I will share some process.
Always check the camera settings…7 times, ideally before you go outside. A recent update to the GoPro Capture app added a login screen before you can adjust settings through it. In a pinch you can use the camera’s tiny screen & buttons.
Camera settings for Webster’s Falls
2.7K 4:3 @ 30 fps
FOV: Wide
Low light: OFF
Spot meter: OFF
Protune: ON
White Bal: 6500k
Color: GoPro
ISO: 6400
Sharpness: High
EV Comp: 0
I followed Kolor’s recommended camera settings. How do you think it worked out?
Problems I noticed
1. Top camera is consistently overexposed
2. Dismal battery life… running through mud to beat the drain
3. Couldn’t ask for a better tripod but it remains visible
4. Horizon is off balance
5. Waterfall environment not ideal for cameras: wet, cold
What I’m trying next
1. Underexpose camera facing sun: EV Comp -2
2. Add 3 x 22000mAh 5.8A 3-Port Battery Packs slung from tripod for extended shooting
3. Content-aware the tripod or camoflage
4. Horizon adjustment of reference panorama shown in Kolor video
5. Use a dryer environment
Remember the dog clicker! Click it 10s into every shoot so you can sync the cameras without fuss.
Most significantly, the battery packs should allow us to grab better shots because after the first, we can leave the cameras paired & primed to record with the Wi-fi remote. Otherwise you have to mess with the buttons between shots to conserve the batteries. This should also be perfect for time-lapse.
Do it yourself
If you want to join me, you can buy the flexible nylon holder I’m using or print one yourself (design file for a 6-camera model, use Shapeways if you don’t have a printer.) You might also research cheaper competitors to the GoPro HERO 4 Black which weren’t as prominent when I started this project in 2015.
The magic probably worth paying for happens in Kolor’s Autopano Video + Giga software. I haven’t tried the PTGui alternative, and as of this posting Videostitch would not render the preview on this computer, but it is what I started with and the stitching quality was not as immediately apparent.
In Part 2 of this series I will share the result of these tweaks and playback on the HTC Vive headset. Then I will get into what goes into turning the panoramas into a relaxing, even therapeutic experience. If you want me to talk about anything specific, let me know.
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