Hi Louis, thanks for the informative video. I am wondering about the chrome ball/mirror ball technique. Doesn't taking a photo of a chrome ball only capture a 180 degree surrounding? How do you get a full cubemap out of that?
The mirror ball captures the full 360, this can be seen by waving ones hand behind the mirror ball and seeing it at the very rim of the ball. This also accounts for the lower resolution of the behind scene when stretching out into another projection like equirectangular or cubemap.
Great comparison, thank you. This video is 3 years old now, any new recommendations or updated preferences? I'm debating picking up a Theta Z1 or continue to save up for a full $4k camera rig.
I think I'd go for the Z1 now too. The variable aperture and high shutter speed should address the exposure issue I was having with the old thetas. I've not used the full camera rig in a long time.
just curious. If you took a picture of the reflective gazing ball to raw DNG you would only have to take one pic right? Then the exposure can be adjusted in photoshop to save and combine together? I need all the help I can get right now. I dont have deep enough pockets for anything expensive lol. Great vid though.
unfortunately, you'll probably need to take more pictures, because your camera only captures a certain amount of dynamic range. but 3 pics should be enough (1 normal, 1 very underexposed, 1 very overexposed)
I used the chrome ball for both. I search for baoding balls on ebay. However it was hit and miss for me finding optically good ones, with low distortion.
Hey man, great tutorial! I know this is an old video but I have a quick question, for the chrome ball technique, I'd like to take two angles of shooting to cover the absolute full 360° range of lighting (although I know you can just take the pictures from one side). I was wondering how you can do this through Photoshop, and if flexify can be used for this process also? Like how can you successfully stitch the two sets of photos together to make the panorama, and then put that in to flexify if that makes sense? Would be really thankful if you could help me out!
Thanks. So, you want to get the full 360 without the resolution degradation of capturing just one side? I'd probably run through the same process on both images, so you have 2 equirectangular images, then use the offset transform to effectively rotate one so the features align with the other and mask away the lower resolution parts. Not a hugely accurate method. PT Gui could probably align and give you an aligned and stitched output, but I've not tried it with mirror balls.
@@masondececchis1402 Hi, this guy uses the back and front view and fuse them on after effects (but it can be done the same way on photoshop) :ruclips.net/video/CpvgLwQEooo/видео.html
So Theta S shoots jpegs that can be merged to HDR, then used for lighting? Isn't it better to use raw images? I use a dslr and shoot raw to create HDRIs, but it's such a long process. I'm looking into the mi sphere because it's a 360 camera that shoots raw.
Because you can't underxpose it enough aka the sun is clipping aka the sun is actually really small. No way around it without using some ND filters with at least 10 stops.
If I was buying today I'd go for the Theta Z1. It seems to beat most of the competitors at photo quality, has variable aperture and I'm used to the system.
For the lens, I really like the Sigma 8mm f3.5. I think the camera is more flexible but I've found a full frame camera works well, I've used Canon 5D's and now use a Sony A7RII.
Im working on an nd filter for the theta s to fix the problem with the limited stops
Awesome. I will purchase!
Awesome thanks!
Hi Louis, thanks for the informative video. I am wondering about the chrome ball/mirror ball technique. Doesn't taking a photo of a chrome ball only capture a 180 degree surrounding? How do you get a full cubemap out of that?
The mirror ball captures the full 360, this can be seen by waving ones hand behind the mirror ball and seeing it at the very rim of the ball. This also accounts for the lower resolution of the behind scene when stretching out into another projection like equirectangular or cubemap.
Louis du Mont oh i see now! Ive tried it and you are right. My mind is blown!
with the mirabal youre only capturing one side of the ball. is there a way to capture the other side as well and stitch them together?
Great comparison, thank you. This video is 3 years old now, any new recommendations or updated preferences?
I'm debating picking up a Theta Z1 or continue to save up for a full $4k camera rig.
I think I'd go for the Z1 now too. The variable aperture and high shutter speed should address the exposure issue I was having with the old thetas. I've not used the full camera rig in a long time.
@@ldm Appreciate the response, thanks!
just curious. If you took a picture of the reflective gazing ball to raw DNG you would only have to take one pic right? Then the exposure can be adjusted in photoshop to save and combine together?
I need all the help I can get right now. I dont have deep enough pockets for anything expensive lol. Great vid though.
unfortunately, you'll probably need to take more pictures, because your camera only captures a certain amount of dynamic range. but 3 pics should be enough (1 normal, 1 very underexposed, 1 very overexposed)
Thanks for this, its amazing, where do you recomend i buy the chrome ball? Is this for lighting the subject or just for reflections?
I used the chrome ball for both. I search for baoding balls on ebay. However it was hit and miss for me finding optically good ones, with low distortion.
@@ldm thanks
Hey man, great tutorial! I know this is an old video but I have a quick question, for the chrome ball technique, I'd like to take two angles of shooting to cover the absolute full 360° range of lighting (although I know you can just take the pictures from one side). I was wondering how you can do this through Photoshop, and if flexify can be used for this process also? Like how can you successfully stitch the two sets of photos together to make the panorama, and then put that in to flexify if that makes sense? Would be really thankful if you could help me out!
Thanks. So, you want to get the full 360 without the resolution degradation of capturing just one side? I'd probably run through the same process on both images, so you have 2 equirectangular images, then use the offset transform to effectively rotate one so the features align with the other and mask away the lower resolution parts. Not a hugely accurate method. PT Gui could probably align and give you an aligned and stitched output, but I've not tried it with mirror balls.
Hello! I have just ran into this problem, if you have a solid solution by now, please let me know!
@@masondececchis1402 Hi, this guy uses the back and front view and fuse them on after effects (but it can be done the same way on photoshop) :ruclips.net/video/CpvgLwQEooo/видео.html
Another question i have: do you invert the map when its used as environment lighting?
Esther Zuidgeest hey i have the same question, have you found the answer?
LOBO S i think its not necessairy
wow this is great, thank you so much
So Theta S shoots jpegs that can be merged to HDR, then used for lighting?
Isn't it better to use raw images?
I use a dslr and shoot raw to create HDRIs, but it's such a long process.
I'm looking into the mi sphere because it's a 360 camera that shoots raw.
Cool didn't realise there was a reasonable priced 360 cam that shot raw, will have to check it out! Thanks.
@@ldm yes, both the mi sphere and insta 360 one shoot raw.
Using an autobracket app for the theta, this is pretty trivial to get a good range
you can't bracket with a Theta?
wondering why can't I get sharp shadow from 360 camera made 32bit hdris
Because you can't underxpose it enough aka the sun is clipping aka the sun is actually really small. No way around it without using some ND filters with at least 10 stops.
What is the dimension of christmas ball 🤔 4cm 3 cm ??
Hi, what do you think the best 360 camera is now for hrdi's? insta 360 x2?
If I was buying today I'd go for the Theta Z1. It seems to beat most of the competitors at photo quality, has variable aperture and I'm used to the system.
@@ldm Thank's for the reply. Just seen the price tag though -ouch $1000 lol
@@shavfx3574 Haha yeah, mighty pricey. I keep hearing the new version maybe out soon, so the old one might see some price reductions/sales 🤞
@@ldm Thanks for the info, i may hold off buying then. Cheers
What exactly was your process for using DSLR? if you can shed any light on it that will be really helpful. 😅
Lookup the HDRI haven blogpost on creating high quality hdris :)
Did you use a program to take bracketed photos with the Theta S?
Yes, I used the official theta app to take the bracketed shots.
Could you share how many photos you set it for and the different exposure settings?
I might just buy the theta S
So I can use my remotely programmed gimbal, a wide angle lens and software to create my HDRIs? Say less
Do you have an updated technique of bracketed HDRi? The new Ricoh Theta Z1 has raw. Have you used it?
Not yet, really want to try the Z1. Looks amazing.
Thanks a lot. Could you recomend a camera and lens?
For the lens, I really like the Sigma 8mm f3.5. I think the camera is more flexible but I've found a full frame camera works well, I've used Canon 5D's and now use a Sony A7RII.
What lens do you use for the Sony a7r iii?
NM I see you're using the metabones for the sigma.