IF you accidently shoot a pano on auto don't despair, if shooting RAW you can usually get it adjusted, just a bit of touchy work, I tend to shoot on AV so that solves the f stop problem, and I bracket most shots 2/3 of a stop, gives me wiggle room, try to remember to switch to manual focus, I auto focus the middle and switch off before shooting, remember to put the focus back on after the pano too. If I notice a chang in the area being measured for the exposure then I'll set a single exposure, honestly not very often do I find a need. BIG TIP, try setting the camera on a mono pod when doing the pano, I even get good results resting my left hand on the pod and holding the camera, that puts the rotation point under the lens camera body connection. Bob.