VR TOUR

SHOOTING INSTRUCTIONS

Version v2.0 - 2021-03-01

PREPARE

WHAT EQUIPMENT TO BRING FOR THE VR TOUR SHOOTING?

CAMERA

Professional Full-frame or APS-C camera

PANORAMIC HEAD

Required and mandatory
Be careful of the nodal point while setup

LENS

Fish-eye
Full-frame : 8mm à 16mm
APS-C : 8mm à 12mm

TRIPOD

A stable tripod give you a perfect control

SETTINGS

WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED SETTINGS?

THE FOCUS

Set to Manual Focus (MF)
Close the diaphragm between F11 and F16 and keep this setting throughout the shot
If your lens is automatic, turn on DOF preview mode (see your camera manual) so you can see the depth of field
Frame your first photo with the most space in front of you
Set the focus ring to the hyperfocal (gently turn the focus ring to infinity and stop as soon as you see the farthest object in focus)
Keep this focus setting and shoot the panorama

/!\ Warning

Redo this focus technique for each panorama!
Do not place the camera too close to the subject. Try to position the camera at least 0.5m towards the nearest object.
If you find the space too narrow, try closing the diaphragm (down to f16) to increase your depth of field.
Do not close the diaphragm to tinier than f16 or your shots will be less qualitative (blur, flat colors, as well as dust and chromatic aberrations, will appear)

TRIPOD SETTING - NODAL POINT

Warning: Please follow these instructions carefully to properly set the nodal point at the center of rotation or your panorama may not be stitched correctly, and therefore the shots may be refused.

Follow this tutorial:

https://youtu.be/k0HaRZi-FWs?t=51

MODE

Aperture Priority (Av)

APERTURE

F/11 to F/16 (keep the same aperture settings all along the panoramas shot)

ISO

200

WHITE BALANCE

Auto

BRACKETING

-2 ; 0 ; +2

LIGHT MESUREMENT

Matrix/Multispot

TIMER

2 to 3 secondes

RATIO

2:3

FORMAT

Portrait (vertical)

RESOLUTION

Minimum 4200px large edge

PHOTOSHOOT

photoshoot

SHOOTING

After setting the camera, tripod, and nodal point at a good position, set the camera angle at 0° and shoot the first photo.
Rotate the pan head clockwise to another frame, make sure you have at least 25% overlap with the previous shot.
Continue to shoot and repeat the rotation to make 1 circle (360°).
Set the camera to another angle and continue to make another circle (See "Number of photos per panorama" to know how many circles needed).
When all circles are done, angle the camera to 90° against the ground to shoot the Nadir frame.
Angle the camera to 90° against the sky to shoot the Zenith frame.

NUMBER OF PHOTOS PER PANORAMA

*Nadir frame: 90° against the ground

*Zenith frame: 90° against the sky

NUMBER OF PANORAMAS

number of panoramas

Warning : Be sure to strictly respect the number of panoramas requested or the virtual tour will not be able to be created correctly, your shots will therefore be refused.

FOR SIMPLE REAL-ESTATE VR TOUR

The number of panoramas requested is specific for each assignment (see "offer" on the assignment page). After defining the number of panoramas needed, the shoot begins with the priority points of view.

Priority points of view:

Entrance
Bedroom
Living room
Kitchen
Bathroom
Balcony / terrace

FOR GOOGLE STREETVIEW VR TOUR

For the Google street view mission, the number of panoramas depends on the area of the establishment.

The request is as follows:

Exterior panoramas: 3 panoramas

1st panorama: 3 meters from the central door.

2nd panorama: 1.5 meters from the central door.

3rd panorama: 0.5 meters from the inside toward the door

Interior panoramas: No limit

The number of interior panoramas depends on the area of the establishment.

The spaces between each panorama are between 1 and 4.5m (see map)

ATTENTION !

IT IS IMPORTANT TO PHOTOGRAPH ALL PUBLIC SPACES, EACH ROOM SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE PANORAMA.

IF YOU CANNOT ACCESS A PUBLIC SPACE DURING THE SHOOTING FOR CERTAIN REASONS, IT IS MANDATORY TO LEAVE AN ACCURATE COMMENT ON YOUR MISSION.

DO AND DON'T

DO

COMPOSITION

Brightness plays an important role in the quality of the panorama, make sure you have a well-lit setting, especially indoors.
The virtual visit must simulate the human journey, make sure to open the doors of the establishment.
All lights should be on, including in daylight. Curtains/blinds must be open.
Make sure that the rooms are aesthetically pleasing (tidy, clean, ...)
The screens (TV or computer) must be turned off - or on a logo.
Hide bins and cables as much as possible (pay attention to the equipment in the field)

TECHNICAL

Clean your lens well.
Leave an overlap of at least 25% between two frames nearby
Make sure you have enough images for each panorama so the panorama can be rendered at 360°
Bring each frame in bracketing (-2; 0; +2) and make sure that the middle one is perfectly exposed.
All images should be sharp, it is important to make sure the depth of field has been set correctly (aperture between f11 and f16) and the focus is well made.
Make sure you have enough panorama to create a tour around the establishment; do not miss any corner.

DON'T

COMPOSITION

No animal, human in the field of view, avoid as much as possible on the exterior shot
Neither the photographer nor his equipment appears in a mirror or in the glass reflection.
Make sure there are no obstacles in the way of movement.

TECHNICAL

Do not perform any retouch, nor stitching panorama, merging HDR, OCUS will take care of it.
Do not take too many bracketing images: just -2; 0; +2 are sufficient.

FILES EXPORT

Long edge dimensions must be greater than 4200px
Pixel density: At least 300dpi (important)
File Format: JPEG (.jpg)