Equipment
Here is my basic equipment that I use to make these shots.
Lenses and Cameras
First let me say this I am a 4/3 SLR user. I personally love the system, so much that I started fourthirdsphoto.com . With that said I have basically 2 lenses that I use to create 360 degree panos - the 7-14mm, and the 8mm fisheye. The rectangular 7-14mm is probably the highest quality ultra wide angle lens I have ever owned. I have so little work to do with the images even at 7mm (35mm equiv. 14mm), that it is a no brainer to use. The 8mm fish eye too is a very fine quality lens, but I usually reserve it for very tight quarters such as the back door shot of the city hall. You can use any 4/3 slr but I usually use the E-30 or E-3. I am still waiting to try out the Micro 4/3 version of the 9-18mm but for overall perfection I prefer the 7-14mm.
tripod and heads
Overall I have a Carbon Fiber tripod, but any high quality tripod will work. But for a head I have been using Acratech’s products for years. They are top notch, and makes creating a Pano simple. The 3 products are - the GP ballhead, L Bracket, and the Nodal rail. The GP ballhead can be turned upside down - to provide a level base (This change takes about 1 minute - Beat that with any other system)
The Nodal rail, and L-Backet, allow 2 important features for 360 degree panos. #1 - lets you place the camera vertically with the L bracket. Which allows you to pull in most of the field of view. #2 - the Nodal rail let’s you run the nodal point, basically the optic center of the lens above the pivot point. To have a balanced photo.
The equipment is light, and compact. It is quick to setup, and travels well. Really this is the best pano system I have found any where.
Software
I use Auto Desk Stitcher Unlimited to process the shots. It is expensive, but the best that I have found. I basically convert the shots to medium sized jpgs (about 1000px vertically) then use the software to automatically stitch them together.
Finally I use VR worx application or Cubic converter to make my final shots. All in all that is how I do it. A lot of software is involved, such as the raw converter in my case Aperture. Photoshop, if its a HDR - then that software, and then Stitcher, and finally either Cubic converter or vr worx. Really I prefer cubic converter over VR Worx - just because of simplicity.
More info:
Acratech
Autodesk
(I do receive a small amount of money from clicking on the links above.)
cubic converter