My Photos Have A Narrow Depth Of Field; My Camera Is Missing Pictures, Or The First Exposure - GigaPan EPIC PRO V User Manual

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GigaPan User Guide

6.2 My photos have a narrow depth of field

There are several factors that affect the depth of field. You can increase the depth of field
on your camera by:
• increasing the aperture value
• decreasing the focal length
• increasing the distance to your subject
• using a smaller size image sensor
• using auto focus to shift the critical focus if appropriate
You can also consult a depth of field chart provided by your lens manufacturer.
There is a point at which you will experience diminishing returns in image quality while
increasing the aperture value to maximize the depth of field. The image will begin to be
degraded by diffraction losses if you use to high of an aperture value such as f/22 versus
f/8, f/11 or f/16.
You may be able to use auto focus to increase the sharpness of your panorama depending
upon your subject, available light, lens, and camera. Using auto focus allows you to move
the critical focus for each position in your panorama. (See Chapter 2.8 for more information
on auto focus)

6.3 My camera is missing pictures, or the first exposure

There could be several causes for your camera to miss pictures:
1. The GigaPan's platform is moving faster than your camera can take pictures.
a. Navigate to 'Options' > 'Time per Pic' in the GigaPan Menu.
b. Use the directional keys to increase the time that the GigaPan will wait before
moving.
2. While using auto focus you did not focus the lens before starting your panorama.
a. Press the shutter button on your camera halfway to engage the focus system
and achieve good focus before starting your panorama.
3. Auto focus is not achieving focus and not taking pictures.
a. Navigate to 'Options' > 'Expert Options' > 'Shutter Length' in the GigaPan
Menu. Increase the value of the 'Shutter Length' setting to a value greater than
'Time per Pic' to permit the auto focus sub system longer to achieve good focus.
b. If you have a faster lens (lower minimum aperture value such as f/2.8)
consider using this lens. Note that a zoom lens will normally have two values
printed on the lens. A minimum effective aperture at the shortest focal length
and then a slower effective aperture at the longest focal length.
c. Consider using manual focus or a mixed manual focus and auto focus
approach with areas such as sky, water, plain walls that do not contain detailed
features.