EC Container 4
Apr 2010
Why Use a Virtual Video?
02/04/10 13:58 Filed in: Product Feature
Why use a Virtual Video?
The simple answer to this question is: Virtual Videos (like Virtual Tours) are a very cost effective way to help promote your property/business!
If you are selling your property, imagine being a potential purchaser, and viewing a flat, lifeless webpage with a few photographs supplied by your Estate Agent of your house on it.
Now imagine visiting the same web page with a fully immersive Virtual Video on there, enabling you to see more of the property, using captions, photographs, video, music and narration - much like this:
Which of the two scenarios do you think is more likely to generate leads to a sale of the property?
Businesses can use Virtual Videos to enable potential customers to view their premises, or products, and to promote them in an extremely cost effective manner. Ideal for pubs, restaurants, hotels, showrooms etc....
Virtual Videos work!
Contact us for a quote TODAY!
The simple answer to this question is: Virtual Videos (like Virtual Tours) are a very cost effective way to help promote your property/business!
If you are selling your property, imagine being a potential purchaser, and viewing a flat, lifeless webpage with a few photographs supplied by your Estate Agent of your house on it.
Now imagine visiting the same web page with a fully immersive Virtual Video on there, enabling you to see more of the property, using captions, photographs, video, music and narration - much like this:
Which of the two scenarios do you think is more likely to generate leads to a sale of the property?
Businesses can use Virtual Videos to enable potential customers to view their premises, or products, and to promote them in an extremely cost effective manner. Ideal for pubs, restaurants, hotels, showrooms etc....
Virtual Videos work!
Contact us for a quote TODAY!
Tips & Tricks - Panoramas without a tripod!
02/04/10 13:50 Filed in: Tips & Tricks
The tripod is an essential piece of equipment when taking panoramic pictures, as it keeps everything level and and steady to make the life of the stitching software easier.
But what if you're out with your camera and don't have a tripod with you, and you spot the chance of a great shot?
One little tip is to stand still, put your index finger under the lens of the camera (as near to the camera as possible, but still allowing freedom to move the camera in either direction), and then rotate the camera around on your index finger - using it as a make-shift tripod! Keep your finger in the same position throughout (better still if you can rest your hand on, or against something to provide extra stability), and take the shots as required, allowing between 30-50% over-lap between each shot.
It's not always perfect, but its a nice down and dirty way to obtain an acceptable result with the minimum of equipment!
But what if you're out with your camera and don't have a tripod with you, and you spot the chance of a great shot?
One little tip is to stand still, put your index finger under the lens of the camera (as near to the camera as possible, but still allowing freedom to move the camera in either direction), and then rotate the camera around on your index finger - using it as a make-shift tripod! Keep your finger in the same position throughout (better still if you can rest your hand on, or against something to provide extra stability), and take the shots as required, allowing between 30-50% over-lap between each shot.
It's not always perfect, but its a nice down and dirty way to obtain an acceptable result with the minimum of equipment!
Tips & Tricks - Image Stabilisation
02/04/10 13:47 Filed in: Tips & Tricks
Have you ever wondered why an image taken on a camera mounted on a tripod, or other stable platform, sometimes comes out blurred?
Image Stabilisation is a wonderful thing, but it's only really ideal for hand-held photography, and when mounted on a tripod, the IS mechanisms can actually cause the camera/lens to "judder", and therefore cause your pictures to blur!
There are some fancy new IS mechanisms in lenses and cameras that have "Tripod Detect" systems, and will automatically turn off the IS when it knows the camera is on a tripod, but if your camera or lens doesn't have this, the best rule of thumb is to always switch OFF Image Stabilisation, when using a tripod.
Also to minimise camera shake, there are a few other tricks you can use when using a tripod....
Mirror-Up-Lock: If your DSLR camera has a mirror-up lock (MUL) then use it to lock the mirror in place, as the movement of the mirror being flipped up when the shutter is pressed can cause camera vibration.
Self-Timer: Most DSLR cameras have a self-timer built in, and its a relatively easy method to use. Compose the shot, press the shutter, and wait for the timer to complete. However, it does lack the immediacy that some shots may require, but generally is a good way to reduce camera shake.
Remote Control: If your camera supports a remote control this could be the option for you. It gives you the immediacy that is lacking with the Self-Timer method. However, some cameras remote control receivers are not always that brilliant, and some only work if you're standing directly in front of them - ideal if you want to be in every shot you take, not so ideal if you're trying to take a picture of a landscape!
Cable Release: The old cable-release found on analogue cameras, has been updated and is available for the majority of DSLR's . This is my preferred method of reducing camera shake, as you can stay close to the camera, you get the immediacy of the shot, and you can normally "lock" the shutter for "Bulb" mode shots for super-long exposures. Cable Releases can be picked up as OEM equipment on eBay for just a few pounds, and I for one would highly recommend having one in your camera-bag!
Image Stabilisation is a wonderful thing, but it's only really ideal for hand-held photography, and when mounted on a tripod, the IS mechanisms can actually cause the camera/lens to "judder", and therefore cause your pictures to blur!
There are some fancy new IS mechanisms in lenses and cameras that have "Tripod Detect" systems, and will automatically turn off the IS when it knows the camera is on a tripod, but if your camera or lens doesn't have this, the best rule of thumb is to always switch OFF Image Stabilisation, when using a tripod.
Also to minimise camera shake, there are a few other tricks you can use when using a tripod....
Mirror-Up-Lock: If your DSLR camera has a mirror-up lock (MUL) then use it to lock the mirror in place, as the movement of the mirror being flipped up when the shutter is pressed can cause camera vibration.
Self-Timer: Most DSLR cameras have a self-timer built in, and its a relatively easy method to use. Compose the shot, press the shutter, and wait for the timer to complete. However, it does lack the immediacy that some shots may require, but generally is a good way to reduce camera shake.
Remote Control: If your camera supports a remote control this could be the option for you. It gives you the immediacy that is lacking with the Self-Timer method. However, some cameras remote control receivers are not always that brilliant, and some only work if you're standing directly in front of them - ideal if you want to be in every shot you take, not so ideal if you're trying to take a picture of a landscape!
Cable Release: The old cable-release found on analogue cameras, has been updated and is available for the majority of DSLR's . This is my preferred method of reducing camera shake, as you can stay close to the camera, you get the immediacy of the shot, and you can normally "lock" the shutter for "Bulb" mode shots for super-long exposures. Cable Releases can be picked up as OEM equipment on eBay for just a few pounds, and I for one would highly recommend having one in your camera-bag!
EC Container 5