Drone panorama
Also known as: aerial panorama, sphere panorama, pano mode
A drone mode that takes a series of photos while rotating and tilting, then stitches them into a wide or full-sphere aerial image of a location.
Updated
What it means
Drone panorama modes automate a photo technique. The drone hovers in place while the camera turns and tilts through a grid of positions, capturing overlapping photos. The app or desktop software then stitches them into one large image: a wide horizontal view, a vertical one, or a full sphere that you can explore in 360 viewers.
Panoramas capture far more detail and a wider view than a single photo or video frame. They are popular for landscapes, travel locations, real estate and events, and they make excellent establishing shots in a travel edit when turned into a slow pan.
Most consumer drones include several pano options in their camera menus.
How it works in practice
Hover at a height that shows the location well, keep the drone steady in calm air, and choose the pano type in the app. The process takes some seconds to a minute, during which the drone must stay still. Strong wind can cause misalignment.
Turn a panorama into video by panning slowly across the image in an editor, a technique similar to a Ken Burns effect. Sphere panoramas can be exported as tiny planet images for a fun social post.
Shoot in golden hour for warm light and long shadows, and keep exposure fixed so all frames match.
What to watch out for
Moving subjects, such as people, cars or waves, can appear doubled or cut in half where frames overlap. Choose scenes with little motion, or accept some artifacts.
Changing light during capture, such as clouds passing, creates patchy brightness. Shoot in stable light and lock exposure before starting.
Stitching errors show up as broken lines or blurred areas, especially near the drone itself or close objects. Fly a bit higher and keep foreground objects at a distance. Check the result before leaving the location so you can retake it if needed.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip builds highlights from video, so still panoramas are not used directly. Export a slow pan across your panorama as an MP4 or MOV, and upload it with your clips to add a sweeping view to your highlight.