RickDB

Something called "ad.yieldmanager" is slowing my computer down and as far as I

can make out it is some sort of spyware and seems to be coming from PN.

Anyone noticed this and know how to stop it?

If you can make good panoramas and good HDR pictures, then you are virtually there. I have done some experiments and use the following technique in CS3. Make each set of HDR photos at the same exposures, then select the photo set with the widest dynamic range and merge it to HDR, switch to 16 bit/channel and tone map using Local Adaptation. Adjust the tone mapping curve and make a note of the input/output % at each inflection point you have set on the curve, and then save. Repeat this merge to HDR for each shot of the panorama and set the tone mapping curve for each frame exactly as you did in the first merge. When you have completed the HDR conversion you are ready to create your panorama and there should be no artifacts from "exposure" variation.

I have briefly looked at PTgui but the merge to panorama seems less forgiving of parallax errors than CS3 - I didn't progress to HDR and panoramic merge with PTgui.

Absolutely you should look at the work of Theo, pretty amazing and he doesn't use even a pano head to avoid parallax errors but compensates with a large overlap. Good luck, and I hope you post some results on PN! Cheers, RickDB

Just back from a 3 week organized tour of northern India - I took a Canon 10-22mm lens (on 40D) which I found invaluable for interiors of palaces and forts. It is also great for taking candid shots of people - they don't realize that they are included in the wide field of view.

If you are primarily interested in landscapes, then stitching pictures to give a panorama is a good alternative to an ultra wide angle lens.

Enjoy your trip...Rick