Capturing 360 Panoramas With The Mavic Pro: A Step-By-Step Guide

how to take a 360 pano on mavic pro

The DJI Mavic Pro drone is a powerful tool for capturing 360-degree panoramic photos and videos. With its advanced camera technology, the Mavic Pro offers a unique perspective for creating immersive and captivating visual content. In this guide, we will explore the steps and techniques required to capture stunning 360-degree panoramas, including the use of dedicated apps, manual shooting techniques, and post-processing methods to enhance the final output. By following these instructions, users can elevate their aerial photography and videography to new heights, capturing breathtaking visuals that offer a truly unique viewpoint.

Characteristics Values
Drone model DJI Mavic Pro
App Litchi for DJI Mavic/Phantom/Inspire App
Number of photos per row 7
Number of rows 4
Time taken 3 minutes
Image editor MS ICE (Image Composite Editor)
Image format Spherical
Orientation Auto
Aspect ratio 1:40
Shooting mode AEB
Shooting time Under 40 seconds
Processing time 30 seconds
Total time 1 minute 8 seconds
Radio signal strength Strong
Wind resistance 20 mph

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Using the Litchi app

The Litchi app has an automated 360 Pano setting that can be used to control the number of images per row and the number of rows for each panorama. The app is compatible with the Mavic Pro drone.

To set up a 360 panorama, tap the small white icon next to the action settings of each waypoint. This will automatically add the necessary actions for a full 360-degree panorama made up of 7 photos (51-degree angle variation). Ensure that the aircraft is not recording when it arrives at a waypoint for a panorama, as the preset will not stop recording automatically.

The Litchi app allows you to control the gimbal tilt, which can help avoid a zenith hole in your panorama. You can also adjust the Height and Nadirs settings to control the height of the panorama. The Width and Columns settings will determine whether Nadirs shots are taken.

After capturing your images, you will need to stitch them together using software such as PTGui or Microsoft ICE. You can then export and share your panorama using platforms such as Google Photos or Facebook, which support spherical view.

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Manually shooting in brackets

Shooting in brackets is a technique used to create HDR (High Dynamic Range) photos, which blend a set of light and dark images into one image with a wider tonal range than a camera sensor can capture in a single shot. This results in a more natural tonal range without losing details in shadows or highlights.

To manually shoot in brackets on the Mavic Pro, you can use the auto-exposure bracketing (AEB) mode. However, it is recommended not to use the AEB with the camera in auto mode as this may reduce image quality. Instead, shoot in manual mode and adjust the exposure manually between each shot.

For most shots, it is recommended to use a 5-shot AEB with a base exposure of about -1 EV, adjusting the exposure by 1 EV between each shot. For scenes with greater dynamic range, such as sunrise or sunset, you can capture a set of 5 bracketed shots manually with about a 1 EV difference in each shot, or shoot 2 sets in AEB and adjust the exposure by 1 EV between the sets.

When shooting in brackets, you can shoot vertical sets, starting with the sky, then the horizon, and finally the ground. Then, shoot another set in reverse order, starting with the ground and ending with the sky. Repeat this zig-zag pattern until you've covered the desired landscape.

Keep in mind that shooting a full 360-degree panorama will result in a very high aspect ratio, making it challenging to display. Additionally, it will likely drain your battery, so ensure you have enough power before attempting this.

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Using the Dronepan app

The DronePan app is a free, open-source app that makes it easy to capture 360-degree panorama photos with your Mavic Pro drone.

To use the app, first, update your aircraft to the latest firmware. Then, open the DronePan app and go to the settings menu. Set the parameters as follows: number of photos per row: 7, number of rows: 4.

Once you have your settings in place, select the "play" button and the app will automatically take all the photos for you in less than 3 minutes. You can then fly your drone to another location to begin another panorama. Remember to keep your drone within your line of sight when using DronePan.

After you have captured all your photos, you can stitch them together using a panorama stitching program. Some recommended programs include PTGui or AutoPano Pro. If you're using a PC, you can also use the free Microsoft Image Composite Editor (MS ICE) program. First, copy the images off your drone's SD card into a folder on your PC. Then, select "New panorama from images" and choose all the images you took with the DronePan app. Make sure to select "simple panorama" and "auto-detect". Stitch the images together, ensuring that "spherical" and "auto orientation" are selected. Finally, crop your image and export it, making sure the quality is set to 100.

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Uploading to Facebook

Once you've captured your 360-degree photo with your Mavic Pro drone, you can upload it to Facebook. However, you might need to take a few extra steps to ensure Facebook recognizes it as a 360 photo. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

First, you'll need to transfer the images from your drone to your computer. Use the DJI Go 4 App to fly your drone to the desired position and then use the Dronepan App to capture the photos. After that, copy the images from your drone's SD card to a folder on your PC.

Next, you'll need to use image editing software to convert the images into a format that Facebook can recognize as 360 photos. One option is to use the MS ICE (Image Composite Editor) program. Open the program and select "New panorama from images," then choose all the images you took with the Dronepan App. This will create a single 360-photo file.

Additionally, you can try using the Exif Fixer tool for Windows to tweak the metadata of your images, making them viewable as 360 photos on Facebook. You can also try using the website nadirpatch.com/exif to upload your image, which will add the necessary EXIF tag for Facebook recognition, and then re-download the image.

Another method is to edit your DNG photographs using a photo editing program and save them as JPG files. You can then use the DJI Media Maker application to create a 360-degree panorama. However, this application might not be available for download from the official DJI website anymore. As an alternative, you can use the Panorama 360 Camera app (available on iOS and Android) to convert the flat 360 photo into a spherical format suitable for Facebook.

Finally, when uploading your photo to Facebook, make sure to change the file properties to recognize the camera maker as "RICOH" and the camera model as "RICOH THETA S". This will ensure Facebook identifies your photo as a 360 photo rather than a standard panorama.

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Post-editing in Lightroom

Once you've captured your 360-degree photos using your Mavic Pro drone, you can begin the post-editing process in Lightroom to create stunning panoramas. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Import Your Photos

Start by importing your 360-degree images into Adobe Lightroom. You can either drag and drop the photos directly into Lightroom or use the import function. It's important to ensure that your images are in the correct format and are compatible with Lightroom.

Apply Basic Adjustments

Use the Exposure, Clarity, and Dehaze tools in Lightroom to enhance your photos. These adjustments will make your photo pop without creating unwanted seams. Play around with the lighting and bring out the details in your images. Remember not to touch highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks, as these HDR tools may not work well with 360-degree images.

Use Boundary Warp

If needed, utilise the Boundary Warp tool to adjust the edges of your panorama. This tool helps correct any distortions or uneven edges, creating a seamless panoramic view. It's particularly useful when stitching multiple images together.

Check for Seams

After making your adjustments, it's crucial to check for seams. Zoom in to the edges of your image to ensure that there are no visible stitching lines. Lightroom's Edge-Aware feature can help you fix any seam issues that may arise.

Export with Metadata

When you're happy with your edits, it's time to export your 360-degree panorama. Make sure to include all the metadata to ensure that your image remains viewable as a full 360-degree photo when shared on various platforms. This metadata is essential for maintaining the interactive nature of your panoramic image.

Final Touches and Export

As a final step, you can apply any last touches to your image, such as sharpening or reducing noise. Lightroom Classic offers Web-Ready Exports, optimising your 360-degree images for the web. This reduces file size for quicker uploads without compromising quality. Now you're ready to share your stunning 360-degree panoramas with the world!

Frequently asked questions

You will need the Litchi for DJI Mavic App, which can be purchased on the App Store or Google Play Store. You will also need the DJI Go 4 App.

In the Dronepan App, set the number of photos per row to 7 and the number of rows to 4.

In the file explorer, go to the file properties and change the camera maker to "RICOH" and the camera model to "RICOH THETA S". This will allow Facebook to recognise the photo as a 360 image.

The Mavic 3 can shoot a 360 photo in about 1 minute and 8 seconds, with approximately 30 seconds dedicated to processing the image.

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