Hello, i would like to know what do you think about sunex kit?
 
is it a good choice to make qtvr fullscreen? is it better than P5100 with E8, and equal to nikkor 10.5 or SIGMA
 
what kind of harware kit do you recommend? with limited budget
 
thank you

It all depends what you mean by "good". Do you mean just optical quality or features and performance?
 
Assuming you mean optical quality only....:
 
It's a GOOD choice but not the BEST choice for full screen QTVR. See an example here: http://www.johnhpanos.com/jl2.htm
 
Yes, it's better than the 5100/FC-E8 but not as "good" as the Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 or the Sigma 10mm f/2.8 or the Sigma 8mm f/3.5. It's around the same as the Sigma 4.5mm f/2.8
 
With this lens, get either the Nikon D40x, D80, D60 or the Canon 400D or the 450D and you'll get great results.

Andrew
Isn't one benefit of the Sunex lens that it can completely cover a sphereical or cubic image without the need for a Zenith or Nadir shot with just 3 shots becasue of its 185° FOV?

Yes, 100% correct.

Hi Badders, Any thoughts on the Sigma 10mm vs. the Nikon 10.5 ? I've been VERY disappointed by the Sigma 8mm 3.5. On my D80 it gives pictures so soft that they look right off David Hamilton. I tried to return it, but Sigma sent it back saying it was "fine". I'm very happy with my other Sigma lens though, the 10-20 ultra wide zoom - a bit more tedious to use than the Nikon fisheye but it's how I get my sharpest panos.

I'd plump for the Nikon as if nothing else, it's cheaper.
 
But here's a link with sample images from both lenses so you can choose for yourself:
 
http://www.360tacticalvr.co.uk/showcase/fisheye_test/

Thanks a lot !

 
Hey  
I recently splurged and bought the Sunex Lens $799 based on its fixed "everything is in focus" no fuss features, Sunex also have their own affordable rotator which I bought for only $199 I also got the Canon 40D and the new Manfrotto 338 Tripod. Was very impressed with it all and thought it would provide me with a great start into this new 360 world. The images are amazing enough for my business model certainly better than the one shot solution and the rotator makes it very simple to use - I did find though that although they claim you can use Sunex for a 2 shot pano their rotator only does 3 stops and hasn't got a 2 shot pano function - would have thought their own equipment would support their claims -  however the 3 stop shoot really doesn't take that much more time to do and certainly gives a great result.  
 
I also spent weeks researching the various stitching software available I even committed the ultimate sin and in the name of productivity installed windows xp on my mac so I could trial PC only based programs as well and make an educated decision.
 
So far I found Stitcher does the best quick no fuss stitch although PTGui has more parameter features Stitcher kicks everyones ass. I only have one continuous problem and don't know if its Stitcher, Me or Sunex thats the problem. For the life of me I can not get rid of the Zenith imperfection on my panos there seams to always be a tiny triangle or a cross at best right in the center of the ceiling.
 
Admittedly tonight I finally bought the full version of Stitcher so I will try and find out if anyone else has had this issue and see if I can get past it.
 
Other than that the setup I have is seamless .....    I wish Stitcher did what Tourweaver or  Show3 do - I'm leaning towards 3D Vista Show3 at the moment for Tours with maps and radars etc its really simple to use and although Tourweaver has some great functions its too difficult to use right of the top... So I'm about to make the final purchase decision and be done with it.

Mista Damir
There was a long thread about the Sunex 5.6mm on www.Panoguide.com that was started by Sunex. One conclusion we came to, after being provided with some source photos, was that the Sunex wasn't able to produce just 2 fisheye images that could be stitched with an acceptable seam.
 
With 3 shots it did a great job using the sample source photos they provided on a couple different stitching programs

Doug,
 
Our testing here with new rotators is showing great results for 2 shot stitching. Watch for more news soon...

badders,
 
I'm interested in which rotators you are using for the testing, everything I have tried so far with the Sunex rotator has resulted in seam marks and sometimes even a black trianglein the zenith. The guys at Sunex say that they have used their own rotator for their 2 shot pano examples even without there being an official 180 stop, so they would have been guessing where to take the second shot from.
 
I find this difficult to understand when my Sunex rotator can't produce a good result from their suggested 3 stop scenario. It seams that the camera doesn't sit at a clean 90 angle and the rotator wobbles when in its locked position up, down and left to right, I filmed it doing so and sent the video to Sunex so far they have been helpful in trying to prove me wrong and attempted to stitch my images then sent me their stitched pano having used PTGui however in my opinion their so called successful stitching result is absolutely unacceptable.
 
I downloaded their 2 shot example and stitched it in seconds with Stitcher absolutely no problem 100% perfect, so I'm thinking perhaps I have a dud rotator... after all it is only $199 but it still should work.
 
I'm trying to tell them that the camera leans back away from the nodal point due to the slack in the rotator therefore leaving a gap so even with the 5 degree overlap from all 3 images there is still not enough leftover to create a clean end result.
 
To top it off my circular images from the Sunex lens are not in the center of the frame so when calibrating the lens in Stitcher and drawing the circle the actual circle is outside the whole frame at the bottom  
 
What other rotator brand's are there that would take the Sunex lens.

Hi Mista,
 
A lot of points there! Let me try to cover them one by one...
 
1. Can't give you details at present on rotator designs. Please wait for further info.
2. Black triangle at zenith: What software are you using to stitch?
3. No need to guess the second shot. It is precisely 180 degs opposite the first shot.
4. Can't produce a good result from 3 shot scenario: Again, What software are you using?
5. You say your rotator is wobbling up, down, left and right. Can you define is this the rotator itself or the camera inside the clamp? If it's the clamp on the camera it can be tightened. If it's the rotator itself sounds to me like you need to return for repair/replacement.
6. No images from ANY fisheye lens sits in the center of ANY frame on ANY camera. All cameras produce offset fisheye images due to sensor shift.
7. Both Nodal Ninja and 360Precision are developing a rotator for the Sunex lens in addition to those I can't yet discuss.  
 
Just read your previous posting. If you are trying to stitch 3 shots from the Sunex lens in Stitcher, are you de-warping the images first, using the Sunex de-warper plug-in for Photoshop?

badders,
 
2. I'm using Stitcher Unlimited for stitching - it does an amazing job all round straight up only thing is the zenith.
3. when I say they must be guessing I meant that the rotator they are saying they used is the sunex rotator which has only 3 stops and doesn't have the click stop for the 180.
4. Stitcher Unlimited
5. The clamp is solid no prob, definitely wobble at the rotator join  
6. Thanks for that info I was only refrering to the 2 shot images that sunex have available for download here: http://www.sunex.com/dslr/virtualtour.htm     their image is perfect while the circle on my image sits outside the frame at the bottom
7. Will definitely look into the other rotator options thanks
 
I realize there is alot to learn here so I'll knuckle thanks for the support mate

PS/
 
I'm a Mac user the Sunex dewarp plugin only works on windows although I have windows installed on my mac for my Virtual Tour software at this stage I only have a Mac version of SC3....

Andrew
I'll be looking forward to seeing if the Sunex 5.6mm can be used for 2 fisheye stitching with the right rotator and No Parallax Point setting.
 
If I could get the step up in quality from my Coolpix 5400/FC-E9 to a dSLR with a 2 shot capture, I'd definitely start saving money for a Sunex
 
Thanx for keeping us updated

Mista Damir,
 
I happened to be reading through this thread and noticed your issue(s).  I too have the Sunex lens and rotator.  I use a Nikon D300 body though.  I think I am in a smaller group which goes a step further and is doing HDR (High Dynamic Range) 360's, which is quite a bit more time intensive to make it look just right.  
 
In any case, I feel your pain with the Zenith issue.  In all of my shots I either have a slightly noticeable stitch line where the three images meet or.....depending on my HDR method for the room, it is very obvious.  I shoot mostly residential real estate and sometimes commercial (restaurants, country clubs, casino's, etc.).  Residential isn't so much of a worry, but when people are paying me 10-15 times for a commercial job, I get concerned.
 
I am hoping Stitcher....Sunex.....one of them can figure out the issue(s) and get it resolved quickly.  Here are some links to some recent virtual tours where you can see the problems:
 
http://www.360lv.com/property_imag [...] ameset.htm
http://www.360lv.com/property_imag [...] ameset.htm
http://www.360lv.com/property_imag [...] ameset.htm
http://www.360lv.com/demo2
 
If anyone has a response on a workaround, I would love to hear it.
 
Thanks,
 
Shane Sayles
360LV.COM
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 270-4619 - Office
Shane@360LV.COM - Email

Shane,
 
First of all, love your work mate, secondly in a strange way I am sort of relieved that I am not the only one with the Sunex zenith issue. I have tried all sorts of stitching software and so far there is no easy way around it.
 
Stitcher produces very good all round results most of the time appart from the 99.9% zenith problem however there are different results from stitch to stitch even when using the same 3 shots.
 
PTGui most times does a better job at the zenith but it will for some reason produce mismatched horizontal lines in odd places and it takes alot of fiddling with control points to get a reasonable image.
 
They both seam to be good at different things, it's the inconsistency that bothers me. I usually have to use Photoshop for retouching, cloning , airbrushing etc and I hate having to do it.  
 
We bought the Sunex as a trial based on its fixed features, set and forget ... yeah right..    lucky we didn't buy all 20 units at the same time, now we are rethinking our whole approach to the services we are confident in offering at an achievable price - really wanted a two shot solution but thought ok fine if 3 shots gives a better result lets do it.
 
Strangely enough its easier to be doing the old 6 + top/bottom images and be done with it, I was hoping that the Sunex gear would be more of a solution than a short cut, because as we all know taking shortcuts just doesn't pay.
 
Although I still am interested to know how come the Sunex 2 shot examples are so perfect when I download and stitch them successfully in 10sec and our 3 shot images cant be stitched the same.   hhhmmm    
 
Thanks,

Shane
For your non-real estate work, render the image as the 6 cubic faces saves as TIFFs.
 
Open the Zenith face in Photoshop and use the Rubber Stamp tool (Clone tool in some programs) to copy some of the ceiling around the Zenith over it
 
I do the same thing to edit out my tripod when a hotel customer doesn't want a tripod cap

Shane have you had any luck with this yet?
 
ppss// Sunex have offered to replace my rotator... I must admit the guys have been very helpful in trouble shooting and providing some solutions.
 
Cheers

Hi all

I've got the Sunex now, with their rotator, and a D300.  

Several comments and yes, good to see some people having the same issues.  

First - great lens, great workflow, but yes, there are issues that I'm experiencing too.  

The Zenith issue i've had to fix on all my shots with cloning, although it's quite quick to just open the top face.  I also notice a very clear nadir hole on all my panos, but I cap them so it doesn't matter.

The rotator does seem a bit deficient.  I had the Agnos mRotatorB and it was solid...this definitely seems to have give in a number of areas:

1) Side to side from within each of the 3 click stops...i've noticed that I have to hold the camera with a slight pressure to ensure my multi-shots (for HDR) don't end up slightly out of alignment

2) The clamp...it seems like it's not the right size.  The lens fits within it, but there are noticeable gaps on either side when clamped down; I'm thinking that might be causing some of the issues by subtly offsetting the lens a few degrees.

3) Just a minor gripe, but why offset the big connector to the side?  Just have the big one and let me use a thread adaptor!  

Some samples:

http://fundyislands.com/index.php? [...] &Itemid=57
Inline on a page - Hole in the Wall

http://fundyislands.com/HITW_01.swf
Fullscreen - Hole in the Wall

http://fundyislands.com/index.php? [...] &Itemid=58
Inline on a page - Seal Cove

http://fundyislands.com/Seal_Cove_02C.swf
Fullscreen - Seal Cove

I already fixed the Hole in the Wall shot, but you can see some Zenith troubles on the Seal Cove shot: http://fundyislands.com/Seal_Cove_02C_u.jpg

Not terrible, but noticeable, and worse on some shots than others.  The hole in the wall one was pretty significant.

Hey Sunex fellows,
 
I have come to some new conclusions, yes the rotator is not perfect it does wobble etc but I have found with last nights testing that its sort of like when something hurts when you touch it, "it hurts when I do this... ouch" in most cases you will find that it hurts far less or not at all if you dont touch it.
 
The rotator seams to fall and sit in the same place if left alone when you turn it to the next click/stop so if you use the timer you are more likely to get more stable results. However if you have just bought the rotator and it's wobbling get onto Francois asap and get it replaced - I actually filmed the rotator wobbling and emailed the video through with some stitching tests which clearly showed that there is an issue... it's now being replaced    
 
I was at wits end with constant stitching issues and thought even though I already purchased Stitcher Unlimited I wanted to give myself the best chance at getting a good solid result and bought PTGui Pro as well.  
 
I was amazed at how on some shots one gives totally different results to the other and although they both differ in features in my opinion I believe that If you are serious about your work then I STRONGLY suggest that you have every tool possible to make your life easier. You have to go with whatever is best for the job.
 
Last night I used PTGui for stitching and was stunned, and even though I still have some small imperfections in the zenith they are certainly far less than a whopping black triangle which I got again today with Stitcher when I did another A/B test.   ????? is that all about anyway?
 
So I'm hoping that getting my rotator replaced will make the issue disappear altogether but that aside I now have a new confidence that I can achieve a great result.  
 
Stitcher definitely has issues with the zenith with the Sunex lens at the moment, hopefully they will finetune the software to accommodate because Sunex is going to make some waves in this industry thats for sure and at this stage I love having both Stitcher and PTGui for peace of mind, for the little bit of extra few dollars its worth having both. Best of both worlds
 
Personally the overall investment required to get into this industry on a pro level isn't really all that much when you think that it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to start any business.
 
Sunex lens + Sunex Rotator + Stitcher + PTGui + Canon 40D =    you can't go wrong

radialstudios,
 
To cover a couple of points you made:
 
2. Clamp gap: This is correct. If the clamp closed fully you may not have the lens seated tightly enough. You need either a gap or a washer ring system to lock.
 
3. Totally agree.