Photography Tips: Shoot Panoramas with a Long Lens

[@landdcollection]

Pretty much everything I learned about photography is because of you, Mike. There is still a lot to be learnt, but I wouldn't be half the photographer i am if it wasn't for you. Thank you!

[@fielding68]

To me, you are the perfect tutor, you explain things so clearly which makes them so easy to understand. Well done and thank you.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you David Croft

[@Buzza235]

Best explanation that I've seen on KZbin. Practice practice practice.

[@MikeBrowne]

Basically yes!

[@dailyforman]

you make one of the best tutorials in the whole youtube

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you dailyforman

[@Amwm1]

How do you Brits say?... Brilliant. Your tutorials are so easy to understand. You take complicated subjects and make them simple. Excellent tutorial.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Avi Mirski Please help me grow the channel by sharing the videos so I can make more films.. :-)

[@gregr1154]

now THIS is a GREAT long tutorial! probably Mike's best so far - lots of detail and a nice 'advanced' topic. more like this, Mike!!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks ***** Please help me grow the channel by sharing the videos so I can make more films.. :-)

[@Sean_S]

You are, my friend!!! a natural born teacher!!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Sean Story

[@JimHull52]

It's great how polite you are to people.

[@MikeBrowne]

Why thank you Jimbo Hull

[@falconrosephoto]

Great video, Mike. I think I should pull out my 70-200 VRII and go out and shoot some panos. Didn't think about that this winter or I would have during our last snowfall.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks falconrosephoto - Please post some on our Facebook page - love to see how you get on :-) facebook.com/DigitalPhotographyVideos

[@leecejohnson4590]

finally some one who can explain the hole process of a panorama

[@MikeBrowne]

Leece... it sounds like you've been looking for a long time!

[@ThatsMyCoffee]

I love the way you explain everything simply and quickly. Some tend to ramble on... All the information you need in an easy to understand presentation. Well done!!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you - please help me make more by sharing any you like with other photographers - MIKE :-)

[@jaguarjj]

i am really really glad to see you again on youtube Mike after this long time

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks mohamed abdel-hady - but I'm still posting every 2 weeks and always have been so not sure how you missed me...

[@jaguarjj]

Mike Browne lol sorry then maybe it's me not paying much attention :D

[@tommul6078]

Thanks for the tip on rotating the camera via the lens rather than the tripod, I had missed that point. Great video as usual thanks for sharing with us all!

[@TheSamoloot]

Yet another great tutorial! I love the way you teach. Its so simple and easy to understand. You get straight to the point and you speak clearly and nicely. I love all of your videos. Keep 'em up.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks *****

[@wcsdiaries]

@@MikeBrowne Hey Mike! What ring mount/tripod head were you using that lets you rotatte the telephoto lens without pivoting? You were talking about it at 5:30.

[@akshaysarkardbit]

Am soo happy I found you.. Am a rookie, know terms but not a lot of practical shooting experience. It's a great to see you giving these minute details. I hope, I start making these observation as you do.. Simply amazing 👍

[@MikeBrowne]

thank you! please do share it too so we can make more! - Melissa pp Mike

[@Ahmadmzazai]

I watch his tutorials all the time. He is an amazing teacher. Thank you for your work. Btw, whoever dislikes your videos, must be out if their mind.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you theAmustafaz

[@MattisProbably]

My new 2.8 tele lens will arrive tomorrow (I hope), this is something I wanted to try with it! So great timing there Mike, thanks!^^ Bokeh panoramas are also something I want to get into.

[@bryanjerrytangub3156]

thank you Sir Mike Brown.... as usual very great tutorial....

[@Rahulsingh-sd9zd]

Sir you are not only a good photographer but also a lovely teacher; love from India ♥️

[@MikeBrowne]

So nice of you 🙏🙂

[@Rahulsingh-sd9zd]

Sir 🙏

[@dallasthomas5489]

Thanks Mike for instructions video I love your very easy to listen style of instruction.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +Dallas Thomas - MIKE :-)

[@El-Tel63-Terry.]

I've been doing a lot of pan/stitch shots recently but never thought to use my 70-200mm, thanks for the tutorial Mike.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks *****

[@MikeBrowne]

Why don't you need to use a tripod when shooting with a longer lens ***** ?

[@venneke1980]

Hi Mike. I'm Paul van de Ven from Liessel in the Netherlands. I also tried to make a panorama shot with a long lenze instead of a wide angle lenze. And I must say, it looks pretty awsome. Thanks for putting te tutorial on youtube. I hope you'll visit Holland someday so we can meet up...

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Paul van de Ven - I'll see what I can do....

[@Thisislivinbarry84]

Hi Mike, thanks for a great video! I always thought wide was the only way to go but this is a way better option, can't wait to try this on my 70-200mm we have some awesome landscapes in Australia. Thanks again. Jake.

[@MikeBrowne]

No worries tuhc - glad you found it useful. Please help me grow the channel and make more free vids by sharing them here, on Facebook, forums etc :-)

[@RoseKerin]

Thanks. Great video and there are some tips I needed to know. Might not be able to do this at the top of the mountain when its really cold and I cant carry much gear but will get my techniques organised at the beach over next weekend. Awesome information once again.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you +Rose Kerin - MIKE

[@IndyPindy]

Very cool. Cant wait to see part 2.

[@wildfisher]

Great tip, your tutorials are the best Mike!

[@aiquelindo]

Another great video from Mike Browne. Greetings from Canada. I can picture myself trying this on the coast of Nova Scotia or at the Lake Ontario in Toronto.. Thanks for the tips Mike!

[@MikeBrowne]

No worries Johnny D. - I can picture me trying it there too - hopefully one day...

[@bradweeks8388]

Great video nice to see some one in a real situation.

[@otislauwaert1407]

I like that you didn't cut out mispronounciations, it makes your explinations more realistic and human

[@XaviAllueva]

Very well explained, thanks

[@leaningtower73]

Thanks for another excellent tutorial! I am a Canon shooter and was planning to buy the expensive 16-35 f/2.8 WA lens, for landscapes. With the stitching technique you saved me 1200 Euros from my wallet. Awesome!

[@MikeBrowne]

Cool Deepak Murthy - if we meet someday I'll be tapping you up for a beer then ;-)

[@Slaptiback]

Mike, I have a Sigma 70-200mm with a tripod mount... I never thought to use mount to swivel 90 degrees... cheers!

[@djpaulo71]

Wowzers Thanks for the tips yet again!!!

[@Kevinhatcher]

Great video Mike! :D As usual, well paced, interesting and engaging :) Keep up the great work!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks ***** Please help me grow the channel by sharing the videos so I can make more films.. :-)

[@witcheater]

Glad you shared. I learned the technique you present in this video accidentally-indirectly through playing in PhotoShop and with product photography (for I was looking for a work around for not having a medium format camera with 60+ megapixels). As I have done along the way of my learning, and with having to do so manually since my current camera does not have good bracketing built in, you can combine the technique you have presented here with HDR techniques and get very interesting results from a camera that is not medium format (though it can be seemingly a lot of work). But in the end, the results can be quite better than just good. I must admit that my next camera will have better bracketing support for until digital camera sensors have the dynamic range and acuity of a human visual system, HDR combined with long focal length panoramas, in landscapes and product photography, will need to be an viable option.

[@MikeBrowne]

Nice Gerard Kuzawa

[@NathanVdV]

Panorama Maker 5 from Nikon, easiest software ive ever used for stitching, and works pretty darn good i must say :-)

[@lamarcy]

Nice video. Hard for a beginner to do though. Thanks for your time

[@CrabShackProductions]

Man I love this guy.

[@ZhengCheng]

Great video! Thank you so much !

[@adassociates8235]

Mike, you are awesome. Thank you

[@MikeBrowne]

You Too AD Associates - MIke :-)

[@bristolpre-conservatoire5333]

Really good style of teaching, thank you!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Bristol Pre-conservatoire

[@iaingeoghan2548]

thanks Numpty. this was helpful to solidify some panorama bits that i learned about from the crew in Iceland. nice pod

[@MikeBrowne]

No worries Iain. Loving the posts you're sharing from Iceland on Clickasnap... MIKE :-) www.clickasnap.com/album/16295

[@iaingeoghan2548]

Doing what I can. Jess and I are going to both shoot panoramas and share.

[@iaingeoghan2548]

@@MikeBrowne thanks for the good memories. Brain was on fire trying to shoot with a group. I am terrible with that. I will keep 'em coming. Thora!

[@jordao420]

you're bloody awesome, mike

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks, you too Luiz - MIKE :-)

[@petermillar24]

To viewers - if this did not make complete sense then it is because there is a lot of assumed knowledge, which comes from dozens of earlier videos in the channel, easy watching and well worth it. To Mike - thanks again.

[@MikeBrowne]

No worries Peter Millar :-)

[@rolfcasparius6972]

I tried to do one over the pine trees during a sunrise. I didn't move nearly fast enough... The Colors change so quickly! Gotta do some preplanning next time.

[@MikeBrowne]

Go for it Rolf Casparius

[@metals2546]

Thank you for taking the time to present this video. When using the 70-200 lens for pano's, do you not run into issues with focusing on foreground elements. How do you compensate for that?

[@MikeBrowne]

It can happen a bit and only doing it many times can give you the experience to know if it'll be a problem. Sorry, there's no quick definitive answer to that one metals - MIKE :-/

[@saulgonzalez3804]

hi Mr Browne, i have been following you for good time already and you have answer good questions, will shoot one more for you. how do you do when you shoot a panorama and start with a dark area and you finish with the sun or some really bright area that will over expose the sky or under expose the ground, i have think on take tow shoot of the same area and expose for both areas an let fotoshop do the job, is that a good option or what else can you recommend, im already did your the same as the video, my friend love the final pic thanks

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you. There's no right or wrong way saul gonzalez I would set a manual exposure which will capture as much detail in bright and dark areas as possible, then process them in Lightroom before joining them together. If the contrast range is still too great then an HDR of the brightest areas would work so long as you're careful to make it look natural.

[@Night6436]

Great video yet again. Always direct people to your channel. I'm pretty new to photography, and was thinking about buying a wide angle for my nikon d3200. Don't know what to do now :) Keep up the good work tho Mike.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Night6436 - wides are still great. Have a look at Get the best from your Wide Angle Lens (PT1)

[@IXcerberusXI]

Just caught up! I just finished watching every video on your channel (I think). Can I assume you'll release a video showing how to stitch those photos together? Love the channel btw, I've learned so much already, I'm sure to have a great head start when I begin classes.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks IXcerberusXI Yes will do. Was going to be this weekend but something came up so will be in the next 2 weeks. If you're subscribed to the channel you'll get an email letting you know when I do.

[@ItsMe-N01]

Hi Mike, Which aspect ratio did you use to shoot the images in? and do you alter that setting much depending upon what you are shooting? or have you already done a video covering this. many thanks Andi.

[@MikeBrowne]

I can't change the aspect ratio on my DSLR or CSC cameras +Andi Sutton Also Even if I could I wouldn't because I want the sensor to capture as much data and as many pixels as possible. By changing aspect ratio (even if I could) I'd be telling the camera to crop some pixels away. Both my Nikons and Fuji XT-1 are 3:2 - MIKE

[@ItsMe-N01]

+Mike Browne thanks Mike, great tutorials,you always put things across clear & easy to understand. much appreciated.

[@adassociates8235]

hi Mike, love all your video. question on this video: I am wondering when you switched to manual focus and turn the camera, do you re- focus or just turn and shoot? thank you

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks again. I was using auto focus single point and manual exposure. If you're confused with this, my Ultimate Beginners Course will take you through what you need to know right now so you're ready for more complex things later on. Check out the link below for a free sample... MIKE www.photographycourses.biz/ubc

[@Robertobinetti70]

Thanks Mike!

[@metals2546]

Upon viewing the video a second time, I must of taken my medicine, I caught the point where you explain focusing at different points as you pan. But how would you compensate for foreground elements focusing when doing multi-row pano's.

[@MikeBrowne]

I wouldn't advise shifting focus with a multi row pan - MIKE

[@MikeJones-yo8cf]

Enjoyed the video. Is it also a good idea to not use auto white balance when doing a photo stitch? Keep up the good work!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Mike Jones - yes it is - sorry forgot to mention that.. :-/

[@richardhunter8958]

mike i follow you as you are a great teacher, my question being is what flash should i buy for my cannon 40d , i need a decent one as i don't want to waste my money , can you help or advice, thanks

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks richard hunt - I don't know the ins and outs of all the brands out there but if you buy a canon speedlight for a canon camera you'll be OK..

[@richardhunter8958]

many thanks keep up the good videos

[@mrki412]

Firstly thumb up then watching video. Mister I enjoy and If you ever come to Croatia, city of Split, please feel free to contact me for accomodation and advice.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank you Danko Mrkonjić - appreciate it - MIKE

[@cavalrycome]

I'm always reluctant to change the focus during a panorama in case it causes problems with stitching.

[@MikeBrowne]

So long as it's subtle I find it's OK cavalrycome but a big change probably will cause problems..

[@ovogler90]

Great tutorial, thanks a lot! The only confusing part is when you say that wide angle lenses expand perspective. As far as I know the composition doesn't change at all if you stand on the same spot, as long as you cover the same angle, either by merging or cropping pictures. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I'd say if you took a wide angle shot from that tripod and cropped a bit more than just the top and bottom, you'd get exactly the same picture, in a lower resolution of course.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Saurons Auge - no wide lenses stretch things by making closer object MUCH close and distant object MUCH further away. Thats why the 2 images at around 1.30 look so different. Have a look at this video - www.photographycourses.biz/focal_length.html

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi ***** - if you look at the 2 images notice in the long lens version the rocks jutting out in the distance are bigger and appear closer. That's because the magnification of the longer lens has had the effect of compressing or squashing perspective. Not point of view which hasn't changed in either image.

[@TheThriddle]

+Xizario2 You and Saurons auge are correct. Inspired by this conversation, I went and took two versions of the same scene, using my pano head, a 50 mm lens and a 28 mm (crop sensor, f/8 on both). The result was the same composition each time, but greater depth of field with the 28mm. The 50mm on the other hand, needing four times as many shots, gave a higher resolution picture and probably a slightly better stitch (not noticeable though). It's horses for courses, but for landscape work I would prefer the 28mm most of the time, as you can get the shot in a quarter of the time, which could make all the difference in changing light.

[@nagualdesign]

+Mike Browne - "wide lenses stretch things by making closer object MUCH close and distant object MUCH further away" :-/ This is blatantly untrue. I'm surprised that somebody with your level of photography experience would believe such a thing. Wherever you place your camera (or your eye) THAT is your point of view. Using different lenses will give different angles of view, perhaps with different amounts of barrel distortion and depth of field, but nothing about the perspective is 'stretched' in the way you imply.

[@lr5867]

+nagualdesign I think +Mike Browne 's saying that the distorting spherical compression of a WA lens creates the illusion of making nearby objects larger than they should be ... but that depends on the composition, typically in landscapes that the most distant part of the scene tends toward the center, w/ nearby features in the bottom of the image circle ... And if we're taking advantage of hyperfocal distance (stopping way down) w/ WA lenses, the acceptable (hyper)focus closeby may not be as sharp, which is acceptable b/c it's the scene's deeper features (at further focal distances) that we might want to be fully sharp.

[@ianatherton2360]

Hi Mike, as always great tutorial! Do you have any advice on the number of stitched shots to take if you intend to size your Panorama for printing ( Maybe as a starting point 4 shots across by 1 deep or possibly 7 shots across by 1 deep with 50% common in each shot?). As panoramic print sizes vary I imagine there is no single answer, however any rules of thumb or words or wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Ian Atherton as you say there's no 'rule', So long as you've covered what you want in the finished image and allowed for overlap you'll be fine.

[@TradeemperorsAu]

Legend! Thank You!

[@adassociates8235]

hi Mike I watched video several times, your narrative said re- focus but when you turned to shoot, I did not see you re- focus point. you only focus on first shot and turn to shoot. Any advice? thank you

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi AD Associates. When the camera moves the AF point moves with it. When the shutter is pressed on the remote the camera refocuses and opens the shutter... MIKE

[@danielsahagun4367]

Sir: Thank you so much for your tutorials, especially for this one, and I like the way you do, because You don't worry about Parallax Point (Nodal) problems. I like very much your videos

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +Daniel Sahagun Though you will get the best results by panning around the nodal point, it's possible to get away with it - MIKE

[@simmo303]

Even better, rotate the camera about the Nodal Point. Did not care to pay retail for the special bracket so made one.

[@trope584]

Where is part two? From big fan.

[@MikeBrowne]

It's coming soon trope584 - sorry i was going to post it this week but something time dependent came up and had to post about it. Couple of weeks time - PROMISE. If you're subscribed you'll get a notification email..

[@stefanmladenov15]

Great video Mike. I am in doubt which lenses to get for my 70D: 1. Canon 400mm f5,6 + 1,4TC 2 Canon 100-400 f5,6 +1,4TC or 3 Canon 300m f4+1,4/2 TC Tnx in advance for any advice

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks Stefan Mladenov Sorry I'm not much help with this kind of advice because I haven't used any of these lenses. All I can say is the primes will be better image quality which is good for heavy cropping or printing really big. The zoom will be more flexible and easy to use when out shooting.

[@lolathescruff]

great video and on another note you lost some weight Mike?

[@StevenVacher]

Hi Mike, I have a couple of questions on shooting panos if you don't mind. 1. I have always set my focus to manual and focus a 1/3 of the way into the shot or on something specific in image. How does Photoshop (or your stitching software) cope with the bits that were in focus in one frame and now not in the next? 2. With mirror lockup (as you stated) do you not need to have to eyepiece cover on to stop light leakage? I tend to shoot nature, travel and architecture, tending not to shoot people, i upload most of my shots to Flickr www.flickr.com/gp/svacher/Zv7582 Thanks for taking the time to upload you vids. Some really great info for all types of photographer.

[@MikeBrowne]

+Steven Vacher It's best to get maximum focus at the time of shooting so you don't get fuzzy bits in the finished pano. I moved focus as the scene receded with each shot in this video to compensate. Eye covers depend on camera. Some leak some light others don't. Also time of exposure is a factor. My Nikon's fine up to about 32 minutes then it begins to creep in. Fuji seems OK and have done 5 minute plus exposures without a problem. I lost my eye cover so use a bit of blu-tak or black tape.. MIKE

[@StevenVacher]

+Mike Browne Thanks very much for the very swift response, i'm going to give the moving focus thing next time i do a multi image pano. I always put my eye cover on, even when shooting indoors. I might give it a go without to see how my Canon 6D leaks :-)

[@mitchelmacbean4253]

You should do a draw my life.

[@tomcraigphotoart]

Thanks again for a Great Tutorial Mike, I must leave my 10-20 Lens in my Bag the next time i get to the coast , And Bring out the Big Gun's and Give it a Try :-) . Tom

[@MikeBrowne]

:-) have fun whatever you shoot with TheShropshirestar

[@ericwu2330]

I find that when doing pans on tripod, it's important to get both the ballhead and the base of the tripod as level as you can. Otherwise, if only your ballhead/camera is level, then once you start panning, you'll lose the horizontal level and start getting slanted shots. My Manfrotto tripod has a bubble level just below the ballhead mount that allows me to set the entire tripod level before worrying about tilting the ballhead itself.

[@MikeBrowne]

You got it Eric Wu - the bubble on my tripod is broken but don't tell anyone ;-)

[@AnPrionsaBeag]

Lens distortion on your crotch, Mike :-)

[@iaingeoghan2548]

hehe. focus stacking !

[@hamzasultan4874]

DUDE TBH I loved dt lens

[@MRGJHW]

I really have enjoyed your informative and sometimes humorous videos on basic photography! I think I've seen them all now, and always look forward to more new ones! I'd like to meet you sometime but I'm in Indianapolis Indiana, and "I'm not THAT good a swimmer! Ha! I currently have over 3,600 photos on Flickr with almost a million hits. If you would care to see them and/or comment on them, here is my Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/jimwallace/ Thanks so much for your effort to help us all be better photographers and I hope to join one of your "trips" soon! Keep up the great work!

[@MikeBrowne]

Thanks +Jim Wallace Maybe one day I'll get over to the US... Working on a drift wood raft already ;-) You have an eye for detail - got some nice pics there - MIKE

[@MRGJHW]

Thanks Mike for your quick response! I wish you good sailing with your "soon-to-be-finished drift wood raft!" Just make sure to keep your cameras "high and dry!" And if not, perhaps you could enter the world of underwater photography?! Thanks for looking at some of my photos and your comments. I love England and watch all of the British series we get over here all the time. Jim

[@pest5373]

Somebody needs a videography course.

[@MikeBrowne]

Maybe you could help with that...

[@richardpcrowe]

An Arca Compatible L Plate or L Bracket will solve the problem of shooting in the portrait configuration with a non tripod ring equipped lens.

[@richardpcrowe]

I meant to add that a tripod ring will be a better choice since the unit is revolving around the "nodal point" However, the L bracket will be better than hanging your camera over on its side using the ball...

[@richardpcrowe]

In the wind, I would not have my camera strap hanging and swinging in the breeze...

[@a1pestservice]

You take 12.43 minutes taken a picture, but you don't show the final image ?

[@MikeBrowne]

Hi, the image I shot is at 1.:30 then the vids explains how it was done... MIKE

[@perfectforehand]

Hi Mike. This is a hand held panorama taken from my flat's balcony in Egypt on a late afternoon with a 12MP Canon Powershot S100 (the sky on the left was actually completely white to my naked eye). Would be interested to know your critique. fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t31.0-8/s2048x2048/1939751_668490423207663_1694028616_o.jpg?dl=1

[@lr5867]

+perfectforehand Stitch errors on the wall (never mind the extreme sphericism). Pano's are fun but there's not much to say here.

[@perfectforehand]

I know, thanks for your input.

[@joaovtaveira]

What about part 2?

[@MikeBrowne]

Sorry João Maria Vasconcelos Fontes de Barros Taveira someting time sensitive came up so had to delay it - It's coming next week

[@whitehouse6625]

Hi Mike, I've been slowly following your online videos and the way you forward the information is clear and very amusing. Never commented on owt on youtube but after watching this video I went out put into action what you said, my result is here: www.flickr.com/photos/129869121@N08/19058948142/in/dateposted-public/ and i'm well chuffed! It's a start and loads more to learn! Thanks for your videos and the passion for photography! Ian

[@MikeBrowne]

Thank youWhite House saw the your image, and you nailed it! I’m delighted they are helping. Please help us make more videos by sharing them with other photographers on forums etc. - Melissa fox :)

[@wstoettinger]

technically you will get exactly the same picture just with more megapixels (but different depth of field) if you combine enough tele-photos to get the same field of view as the wide-angle. The difference shown here is due to a change in perspective and field of view. Gavin Hoey demonstrates this nicely in the following video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZOohKSPoNSXo7M

[@michaelreynolds6543]

F18 ? diffraction . .

[@asadabdulqaabir4006]

What do yo know? The last time I checked, Theoden, and not jmphotography, was king of Rohan

[@Logical.curiosity]

Oo what are they doing here. ? ?? Old people on the beach:-)

[@sharonfanning8079]

*****

[@huwpenson2678]

L PLATE !

[@toddroy9558]

Very boring place

[@MikeBrowne]

Lol! Sorry we never got around to commenting at the time!