Review of Spheron VR panoramic photography at Focus on Imaging 2007

Written by Aidan O'Rourke
2007-02-27

At Focus on Imaging 2007 I saw a demonstratino of the Spheron VR system for panoramic photography. Spheron VR manufacture the SpheroCam HDR system which automatically captures 360 degree panoramic images of very high resolution. The method I've used in the past is to mount the camera on a tripod and take a series of photographs moving the camera around for each shot.

Eventually, you get a set of photos, which you then import into a software program that stiches them - I prefer to say - merges them together. It's time consuming, and takes a lot of concentration and effort.

With the Spheron VR system, a motorised head containing a fish eye lens stands on a tripod and takes a series of shots, rotating through 360 degrees. The images are immediately transferred to a dedicated PC running the Spheron VR's own software, and within 5 minutes the panoramic photo is ready.

Because the system takes multiple photos, adjusting for all levels of light, the system can cope with a staggering 26 f-stops.

The photos can be turned into 360 degree panoramas in various formats, and can also be printed. The prints I saw on display were of excellent quality.

Spheron VR is based in Kaiserslautern in central Germany. The price of the system is around 9000 pounds, and is aimed photographers specialising in 360 degree VR.

For more info go to www.spheron.com.

2007-02-27