rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

and the results if you do it.

Don't set your camera on Auto. This can change the exposure from frame to frame and provide light and dark strips within the panoramic final image. These are miserable to try to blend to get an acceptably appearing panoramic image.

Once one determines the optimum focus point, turn auto focus off. Once one decides on the optimum exposure for the series, don't revise the exposure setting for the entire series of photos. In this case there are 17 photos making up this pano of downtown Tempe and Phoenix.

Though a mistake on my part when doing this back in 2011, it can serve as an example of what not to do.
--Bob

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abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Excellent advice. I do not know of a better way of shooting panoramas but perhaps someone will improve on it. Not mentioned here is to use and level a tripod. Having a level horizon helps with the final crop. You will lose less photo.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Excellent advice. Somethings we do so instinctively that when providing instructions they may get over looked. I have a built-in level on my tripod, one in the Arca-Swiss clamp on the tripod, and two horizontal and tilt in my panoramic head. Having all of them centered is critical in doing a panoramic.
--Bob

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

And if your tripod does not have levels built in, then you can buy levels that slide into the camera's hot shoe. They start at $10.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

When doing panos is it adviseable to use a tripod (leveled). My camera allows panos but it always rejects my tries. All I figure is uneven motions and motion not at right speed.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

A tripod is necessary only if you want high quality to expose or sell. There is no reason for a handheld panorama to fail while stitching unless there is another problem such as focusing or a change in focal length if using a zoom. Using slow speed while handheld also will prevent a successful stitching, if handheld.

Note that some software (including adobe) will not create a panorama is the camera is not oriented the same way (landscape or portrait) while shooting.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

And many cameras now have a built in leveling tool.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Which will be askew the moment you pivot the camera if the tripod is not level, same as when using a level on a camera.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

All true. I was responding more to the hot shoe spirit level. The same problem would exist there: camera level; tripod not. I’m just not into buying something when I already have a tool for that.

jcboy3

I agree about turning off Auto Exposure. I also suggest that one not use polarizing filters, and that one take great care or simply avoid the use of graduated ND filters. These can produce exposure variations and leave artifacts in the panorama.

I generally agree about turning off Auto Focus. However, there are times when you my want to adjust focus during a panorama. I often do this when shooting wide interiors; it is a technique of focus stacking.

If you are shooting a panorama without foreground objects, then you can do so without panoramic head or even tripod. If you have foreground objects, then parallax errors are difficult to avoid but not impossible. Make sure that you take a shot with the foreground object centered horizontally; that will provide a good image for stitching later.

However, I always recommend using a tripod and panoramic head (of some sort). Get in the habit of leveling the base and lining up over the lens no-parallax point, and the result will be optimal.

Finally, shoot a little wider, good overlap, and overshoot at each end. Then, after stitching, there will be lots of space to crop.

I have a variety of panoramic heads, but one can take precise panoramas with very little gear. I use an indexed rotator, nodal rail, univeral L-bracket, and Arca clamp. All my cameras have Arca base plates. With that setup, it's easy to shoot indexed panos aligned with the no-parallax point, and even tilted to move the horizon up or down as needed for composition.