PhotoSynth Review

by Michelle Scandura

Description

PhotoSynth is an app for the iPhone that allows users to create 360 panoramic images that are clear, and all encompassing. There is an option to compress the image and share it as a panorama, or you can view the full 360 images on the photosynth website or on your own iPhone. You can share the image via email, facebook, twitter, link, etc. You can also upload it to the photosynth website and view the full 360 rather than seeing the compressed image.  

Access

photosynth.net is the website where you can view the 360 images (but beware that the website is a bit slow). Download on the app store for iPhone. 

Sample Usage

I took this by the Duomo in Florence, IT.

This photosynth was taken in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, IT.

Tips, tricks, and tutorials

This is a great video shows a tutorial of the app.-

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Tips-

• Go SLOWLY and practice before you need to use it. There's a specific speed that you need to use in order to make sure your image comes out looking as clear as possible. 
• Keep you hand as steady as possible.
• Try not to avoid taking photosynths in areas with a lot of moving objects (cars, walking people, etc) 

What the Tool Does Well

The tool helps to create a pretty seamless 360 image if you know how to use it. The quality is rather good as well as the sharing features. It also helps that the app will geotag the photosynth that you take (optional) and that it can compress the image. 

What it Does Poorly

It has the tendency to blur images if you're capturing something that's moving (like a car). Also, if you shift your hand positioning, the image can become crooked and not aligned. 

The website could also use some improvement considering how slow it is.

What happens when you...

When you don't capture absolutely everything (ceiling, floor,etc) then photosynth just leaves a black void which can be hard to crop around if your accidentally miss a section in the middle of your image (such as the black void in my Piazza della Signoria image above). Be sure to always capture everything in the 360 space, or make sure that you will be able to crop it. 

Additional Resources

Competitor- Photo 360 

                    Camera 360 (this one has filters as well)

Review- Here