Wide-View Panoramas
The best example of wide-view panorama cameras are the popular 35mm
panorama cameras. Both lens and film are stationary with the image
being cropped to a panoramic format. The 6x17 format is considered
the industry standard for commercial and stock panoramic work.
|
Fuji
35mm panorama cameras were first released as disposable
cameras by Kodak and Fuji. After the success of this format,
it was adopted into many of the consumer point and shot cameras.
This format took a standard 35mm negative and masked it to
the center 1/3 to create the long skinny format with a standard
lens. This is then printed in a 4"x10" form. |
|
Fuji
Uses 120/220 film for a 6x17 format. Interchangeable lenses
include: 90mm f 5.6, 105mm f 8, 180mm f 6.7 and 300mm f 8.
Each lens comes with a dedicated, precision framing. Critial
focusing screen available. |
|
HasselbladXPan
The Hasselblad XPan incorporates a dual format facility
providing a full panorama 24x65 mm format as well as a conventional
24x36 mm format on the same film. This innovative camera
offers all the convenience and advantages of the 35 mm format,
but provides the option to rapidly switch to the full panorama
format, without changing film. |
|
Linhof
6x17 format panoramic camera thatcan be hand held as well
as tripod mounted. Lens is a multi-coated Schneider Super
Angulon 90mm f 5.6. Highly precise brightline optical finder
with reflected spirit level and reference cross. |
These cameras create a panoramic image using a lens that swings
from side to side while painting the image on a section of film that
is held stationary on a curved plane. The first panoramic camera
ever patented was a swing lens. The hand cranked model was patented
in 1843 in Austria. (See the Panoramic
Timeline for more details.)
Cameras - Swing Lens
|
Horizon 202
This 35mm Russian-made camera has a metal chassis, but is
covered by a plastic body. It has a mechanical shutter (shutter
speeds: in two ranges - 1/2, 1/4, 1/8…1/60, 1/125, 1/250),
swing lens design covering 120 degrees horizontally and 45
degrees vertically, with a built-in level visible from the
top or in the viewfinder. The Horizon 202 comes with a 28mm
f/2.8 lens (hyperfocal from 5.5 meters wide open, to 1 meter
at f/16) lens, and creates a negative size of 24mm x 58 mm.
|
|
Noblex
Noblex panoramic cameras are made by Kamera Werke, Noble,
Dresden, Germany they are battery powered and use 120 roll
film or 35mm. The Noblex Pro 175U shoots a 6x17 (4 images
per roll) image, while the Noblex Pro 06/150 takes a 6x12
(6 images a roll) and the Noblex 135 takes a 24 x 66mm (19
images per roll) on 35mm. |
|
Widelux
The first Widelux camera appeared in 1948. All Widelux cameras
have a built in spirit-level for level horizons. Both versions
of the camera are completely mechanical, no batteries are
needed! All Widelux cameras have a full view - viewfinder
and you see exactly what the camera gets. They came with
a fixed focus f2.8 lens.
Widelux Model F8 The 35mm Widelux F8 offers a 140° view
and weighs only 30 ounces. The Widelux F8's use of 35mm film
results in a 24mm x 59mm (1"x21/3") negative which
can be enlarged by most 6 x 6 enlargers. The camera can also
be used to take transparencies, which can be projected with
any 6 x 6 projector when mounted in a Widelux Slide Mount.
Widelux Model 1500 The 120 roll film Widelux 1500,
weighs in at a mere 62 ounces and covers a 150° angle of
view.
|
|
|
Kodak No. 4 Panoram
Built from 1900-1924 this camera produced a 3 1/2" x
12" image on a No. 103 rollfilm covering an angle of
142° |
Using these cameras, panoramas of 360 degrees and more are created
by painting the image on film that moves in one direction as the
camera turns in the other. In 1904 the Cirkut Camera was introduced.
It was the first commercially produced pan camera. Many professionals
are still using these cameras which use roll film ranging from 5"
to 16". There are many modern rotational cameras are available
which are being used for Quicktime VR, Surround Video and Jutvision
applications.
Cameras - Rotational
|
Globuscope
Full 360° Image Capture Abilities - Hi-Tech Compact
Design - No Batteries or Motor Required - Weighs only 3.5
pounds - Super Wide Angle 25mm Lens - Indoor /Outdoor Speeds
Made in the USA
|
|
Seitz Roundshot
Roundshot cameras from 35mm to 5 inch. Each camera is handcrafted.
Truly a professional quality panoramic camera.
|
|
Hulcherama
The standard camera uses Mamiya M645 lenses from 35mm to
150mm, and can be modified to use Pentex 645 or Hasselblad
lenses. Uses 120 or 220 roll film - weighs 5 lbs and is 6
1/2"
long by 5 1/4" deep. Built-in battery (with charger).
Automatic or manual cut-off. 6 rotational rates and 4 slit
widths. |
|
Cirkut
When IAPP formed in 1984, most photographers were using
cirkut cameras for their panoramic work. These ancient rotating
cameras are still quite usable although film is getting harder
and harder to locate. All cirkut cameras are capable of making
a 360-degree image.
Click the spinning Cirkut (courtesy of IAPP member Colin Bullard)
for a section dedicated to Cirkuts. |
|