Canon EOS Digital SLR Product Range - Eos40D, Eos400D

Have you ever wondered how you could take a panoramic photo without requiring a special panorama camera? It's actually very easy - and lots of fun and all Canon digital cameras come with some great software to help you.

What you need to get started: 1. A digital camera 2. A tripod 3. A computer loaded with Canon's Photo Stitch software.

• Set your camera to JPEG resolution and use a reasonably large file size (at least 2048 x 1536 pixels) plus the highest quality setting.
• Decide how much of the scene you want to cover - where the panorama will begin and end. Then, working from left to right, take a series of shots panning across the scene, keeping your feet in the same place and swivelling from your hips. Alternatively, put your camera on a tripod, making sure the camera is level with the ground.
• Overlap each shot by between 30% and 50% ad try to keep the horizon level and in the same position in your viewfinder. Don't change any camera settings between shots and work quickly to avoid changes in light. Watch for objects that move within the scene; you can't create a perfect panorama if parts of the scene change between one shot and the next.

Photostitch software

Merge images

1. Download your images to a computer and open PhotoStitch.
2. Click on the Open tab in the Selection and Arrangement folder and select the image files you want to stitch together. In most cases they will load in the correct order. If they don't, click on the Arrange tab and drag them into place.
3. Now click on the Merge folder and check the Merge Settings to ensure the correct Shooting Technique setting is selected.
4. Click on Start to merge the images. Buttons are provided to let you enlarge or reduce the images at any time to make them easy to view. If the merge is not quite correct, click on Display Seams and select the areas you wish to adjust. You will then be able to drag any of the images horizontally for a better fit.
5. When all looks well, open the Save folder and select Save. This draws a green boundary around the merged image, identifying the area that will be saved. You can adjust any side of this rectangle by dragging it in or out. Clicking on the Save tab saves the competed panorama in the folder you select.
6. Depending on how many images you start with - and how well you have captured your panorama - you may need to make some additional minor adjustments in editing software. The end result will be a great panorama. Why not give it a try!