Photography is about to change. An American company by the name of Gigapix has released the Gigapan Epic, which uses a robotic arm and stitching software to create large, detailed images using off-the-shelf point-and-shoot cameras.  The price? Only $379.

Take a look at this 1474-megapixel shot taken by one Gigapan Epic beta tester at the inauguration. It is composed of 220 images shot by a Canon PowerShot G10, not some multimillion dollar camera.

To take a picture with the Epic, one only has to hook up a camera and push a few buttons. The device will calculate how many pictures are needed to take the picture, and will automatically push the shutter and rotate the camera. After the Gigapixel Epic is done taking pictures, just stick the memory card into any Windows or Mac computer and the included GigaPan Stitcher software will generate the image.

Weighing in at only 3.5 pounds, the Epic is very portable. It works with a plethora of handheld digital cameras, and a $449 model with support for DSLRs is in the works. Dubbed the Epic 100, the only caveat is it will not support weights greater than 3 pounds, so put that telephoto lens away.

Gigapixel’s creation uses 6 AAA batteries. A 4 GB memory card and tripod are recommended for operation. A list of tested cameras is available here.

Though I doubt you’ll be seeing the Epic at Wal-Mart anytime soon, Gigapix has effectively put large format digital photography in the hands of the public. Gigapixel-sized images used to require expensive equipment in the six-figure range, but costing than many camera lenses, the Gigapan Epic has made large-scale photography affordable en masse.

Read more at Gigapixs’s website.