Panorama Calculator

How many images are needed
to shoot a panorama?

Instructions

Step 1

Enter your lens data and the size of the sensor. You can use the pulldown menus to pick the values of some common cameras and lenses.

Step 2

Push the first button 'calculate now!' The FOV for both the fisheye and normal lens is calculated.

Step 3

Choose a desired overlap and panorama angle and calculate the number of images needed using the second "calculate" button.

Step 4

Enter a number of images close to the resulting number from (3) and decide if this number will result in an acceptable overlap by pushing the third "calculate" button.

Credit:

This calculator was written by Frank van der Pol, used here with his friendly permission. Visit his panorama site for some great VR views of Holland.

This calculator can be used to calculate the Field Of View of both fisheye and normal lenses and the number of images needed for a panorama using a given overlap. You can also find out how much overlap you get with a given number of images. By playing with the number you can optimize your shooting strategy.

1. Enter Camera Data

Focal Length	mm	Film/CCD height	mm
Size utilization	%	Film/CCD width	mm
		Min. image circle	mm

2. Calculate Field Of View

For fisheye lens		For normal lens
VFOV (portrait)	deg	VFOV (portrait)	deg
HFOV (portrait)	deg	HFOV (portrait)	deg
FOV min. image circle	deg	FOV min. image circle	deg

3. Calculate Panorama

Overlap in % of FOV	%	Overlap in % of FOV	%
Desired panorama FOV	deg	Desired panorama FOV	deg
Nr. of images landscape		Nr. of images landscape
Nr. of images portrait		Nr. of images portrait

4. Calculate Overlap

Given nr. of images		Given nr. of images
Overlap landscape	%	Overlap landscape	%
Overlap portrait	%	Overlap portrait	%

Note:

The calculation for fisheye lenses is theoretical. If the image is larger than the image circle of the lens (i.e. circular fisheye) the calculator will not warn you for the fact that the image area will not be covered by the image circle of the lens.