Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Features, Compatibility, Requirements

Does LizardQ support geotagging?
Yes. GPS is provided by the built-in GPS of the Canon EOS 6D and 5D Mark IV. If the camera acquires a position fix, the raw image files and the Stitcher output will automatically be geotagged. Note that geotagging is not available when operating the LizardQ with camera models other than the 6D or the 5D Mark IV.
Which Canon EOS camera should I choose?
Due to the slightly larger dynamic range, the 5D Mark III or Mark IV is especially suited for CGI and high-end photography applications. Image capture speed is marginally faster with the 5D Mark III/IV than with the 6D. The 5Ds / 5Ds R provide much more image resolution, but capture speed is slower than with the 5D Mark III/IV or 6D.
When extreme highlight capture is not required, such as with industrial or law enforcement applications, the 6D is perfectly suitable. Geotagging of images using GPS is only available with the 6D and the 5D Mark IV.
Feature 5Ds / 5Ds R 5D Mark II
(end of life)		 5D Mark III 5D Mark IV 6D
(end of life)		 6D Mark II
Shortest exposure time (seconds) 1/8000 1/8000 1/8000 1/8000 1/4000 1/4000
Longest exposure time (seconds) 30 30 30 30 30 30
Canon camera resolution (Megapixel) 50.6 21.1 22.3 30.4 20.2 26.2
Panorama resolution with 15mm fisheye lens (Megapixel) 200 100 100 150 100 125? TBD
Panorama resolution with Zeiss 18mm lens (Megapixel) 500 220 220 300 220 250? TBD
Image quality Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Low-light performance Good Very Good Best Very Good Very Good Very Good
GPS / Geotagging No No No Supported Supported Supported
Image capture speed Fast Fast Very fast Fastest Fast Fast
Storage media (CompactFlash or SD card) CF CF CF CF or SD SD SD
Price Flagship Obsolete Midrange Flagship Less expensive Less expensive
Where features are distinct, bold text indicates "better".
Greyed-out Canon products are obsolete, but still supported by LizardQ.
Can I use the Nikon D800/D810 or any other Nikon camera with the LizardQ?
No. LizardQ only supports the Canon full frame cameras listed in the technical specifications here.
Can I use the Sony A7/A7R or any other Sony camera with the LizardQ?
No. LizardQ only supports the Canon full frame cameras listed in the technical specifications here.
What are the system requirements for PC and Mac?

Hardware requirements for stitching and viewing LizardQ HDR images are dictated by spherical image resolution and the necessary computing resources to process billions of pixels per image. While for 100 Megapixel sphericals, the requirements are moderate, 500 Megapixel images can only be stitched and viewed on high-end systems.

Stitching a spherical image requires processing power and uses the computer's graphics chip to speed up pixel operations. That's why a fast processor and a dedicated graphics chip (GPU = graphics processing unit) are necessary. Stitching also produces large amounts of data that need to be stored, so it needs a large and fast storage medium. Best stitching performance is obtained by using a SSD (SSD = solid state drive), while large amounts of data are best stored on a traditional spinning-disk device (HDD = hard disk drive). The ideal combination is to have both, so the LizardQ Stitcher can use the SSD for fast temporary storage and the HDD for final image storage.
How to improve stitching performance:
  • Fast processor, quad-core preferred
  • 8 GB of system memory (RAM) or more
  • Fast storage, SSD strongly preferred
  • Have a large HDD, too
  • Dedicated AMD or NVIDIA graphics chip
Viewing a spherical image currently calls for the complete image data to fit into the graphics chip's memory. That's why the GPU must be equipped with sufficient RAM for this task.
Minimum configuration for 100 Megapixel sphericals:
  • Intel compatible processor (Intel Core2 or later, AMD Athlon/Opteron or later)
  • 4 GB of system memory (RAM)
  • 25 GB of free hard disk space
  • Dedicated or integrated graphics chip (GPU) with OpenGL 2.1 support
  • 512 MB of dedicated or shared graphics memory
Recommended configuration for 500 Megapixel sphericals:
  • Intel quad-core processor (Core i7-4xxx or later)
  • 16 GB of system memory (RAM)
  • Dedicated AMD or NVIDIA graphics chip (GPU) with OpenGL 4.1 support
  • 4 GB of dedicated graphics memory
  • 256 GB SSD (silicon state disk)
  • 2 TB HDD (hard disk drive)
  • USB 3.0/3.1 or Thunderbolt interfaces for external storage media
  • 64-bit operating system
Minimum dedicated graphics memory by spherical image resolution:
  • 512 MB for 100 Megapixel
  • 1 GB for 200 Megapixel
  • 3 GB for 500 Megapixel
Operating systems:
  • Windows 10, Windows 8, 8.1, Windows 7 (both 32 bit and 64 bit variants are supported, 64 bit is recommended)
  • Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan), 10.10 (Yosemite), 10.9 (Mavericks)
  • Parallels Desktop for Mac is not supported (it may work, no guarantees)

Purchasing, Pricing, Shipping

Do you rent out the LizardQ prior to a purchase?
Yes we do, please see pricing.
What is the pricing for software updates?
Software updates to the LizardQ device firmware, LizardQ Stitcher and Viewer are free after your purchase of a LizardQ system. This includes updates that enable new functionality, e.g. support for new Canon cameras.
What is the shipping weight and size for a LizardQ?
  • LizardQ system: 60 x 40 x 30 cm, 12 kgs with Canon camera, 10 kgs without (barebone)
  • Measurement tripod: 137 x 28 x 26 cm, 10 kgs
Do I have to pay customs fees when importing a LizardQ?
If you're outside the European Union, this may be the case. Please refer to your local customs officials for information. The customs tariff code for the LizardQ is 90069100.

Getting Help

How do I contact LizardQ support?

In case you have a question or require help either with the LizardQ device or LizardQ software, please do not hesitate to contact us. Your first point of contact should be the reseller or distributor you have purchased the system from. In many cases this will be the LizardQ company itself. LizardQ can be reached equally fast by phone or by email. We are located in Germany/Europe.

Call +49 6837 69 29 69 - 0
Email info@lizardq.com

In case nobody picks up the phone right away, please leave a message on the answering machine. It may be outside business hours or a public holiday in Germany (remember: there may be a time difference from your time zone). In any case: You will be called back as soon as possible.
Please be sure to mention your name, your phone number and any relevant information. In case you are inquiring about a specific panoramic image or a Stitcher problem, please include the image itself and the Stitcher log file (same file name as the image, ending in .log) with your email. You may also use the “Problem Report” menu item under “Help” in the Stitcher software itself.

Please do not direct support inquiries to an individual employee of LizardQ (e.g. by emailing axel@lizardq.com or calling an extension other than -0). Using the above points of contact will ensure fastest response.

My LizardQ doesn't work right. What should I do?
In case your LizardQ device does not function properly, please see the troubleshooting checklist in the user manual. The user manual can be downloaded here. If that doesn't seem to help, please contact LizardQ as detailed above.
Should I remove the battery from the LizardQ if I don't use it for a long time?
That is not necessary. When switched off, the LizardQ consumes almost no power from the battery. Removing the battery will also not affect internal date/time, as image capture timestamps are taken from the Canon camera. We recommend to store the system in a dry environment and at room temperature.
Can I take the LizardQ trolley case as carry-on baggage?
Please check with your airline before boarding. Trolley exterior dimensions are 54.5 x 35 x 23 cm. Recent IATA guidelines may restrict carry-on baggage thickness to 20 cm (7.5 in).
The LizardQ Stitcher does not work
Please follow these steps to troubleshoot:
  1. Check that you're running the latest version of the Stitcher. You may use the "Help / Check for Updates" for that. You can also go to our download page and check available downloads by hand. Find out your current Stitcher version number by going to "Help / About".
  2. Check that the file name and path doesn't contain single quotes ('), e.g. as in "Miller's"
  3. Update your graphics drivers to the newest version. The LizardQ Stitcher makes heavy use of the PC's graphics processor. Many issues just go away if you use the newest driver for your graphics chip.
  4. Use the Stitcher's "Help / Problem Report" menu item to email a problem report containing log files and a thumbnail image to us for inspection. If your computer does not have an internet connection, please copy the *.log file and email it to us manually.
The LizardQ Viewer does not work
Please make sure to update your graphics drivers to the current version. The LizardQ Viewer makes heavy use of the PC's graphics processor. Many issues just go away if you use the newest driver for your graphics chip.
Here's download links for common graphics chips:
When selecting "5-shot" and "Auto/Max" HDR modes the number of bracketed exposures seems to vary
That's right. The number of exposures depends on the actual lighting of the scene. This behaviour is intended.