Camera

• Most any camera will work for Panoramic Gigapixel style photography. (Call if you have questions.)
  • We will be working with RAW images so highly recommend your camera has and is set to RAW storage capability.
  • At least 22 Megapixels or higher. More Megapixels = higher resolution. I shoot Canon R5 w/ 45 Megapixels and a Canon 5DSR with 51 Megapixels.
    • 45 Megapixel and larger cameras produce awesome images but burns hard drive space. Bring a big external drive!
  • APS-C or Full Frame is OK.
• Focus Stacking Sessions
  • You will need a camera with built in Focus Bracketing capability.
  • Canon R5, Nikon Z7/Z9 and Sony A7R5 all support Focus Bracketing.
  • Olympus OMD E-M1 Mark II OMD E-M1 (firmware version 4.0) OMD E-M5 Mark II (firmware version 2.0) OMD E-M10 Mark II PEN-F
  • Not every lens is compatible with the focus bracketing so make sure your lens is compatible.
• For HDR work (optional) you will need a camera capable of doing Bracketed images.
• Night Photography (optional) requires higher end camera with low noise, high ISO. Sony A7RIxx, Nikon D850 or Z7, Canon R5 or 5Div, Panasonic GH4
• Instruction Manual for your camera. (Read your manual. Don’t buy a new camera and come to workshop to learn how to use it.)

Batteries

• Make sure to bring plenty of spare batteries (minimum 3) and your chargers.
• Also spare batteries for your other accessories such as remote controls, robotic head, head lights etc,

Memory Cards

• Recommend at least 2 ea. 256 – 512 GB or 4 ea. 128 GB cards.
  • When focus bracketing with long lens it is common to shoot up to 3,000 photos in a single panorama session.

Lens

• Ultra High Resolution imagery requires telephoto lenses. I typically use 70mm – 300mm.
  • For the Focus Stacking portion I recommend beginners use focal lengths of <=200mm.
    • I have used up to 600mm.
• Zoom lenses are OK. (Bring gaffers tape or blue painters tape to hold focus & zoom rings in place.)
• Some people prefer prime lenses. They are good. I often use my Canon 300mm f/4 lens
• For optional Night Photography session bring (or rent) your widest, fastest lens. You will need f-2.8 or faster.
  • I use either 24-70mm f-2.8 zoom or my 14mm, f-2.8.
  • Ultra wide “Fish Eye” lenses do not work well for stitching night photos.
  • 14mm – 24mm for full frame cameras
  • 10mm – 18mm for APS-C sensors.

Tripod

• A sturdy tripod is a critical part of your equipment.
• Bring your standard pan & tilt or ball head.

Panoramic Nodal Head (options)

• Nodal Ninja Manual Heads (either of these 4)
  • • NN6 w/ Nadir Adapter D10, 8-100mm lenses $399
    • M2 w/RD16-II (F8002), 8-200mm lenses $549
    • M2 with RD8-II Rotator (F8001) 8-400+mm lenses $599
    • M2 Giga w/RD8-II (F9000) 8-400+mm lenses $799
• Really Right Stuff Manual Head
  • PG-02 FC MK2 Full Cradle Pano-Gimbal Head w/Arca Lever-clamp
• Robotic heads
  • PanoCatcher Pivot
  • Dual Axis MECHA C2-E2-E2 With NN6 and Nadir Adapter
  • Gigapan Epic Pro V
  • Make sure to bring charger and at least one spare battery.
• Instruction Manual for head.

Wired or (Wireless Remote Shutter Control – optional)

• Remote shutter is important if you are using manual head.

Laptop Computer

• Should have minimum of 16GB (32 – 64 GB recommended.) of memory
• 500 GB of free space on hard drive recommended.
• Card Reader for your memory cards. ( Or USB cable for camera to download photos.)
• External USB 3.0 hard drive. 4 TB or greater free space.
• Required software:
  • Adobe Photoshop. Highly recommend CC2021 or later.
  • If you don’t have Photoshop you can purchase Creative Cloud for a $10 per month subscription.
• Stitching Software (These are optional – Photoshop supports limited stitching.)
  • PTgui Recommended (Demo version is OK but adds watermark)
  • Panoweaver 10
  • Adobe Camera Raw and/or Lightroom (CC version supports stitching limited # of images.)
• Focus Bracketing Software
  • Helicon Focus Pro
  • Zerene Stacker Professional
• HDR Software (for Optional HDR session)
  • PTIgui Pro version has HDR capability.
  • Photomatix
  • Adobe Camera Raw and/or Lightroom (CC version supports HDR stitching of limited # of images.)

Clothing for varying weather conditions.

• Dress in layers.
  • Early mornings can be below freezing. Afternoons may get into 70’s. Evenings cool off very quickly after sunset.
• Gloves and head coverings.
• Comfortable hiking shoes. We may go on short hikes up to 1/2 mile.
• Flashlights or Headlamps highly advised for night photography sessions w/ extra batteries.

Water & Snacks

• Plan on having plenty of water. Humidity in this area is often quite low.
• Snacks for field sessions.

Cell Phone

• Can be of limited use in the remote Mountains. Cell coverage is spotty.
• Useful for your favorite photo apps. (Photo Pills )

Contact Info:

John Freeman, 303-485-9437 Home

email [email protected]

Feel free to contact me for more information and any questions you may have.

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