GigaPan rolls out EPIC Pro camera panorama mounts
updated 07:45 pm EDT, Mon March 15, 2010
GigaPan outs three EPIC panorama mounts
GigaPan on Monday introduced a new range of robotic camera panorama mounts. Now expanding to a trio, the line includes the EPIC, EPIC 100 and EPIC Pro. All are meant to produce multi-gigapixel images by stitching together hundreds of images thanks to included post-processing GigaPan Stitch software.
The EPIC and EPIC 100 can accommodate compact digital cameras and some smaller DSLRs, while the EPIC Pro is compatible with DSLRs and large lenses that weigh as much as 10lbs when combined. All include a timer that captures an image every 1, 15, 30, 60, 120 or 300 seconds. GigaPan will also host the large images users capture, allowing them to zoom in, share and explore what they have captured.
The EPIC costs $349, the EPIC 100 $449 and the EPIC Pro $895. All three should ship in April. [via PhotographyBay]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
I Own and its Great But...
The Software for this thing has been in Beta for 2 years, and is still the biggest P.O.S. application on the Planet. There is a 3rd Party Application which is a world of difference, but that will set you back another 200.00 on top of the price of the hardware. I bought the first model which was all metal, and now I see they switched everything over to all plastic. I really love mine, and it really does a very cool job. It works best with a static image, and anything moving will appear all over the place all chopped up. You will find people with their heads missing, floating bodies with missing legs, faces deformed or half mixed with someone else. I have produced some Incredible...JUST INCREDIBLE!!! Images, but you must be willing to give into some of the problems that will happen every single time with a moving object in the photo.
The Very Bad of this system is the Beta Application it comes with, and the MASSIVE, and I mean MASSIVE!!! Time it will take to stitch all the photos together. I get on the Fastest Mac Pro Dual 3.2Ghz Quad Core2, 32Gb RAM, 2 internal Intel's Fastest SSD 256Gb Drives, a stitch Rate of 1 Minute 23 Seconds a photo. Again 00:01:23 Per Stitch Photo with either the included application, or the fancy Paid Version 2.0. Given that a normal 180 degree X 150 degree Pano will take 66 Photos in a Row -BY- 5 Passes will give you a TOTAL of 330 Photos to Stitch together, at a Rate of 00:01:23 = Yields a Total Time of 05:30:00 to Render a completed GigaPixel File in 5 1/2 Hours for ONE!!! Picture!!!
I really do Love my setup, and I recommend this to anyone who asks me how I like mine. I say I love it a lot, but you need to know a few things first...
My only other complaint is their Support Staff is clueless, and will be of no help at all for problems. I've resolved my issues by watching others on youtube with their setups.
ScottG