[Leica] OT: Technical Question- Panning vs WA Lens

[kcarney1 at cox.net (Ken Carney)]

On 4/18/2011 1:38 PM, Bob Adler wrote:
> I am trying to understand if I can take a wide angle photo using
> panning/stitching with a normal lens that would look like it was taken 
> with a WA
> lens. My specific question is if I can get the same coverage and 
> perspective
> using an 80mm Hassy lens and panning/stitching 3 or 4 overlapping shot as I
> could with the 40mm Hassy.
>
> If so how would this best be accomplished? Standing back further with the 
> 80
> than with the 40 or just at the same spot with the panning. Would the 
> image's
> perspective be the same?
>
> Thanks to all who can help,
> Bob
>   Bob Adler
> Palo Alto, CA
> http://www.rgaphoto.com
>
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>
Bob,

Perhaps these images will help.  Here is a pan image made with a 25mm 
Zeiss Distagon lens on a Contax 35mm body, Ektachrome VS.  It was 
mounted vertically on a Kiwi pan head, adjusted so the lens rotated 
around its nodal point.
http://www.kencarney.com/index.htm

Here is am image taken from the same spot with the same lens, but in 
landscape position and just a single frame.
http://www.kencarney.com/Skies/00320091121.html

So my guess is no, the 80mm stitched image will not have the same 
perspective as the 40mm, i.e., it will not have the "wide angle" look I 
like.  I don't take many panoramas (those are really big prints), but I 
have also used landscape orientation on a regular leveling tripod head 
and stitched with Photoshop merge function, which seems to work fine.  
Personally I would stick with the 40mm and perhaps a panorama made with 
that lens.  Hope this is responsive.

Ken