DMD Panorama – easily create 360 degree panoramic photos
by Paul Wilks
Jun 21, 2012 8:07 AM –
Install
DMD Panorama is a slick and well-presented panoramic camera application for Android. Featuring a cool ying/yang sign as a clever means to line up your shots correctly, the app is both intuitive and simple to use. While most native cameras on Ice Cream Sandwich already feature panoramic photography options, DMD Panorama is available for phones with Android 2.2 (FroYo) and above.
Price: Free
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Simple to use!
- Clever ying/yang icon to help line up your shots!
- Fast and responsive!
Cons
- Compulsory portrait mode and auto-shooting.
- Relatively low resolution.
- Still get poor stitching.
Features:
DMD Panorama is a great little panoramic photo app that’s easy to use and lets you snap panoramic shots up to 360 degrees. You can then view these in a cool viewer that also allows for pinch-to-zoom. While there are few panorama apps available in the Google Play Store, and most ICS ROMs already feature a camera with native panorama functionality, one element that sets DMD Panorama apart is the clever inclusion of the ying/yang sign. This icon is in two parts and discreetly overlays the images as you take them. The key to a successful panoramic shot is to line these up to complete the sign, which in turn makes the small light go green.
I tested the app a number of times and, although shots were good, many had iffy stitching. Because the app takes pictures automatically when the icons are aligned (and you cannot shoot yourself) I don’t think the app was able to be as careful as a user might be with more control. While many shots looked pretty good- especially if these were outside and with a good view- panoramic shots up close didn’t look so great. Additionally, the resolution is relatively low, so pictures lack some definition.
The app is incredibly easy to use, simply point, tap the screen to start and rotate the viewer to ensure the icons align. It’s very fast and responsive, meaning you can take panoramic shots quickly and easily. I think the problems with the app lies in the lack of settings available. While it’s great to be able to point the camera and go, it would be nice to at least see the ability to increase resolution and take the shots yourself if you want to.
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DMD Panorama – Merges are quite accurate
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DMD Panorama – View options
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DMD Panorama – Sharing options
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DMD Panorama – Ads can be removed when viewing the full picture
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DMD Panorama – Ads can be removed when viewing the full picture
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DMD Panorama – When close enough, sign with merge and present a green light
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DMD Panorama – Intuitive controls that are simple to use
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DMD Panorama – Ads can be removed when viewing the full picture
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DMD Panorama – Instructions
Usefulness:
I think if you’re a photography novice and fancy trying your hand at some panoramic shots, this is a great starter application, especially considering it is also free to download. It takes reasonable shots that, while they are not the best, work well and are a good introduction to the technology.
Ease of Use:
DMD Panorama wins big on ease of use. It’s incredibly simple, even for complete beginners. Simply hold the camera up, align the ying/yang icons and the app does the rest. You can then delete, save and/or share, it couldn’t be simpler.
Frequently Used:
I tend to think panoramic photography is a great feature, but it won’t replace your every day camera usage. It might therefore only be used when you want a wide shot that soaks up the whole view.
Interface:
The interface is very simple, but looks smart all the same. There are some ads as this is a free app, but they are thankfully discreet and don’t get in the way very much.