How to calibrate the lens on a Theta z1

General Discussions
#1

I have an uncalibrated lens with my planix pro. How can I calibrate the lens so my clients can use the #2 & #3 virtual tour measurement tool?

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#2

See timestamp around 2:20 of this video of where to find the calibration procedure in settings, then follow the steps. “Align 360 Camera” is the button you’re looking for.

Cheers

#3

Hi, Peter:

When I asked iGUIDE support about lens calibration they said I had to send it to iGUIDE and it would cost $500. Is this different from the “Align 360 camera”?

#4

If the camera inside has come out of alignment. By being dropped or bumped hard. Then yes, you’d have to send it in to be fixed. Otherwise the software alignment will do the trick for alignment.

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#5

Yes, this is different.

#6

I was talking about “lens calibration” not alignment.

#7

  1. All Ricoh Z1 cameras have Ricoh lens distortion calibration to allow converting fisheye images into a 360 equirectangular (spherical) image (horizontal and vertical pixels correspond to azimuth and elevation angles on a sphere in degrees - a camera independent format). That lens calibration is stored on Z1 and any (non-fisheye) images coming out of Z1 have that lens calibration applied automatically by Ricoh firmware.

  2. Planitar lens distortion calibration takes Z1 360 images and applies further image processing to produce another 360 image that allows more accurate measurements in the iGUIDE Viewer Measure Modes 2 and 3 (measurements in image, eg for ceiling height). That lens calibration can only be performed at Planitar factory for each Z1 and cannot be done by a user. That lens calibration is stored in Planix Core module and is specific to the Z1 camera in question. It is possible to use Z1 without Planitar lens calibration (Survey will say Planix, not Planix Pro) and the only effect will be a reduced accuracy of measurements done in images in Measure Modes 2 and 3, but measurements on a floor plan in Measure Mode 1, room dimensions and square footage are not affected by lack of Planitar lens calibration, as those come from lidar.

  3. Planix also has lens to lidar alignment which accounts for small rotations of Z1 camera with respect to Planix lidar, so that in the iGUIDE Viewer a room corner on the floor plan matches the corresponding room corner in a 360 image. It is different from Ricoh or Planitar lens distortion calibration. This alignment (or lack of) is easiest to see in Measure Mode 1 - place a mouse cursor on a room corner in the floorplan and the vertical red line shown over the 360 image should be over the corresponding room corner. Lens to lidar alignment can be performed by user in Survey software as needed and always needs to be done if the Z1 was removed and re-installed (or replaced with another Z1) by user because in Planix the Z1 camera is user replaceable (with loss of Planitar lens calibration if a user-supplied Z1 is used).

  4. If Z1 (or Planix camera) was dropped or otherwise subject to a strong shock, mechanical lens positioning inside Z1 may have changed, so Ricoh lens calibration may become invalid and there will be stitching artifacts visible in 360 images (some small stitching artifacts are almost always present for objects that are only 1-2 feet away from Z1 in the lens overlap area even for undamaged cameras and this is considered a normal performance). Such abusive treatment of a camera is not covered by Planitar (or Ricoh) warranty. Planitar cannot fix Ricoh lens calibration for shocked Z1 cameras and can only replace the Z1 camera with a new one at the corresponding cost. Alternatively, user can replace Z1 (with loss of Planitar lens calibration).

If you have a question about your particular camera, please open a support ticket.

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#8

Apologies, yes I thought you were referring to Alignment.

Thanks Alex for the detailed explanation and context!