Frequently Asked Questions
Answers:
- What is a VR?
- A "VR" or Virtual Reality Panoramic is a term that means the viewer has an interactive experience through a viewfinder such as a computer. A VR technically must allow the viewer full control of what they want to see. This gives the viewer a perspective of feeling like they are actually there or immersed in that moment in time. Imagine, 360 degrees of possibilities.
- Why do some VR's on the internet look pixilated or grainy?
- The answer is simple, equipment and knowledge. Mirino uses the best full-frame camera and lenses on the market, combined with years of media experience.
- Are VR's made with a still or movie camera?
- A still camera is used to obtain the 360 degree panoramic shot. With a fisheye or wide angel lens, overlapping images are taken at precise increments and then a computer technician using special software that stitches all images into one panoramic picture.
- What kind of Camera do you use?
- Mirino uses Canon's EOS 5D SLR with a full frame-sensor combined with the best lenses available. A full frame camera has results that look the closest to film. This gives our clients the best results possible.
- Why would I choose a lens that requires fewer images to produce the VR?
- Fewer images allow for fewer seams when stitched together and ultimately fewer problems. In situations that have movement and people in them there is a chance of ghosting or doubling of images. These can usually be corrected by our graphic designer, but this can be costly.
- What can increase the cost of a VR?
- A standard VR is shot in an environment where there is nothing moving. However some situations will have moving objects and or people which makes it much more difficult to have a perfect stitch resulting in no ghosted images. There can also be low or bright light situations requiring a HDR VR. Also VRs can sometimes be shot in unusual locations and or time consuming to shoot. For example shooting Sean Whites Gold Metal run at X Games13 vs. shooting a house on any given day. It comes down to time, location, and degree of difficulty.
- What is a HDR VR panoramic?
- HDR stands for high dynamic range and refers to an image that contains a very large degree of exposure values. This requires multiple shots at different exposures in order to get the complete range of light in a scene. Three or more exposures are required in order to combine them together to make one perfect photo. This process adds more information that was lost, giving a result that only the human eye can achieve.
- What are the 3 different types of VR's?
- Types of VR's:
Cylindrical: The cylindrical VR is 360° around horizontally by 110° or less vertically. This is usually taken with a wide angel lens that does not distort the image. When the VR is viewed on a computer the user cannot go straight up or straight down.
Spherical:Spherical VR is 360° by 360° and is usually taken with a fisheye lens. The user can view in any direction desired, including straight up and straight down.
Object:Object VR's consist of a series of images shot in sequence and then converted into an interactive digital file. The end user is able to have full control of the movement of the sequence.
- What's the difference between wide angle and fish-eye VRs?
- There are two different types of lenses you can shoot a VR panorama with; a wide angle or a fisheye. A wide-angle lens is flat and has little or no distortion and is usually 14-16mm wide. A 16mm lens would require a minimum of 8 shots around and 2 rows, or 16 photos, to obtain 360° x 360°. However a fisheye has a convex lens and can have a wider angle up to 8mm. A fisheye image is usually distorted due to its convex lens. An 8mm lens only requires 3 shots to obtain 360° x 360°. However, the more pictures that are taken, the more data or higher resolution there is in the VR. By using the correct lens for the subject matter we are able to get the best shot every time.
- How do I know if I need a Fisheye or a Wide Angle shot?
- Both can be printed but fisheye shots look better on the computer and wide angle looks better for print. It all depends on what you will use it for.
