A panoramic imaging apparatus and method for capturing a 360 degree outward looking panoramic image of a scene using a single, stationary camera , comprises a mirror in the shape of an inverted dome, having an outward facin g generally smooth convexly shaped peripheral surface for reflecting light emanating from the 360 degree panoramic scene, a camera -- which may preferably be a still or video camera having a digital sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, but which may al so be a conventional film based camera -- for recording the image projected by the convex dome-like mirror, and a mounting system for attaching the camera to t he mirror. The apparatus may also include a suitably programmed computer for dewarping and processing the image for display using a virtual reality displ ay program.
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