Well, i guess i'll be going with the Kaidan then.

With regards to the software, have you come across this? It looks excellent and i think i'm going to go with it.

http://www.360dof.com/products/vrbrochure-authoring-software/index.html

I think i'm going to change my digital camera too.....currently using the A80, but the adaptor for the lense costs $250 so may as well put that money towards a better camera that does not need such an expensive adaptor.

I'm leaning towards the 0-360, simply because it will work out to about $400 less. I wanted to get the coolpix 8700 and the Kaidan adaptor for that camera costs $300 which i think is a joke. The thread adaptor for the coolpix is $15 with the 0-360.

You stated you thought the 0-360 was flimsy, can you expand on that?

I would out the Kaidan would work with the 8700 with a cheap adaptor. I've ordered the 8700, the adaptor. Now all i need to do is order the lense tomorrow and decide which software to go with, although right now it seems the 360 degrees of freedom is the best hands down.

Do you ever get the feeling that you are talking to yourself?

Well sometimes it's not a "feeling" it's a sure thing! :p

Anyway, I'm still interested in this conversation. How is the Kaidan working out for you and which software did you decide to go with? Does the Kaiden just produce the pictures and you plug in the pictures into the stitching software?

OMG, someone has stepped into the room

Well, the web guy looks like he has gone missing. I've just ordered the kaidan this past week, and will let you know what results i get.

Theres no stitching, its a 1 shot thing, it takes a picture like a donut and you spin around it so to speak.

Heres an example - the quality on this one is very good, and i like the lay out of the page - simple but effective.

http://www.listing360.com/205058462/picturepath.html

Ah yes! I feel honoured to step into your domain I'm not sure why no one else seems interested in this *shrug*

The quality of the pictures look great! What's your plan with the Kaidan? Will you be creating virtual tours for all the listings you have? The device seems very bulky to be moving from house to house.

I am still waiting for mine... appears to be backordered STILL... Not thrilled... but nothing to report as of now!

We have now been using one shot 360 virtual tours for nearly 2 years now. I just cannot tell you how much time it saves and the quality of the tours.

Ours is not the same make but I presume the technology is the same.

I definitely recommend it.

Just wanted to let you all know that I do Virtual Tours on a regular basis. It is not from the 'one-shot' type picture but from a stiching as has been discussed. I charge $100 for the tour and $50 to come to take the pictures. As you can tell this is for Realtors in my local area (my zip code 21562).

You receive a copy of the tour on CD so that you have a copy and the tours are in QuickTime. Let me know if you have any questions!

Vernon,

Do you find there is demand in your area for virtual tours and is the success rate for those properties with virtual tours much more successful?

Thanks,
David

PS: Sorry not in your area

The demand for virtual tours is pretty high. A survey performed in August 2004 found that 25% of Real Estate business is generated from the Internet. If you are interested more about the survey you can read about it over on our site at http://www.kesnerdesigns.net/business/ne...-the-internet/.

With potential homebuyers starting online they are looking for online listings that have a good amount of pictures. A virtual tour takes that idea to the next level actually giving your potential homebuyers the ability to 'look around' a room or two before ever going to the house.

With homebuyers excited before they even get to the house you make your prediction of whether the success rate raises.

It is critical that agents post a number of photos and I suggest at least one photo from every main room of the home. Your homebuyers are starting out online, give them what they are looking for.

Best,
Vernon

There are also some free software programs that allow you to mesh images together taken from a regular camera.

The open source Open-Realty.com software has a plugin for creating 360 tours of all listings automatically.

-Peter

Open Realty is a nice piece application. We are actually developing a web builder system for Realtors where we are using Open Realty as a base for the sites that are built.

Vernon, what does your web builder system do? Does it allow Realtors to create their own virtual tours or something totally different?