How to shoot a panoramic picture

Essential (in this case):

• Digital Camera
• Stitching Software (e.g. PTgui, Photoshop, Stitcher Unlimited)

Nonessential, but would be nice to have:

• Tripod
• Panoramic Tripod Head (e.g. Nodal Ninja, Manfrotto 303SPH)
• Spirit level

If you’re serious about pano, then I would suggest that you use a tripod and a panoramic tripod head. You’ll have more options and better panoramas with these two items. With a panoramic head, two things that immediately come to mind: first, you’ll be able to eliminate parallax; second, you have the option to make different types of panoramas, including VR pano or “little planets”.

Camera Settings:

• Set quality to RAW (if preferred)
• I choose RAW because I want the most options available to me in post processing.
• Choose a low ISO and, if applicable, make sure “AUTO ISO” is off.
• This keeps noise out of the movie, and its exposure consistent.
• Set your white balance
• Set camera to “Manual”
• Meter you main subject.
• You’ll want the same aperture and shutter speed for all frames.
• This keeps the movie’s exposure consistent.
• This is very important where lighting may change (ex: sunrise or sunset).
• If possible, choose an aperture with great depth of field.
• Turn Auto focus off
• You’ll want your focus point consistent in all exposures

Overlap images by at least 25%

Position your tripod and level your camera with the horizon. If you don’t level your camera, you may end up having to crop your image in post processing to level the horizon. If using a panoramic head, set you settings for your camera body and lens.  Now make sure that each exposure captured overlaps one another. I would suggest by at least 25%.  From here on it should be all post processing. The stitching software should do all the work.