Comments on: The GigaPan Epic Review, A Motorized Panorama Platform to Create Stunning Photography http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/ The site for the contemporary image maker, using photography and digital imaging Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:47:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Wayne Cosshall http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-288 Wayne Cosshall Sun, 02 May 2010 04:48:22 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-288 The website lists no contact numbers at all, nor a physical address. From what I understand it is basically part of Carnegie Mellon University. But I do have this phone number of Gigapan systems 503.477.6870. I don't know if that is to the switchboard or direct to the person I have dealt with. Hope that helps. What exactly is wrong with it? The website lists no contact numbers at all, nor a physical address. From what I understand it is basically part of Carnegie Mellon University.
But I do have this phone number of Gigapan systems 503.477.6870. I don’t know if that is to the switchboard or direct to the person I have dealt with. Hope that helps.

What exactly is wrong with it?

]]> By: K.C. Williamson III, Ph.D. http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-287 K.C. Williamson III, Ph.D. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:28:15 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-287 Anyone know how to get ahold of these folks other than through e-mail. I purchased the GigaPan Epic Pro three weeks ago and it does not work. I have contacted them by e-mail they asked a few questions and then nothing. The concept of the robot is fantastic but responses from them are all but fantastic. Anyone know how to get ahold of these folks other than through e-mail. I purchased the GigaPan Epic Pro three weeks ago and it does not work. I have contacted them by e-mail they asked a few questions and then nothing. The concept of the robot is fantastic but responses from them are all but fantastic.

]]> By: Greg http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-277 Greg Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:11:21 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-277 had a look at the gigapan site, some really amazing images on that site. I noticed the London at Night Big Ben shot, it took me back to when I visited London after the war in the was there in the early 60's. So many memories and so different. This is truly an amazing device, I especial love the beautiful panos on that site. had a look at the gigapan site, some really amazing images on that site. I noticed the London at Night Big Ben shot, it took me back to when I visited London after the war in the was there in the early 60′s. So many memories and so different. This is truly an amazing device, I especial love the beautiful panos on that site.

]]> By: Greg http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-285 Greg Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:11:21 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-285 had a look at the gigapan site, some really amazing images on that site. I noticed the London at Night Big Ben shot, it took me back to when I visited London after the war in the was there in the early 60's. So many memories and so different. This is truly an amazing device, I especial love the beautiful panos on that site. had a look at the gigapan site, some really amazing images on that site. I noticed the London at Night Big Ben shot, it took me back to when I visited London after the war in the was there in the early 60′s. So many memories and so different. This is truly an amazing device, I especial love the beautiful panos on that site.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-278 Wayne Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:44:56 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-278 It sounds like you've had both yours apart. I haven't done this yet since I have a loan unit from GigaPan and until I know if they want it back or not I thought I'd hold off. From the specs I can see little difference between the Epic and 100 except for the adjustable tripod screw position backwards and forwards, they are so close in weight that I assume the motors and gearing are all the same. Is that your observation from opening them up? Also I assumed the drive was stepper motors through a worm gear similar to the astronomy mounts. Is that what you found? I am making up a small adapter that should let me get my infrared converted 350D on the Epic for some IR panoramas. Can't wait to get that going as my own work (as opposed to what I shoot for the magazine) is IR landscape. The aluminium arrives Monday and I have the tap and die gear to thread it so I can move the camera back enough to both fit the camera in and move the cg to a better position over the pivot axis. It sounds like you’ve had both yours apart. I haven’t done this yet since I have a loan unit from GigaPan and until I know if they want it back or not I thought I’d hold off.

From the specs I can see little difference between the Epic and 100 except for the adjustable tripod screw position backwards and forwards, they are so close in weight that I assume the motors and gearing are all the same. Is that your observation from opening them up? Also I assumed the drive was stepper motors through a worm gear similar to the astronomy mounts. Is that what you found?

I am making up a small adapter that should let me get my infrared converted 350D on the Epic for some IR panoramas. Can’t wait to get that going as my own work (as opposed to what I shoot for the magazine) is IR landscape. The aluminium arrives Monday and I have the tap and die gear to thread it so I can move the camera back enough to both fit the camera in and move the cg to a better position over the pivot axis.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-286 Wayne Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:44:56 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-286 It sounds like you've had both yours apart. I haven't done this yet since I have a loan unit from GigaPan and until I know if they want it back or not I thought I'd hold off. From the specs I can see little difference between the Epic and 100 except for the adjustable tripod screw position backwards and forwards, they are so close in weight that I assume the motors and gearing are all the same. Is that your observation from opening them up? Also I assumed the drive was stepper motors through a worm gear similar to the astronomy mounts. Is that what you found? I am making up a small adapter that should let me get my infrared converted 350D on the Epic for some IR panoramas. Can't wait to get that going as my own work (as opposed to what I shoot for the magazine) is IR landscape. The aluminium arrives Monday and I have the tap and die gear to thread it so I can move the camera back enough to both fit the camera in and move the cg to a better position over the pivot axis. It sounds like you’ve had both yours apart. I haven’t done this yet since I have a loan unit from GigaPan and until I know if they want it back or not I thought I’d hold off.

From the specs I can see little difference between the Epic and 100 except for the adjustable tripod screw position backwards and forwards, they are so close in weight that I assume the motors and gearing are all the same. Is that your observation from opening them up? Also I assumed the drive was stepper motors through a worm gear similar to the astronomy mounts. Is that what you found?

I am making up a small adapter that should let me get my infrared converted 350D on the Epic for some IR panoramas. Can’t wait to get that going as my own work (as opposed to what I shoot for the magazine) is IR landscape. The aluminium arrives Monday and I have the tap and die gear to thread it so I can move the camera back enough to both fit the camera in and move the cg to a better position over the pivot axis.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-276 Wayne Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:53:30 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-276 Hi Dave, you have great work there and thanks for the experienced input. I haven't done long exposures yet, though it is on my list to do next. I'll either modify as you have done or use the self timer and lengthen the time per shot to allow for it. Hi Dave, you have great work there and thanks for the experienced input. I haven’t done long exposures yet, though it is on my list to do next. I’ll either modify as you have done or use the self timer and lengthen the time per shot to allow for it.

]]> By: Wayne http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-284 Wayne Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:53:30 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-284 Hi Dave, you have great work there and thanks for the experienced input. I haven't done long exposures yet, though it is on my list to do next. I'll either modify as you have done or use the self timer and lengthen the time per shot to allow for it. Hi Dave, you have great work there and thanks for the experienced input. I haven’t done long exposures yet, though it is on my list to do next. I’ll either modify as you have done or use the self timer and lengthen the time per shot to allow for it.

]]> By: Dave Belcher http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-275 Dave Belcher Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:41:25 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-275 I have both the original Beta version as well as the Epic 100. For the most part the units work very well. My cameras: Panasonic Lumix FZ50 and Lumix LX2. The FZ50 has a 12x zoom lens made by Leica and it produces very crisp detailed images with the maximum efl of 420mm. One minor problem encountered was when shooting indoor subjects that required long exposures...more than 1/4 second or so. The inertia of the shutter release caused the camera and the Epic 100 mount to vibrate (causing blurred images) because of a sloppy fit of the drive gears on both axes. I fixed the problem very simply by wrapping a layer or two of thin Teflon tape around each axis shaft so there was as snug fit but free to rotate. Works fine! Any vibration is smoothly dampened. My largest image so far is one of 405 exposures and most of mine are 120-300. Largest file is 3.7 GB tiff (7.6GB .RAW) 111,867 x 18,317 pixels. One critical thing during the setup is selecting the FOV (field of view) with the proper orientation of the horizon so that the final file doesn't take on a curve upward or downward. I have stirred the juices of several people locally who have large format digital plotters which will accept media of up to 72 inches wide by 150 feet long. Ripping a big file on the plotters could take anywhere from 1-6 hours. But they assure me they can handle the job. I'm planning an exhibition for next year of plotted images. I have currently about 30 finished files. I have both the original Beta version as well as the Epic 100. For the most part the units work very well. My cameras: Panasonic Lumix FZ50 and Lumix LX2. The FZ50 has a 12x zoom lens made by Leica and it produces very crisp detailed images with the maximum efl of 420mm.

One minor problem encountered was when shooting indoor subjects that required long exposures…more than 1/4 second or so. The inertia of the shutter release caused the camera and the Epic 100 mount to vibrate (causing blurred images) because of a sloppy fit of the drive gears on both axes. I fixed the problem very simply by wrapping a layer or two of thin Teflon tape around each axis shaft so there was as snug fit but free to rotate. Works fine! Any vibration is smoothly dampened.

My largest image so far is one of 405 exposures and most of mine are 120-300. Largest file is 3.7 GB tiff (7.6GB .RAW) 111,867 x 18,317 pixels.

One critical thing during the setup is selecting the FOV (field of view) with the proper orientation of the horizon so that the final file doesn’t take on a curve upward or downward.

I have stirred the juices of several people locally who have large format digital plotters which will accept media of up to 72 inches wide by 150 feet long.
Ripping a big file on the plotters could take anywhere from 1-6 hours. But they assure me they can handle the job.

I’m planning an exhibition for next year of plotted images. I have currently about 30 finished files.

]]> By: Dave Belcher http://www.dimagemaker.com/2009/07/14/the-gigapan-epic-review/#comment-283 Dave Belcher Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:41:25 +0000 http://www.dimagemaker.com/?p=2749#comment-283 I have both the original Beta version as well as the Epic 100. For the most part the units work very well. My cameras: Panasonic Lumix FZ50 and Lumix LX2. The FZ50 has a 12x zoom lens made by Leica and it produces very crisp detailed images with the maximum efl of 420mm. One minor problem encountered was when shooting indoor subjects that required long exposures...more than 1/4 second or so. The inertia of the shutter release caused the camera and the Epic 100 mount to vibrate (causing blurred images) because of a sloppy fit of the drive gears on both axes. I fixed the problem very simply by wrapping a layer or two of thin Teflon tape around each axis shaft so there was as snug fit but free to rotate. Works fine! Any vibration is smoothly dampened. My largest image so far is one of 405 exposures and most of mine are 120-300. Largest file is 3.7 GB tiff (7.6GB .RAW) 111,867 x 18,317 pixels. One critical thing during the setup is selecting the FOV (field of view) with the proper orientation of the horizon so that the final file doesn't take on a curve upward or downward. I have stirred the juices of several people locally who have large format digital plotters which will accept media of up to 72 inches wide by 150 feet long. Ripping a big file on the plotters could take anywhere from 1-6 hours. But they assure me they can handle the job. I'm planning an exhibition for next year of plotted images. I have currently about 30 finished files. I have both the original Beta version as well as the Epic 100. For the most part the units work very well. My cameras: Panasonic Lumix FZ50 and Lumix LX2. The FZ50 has a 12x zoom lens made by Leica and it produces very crisp detailed images with the maximum efl of 420mm.

One minor problem encountered was when shooting indoor subjects that required long exposures…more than 1/4 second or so. The inertia of the shutter release caused the camera and the Epic 100 mount to vibrate (causing blurred images) because of a sloppy fit of the drive gears on both axes. I fixed the problem very simply by wrapping a layer or two of thin Teflon tape around each axis shaft so there was as snug fit but free to rotate. Works fine! Any vibration is smoothly dampened.

My largest image so far is one of 405 exposures and most of mine are 120-300. Largest file is 3.7 GB tiff (7.6GB .RAW) 111,867 x 18,317 pixels.

One critical thing during the setup is selecting the FOV (field of view) with the proper orientation of the horizon so that the final file doesn’t take on a curve upward or downward.

I have stirred the juices of several people locally who have large format digital plotters which will accept media of up to 72 inches wide by 150 feet long.
Ripping a big file on the plotters could take anywhere from 1-6 hours. But they assure me they can handle the job.

I’m planning an exhibition for next year of plotted images. I have currently about 30 finished files.

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