This camera reminds me of an old LG cell phone that has a special panoramic feature, which is to take three different shots and assemble them to compose a panoramic picture. I used to play a lot with it. Once I asked a friend of mine to pose for each of the shots so she would appear three times in the same picture. And it worked. Some old cameras that do not lock the shutter if you don't wind the film also allow panoramic pictures such as the Argus C2/C3 and Matchmatic C2/C3. These cameras allow multiple exposures too. In fact, you may only find out you had a double exposure photo after the film was developed. They're rangefinder cameras, so you can focus and choose wider apertures and different speeds. They're almost indestructible, hence they're called bricks.
It does make me wonder. What would it actually take to make this in a digital form? I understand that in the strictest sense. Yes. If we are talking about an actual sensor, then yes, we'd need a curved sensor big enough to cover the 16 or whatever number of perforations of the width. But... let's assume we opt for not a raster sensor in the usual sense. But a single line sensor? The speed of the spin would still set the exposure time, you'd just retime the samples for each row to get the pixels to match a square pixel aspect ratio... I am curious. Would this not work? Would it not be able to negate the motion blur of the spinning sensor by it being a single row that moves quickly? I guess, a simpler version would be to do it the Cinerama way with three synced sensors and a fixed calibrated stitching method to simplify the backend... But I want to know if the single line method could even work. But... still.. Now I'm curious if I can build a cinerama-camera with a rPi and three sensors... dammit. You've gotten me to think about stuff I maybe could build!
I have widelux F8, mine has some problem. the knob which locks the cameraback(film room cover) is not fixed but easely turned into "UNLOCK" while shooting. so, from time to time, the comeraback is accidently detached and filmroom is opened. I wanna know only mine has above problem or other F8 has same problem,and how I fix it?
I did not experience that with my F8. To be totally safe, you can use a small piece of gaffers tape on each side to hold the door down. There was one instance where I accidentally turned the unlock wheel when pulling it out of the camera, so I know how this feels! The tape should sort you until you can find a proper repair.
The Widelux camera is no doubt the finest 35mm panoramic camera. But there is also a Russian version called the Horizon. Not as well made as the Widelux but a good one costing anything between USD100 and USD150. There is an older metal model which is more a collector camera and is much more expensive. The later ones were the Kompakt and the model 202 and a third model costing some more called the S3 Pro. All these Russian versions are mainly plastic but it are well made and the results are really good. And much more affordable than most Widelux models which costs small fortune.
I have the original Horizont. It looks super cool but is plagued with problems. I’ve taken it to the shop twice and they can’t fix the banding or scratching issues. They even replaced the seals and made a brand new gear for the shutter cocking mechanism that was worn out. Still messed up. I’m thinking of getting a later model.
@@B3D5X Did you ever get your HorizonT fixed? I got one and it works quite well. Early on, I did have a couple frames that had some banding, so, I might have a problem on one speed or the other....need to redo on all speeds to see. I"m pretty sure I was trying the "unofficial" faster than marked speed on it, turning the shutter speed beyond the last marked speed (250?)....it works for some, but I think that's the problem one on mine. I love the thing...feels like a small tank in your hands.
X-Pan or Fuji 617 cannot be compared to Widelux because images of the same subject render completely different. Contenders of the Widelux are russian Horizon, german Noblex and swiss Seitz Roudshot
This camera reminds me of an old LG cell phone that has a special panoramic feature, which is to take three different shots and assemble them to compose a panoramic picture. I used to play a lot with it. Once I asked a friend of mine to pose for each of the shots so she would appear three times in the same picture. And it worked. Some old cameras that do not lock the shutter if you don't wind the film also allow panoramic pictures such as the Argus C2/C3 and Matchmatic C2/C3. These cameras allow multiple exposures too. In fact, you may only find out you had a double exposure photo after the film was developed. They're rangefinder cameras, so you can focus and choose wider apertures and different speeds. They're almost indestructible, hence they're called bricks.
Thanks Rob. Very informative
I have the F7 and love it!
I'm in Mexico and just came across one for $550US. Seriously considering.
Copped an f7 can’t wait to use it
It does make me wonder. What would it actually take to make this in a digital form?
I understand that in the strictest sense. Yes. If we are talking about an actual sensor, then yes, we'd need a curved sensor big enough to cover the 16 or whatever number of perforations of the width.
But... let's assume we opt for not a raster sensor in the usual sense. But a single line sensor? The speed of the spin would still set the exposure time, you'd just retime the samples for each row to get the pixels to match a square pixel aspect ratio... I am curious. Would this not work? Would it not be able to negate the motion blur of the spinning sensor by it being a single row that moves quickly?
I guess, a simpler version would be to do it the Cinerama way with three synced sensors and a fixed calibrated stitching method to simplify the backend...
But I want to know if the single line method could even work.
But... still.. Now I'm curious if I can build a cinerama-camera with a rPi and three sensors... dammit. You've gotten me to think about stuff I maybe could build!
I have widelux F8, mine has some problem.
the knob which locks the cameraback(film room cover) is not fixed but easely turned into "UNLOCK" while shooting.
so, from time to time, the comeraback is accidently detached and filmroom is opened.
I wanna know only mine has above problem or other F8 has same problem,and how I fix it?
I did not experience that with my F8. To be totally safe, you can use a small piece of gaffers tape on each side to hold the door down. There was one instance where I accidentally turned the unlock wheel when pulling it out of the camera, so I know how this feels! The tape should sort you until you can find a proper repair.
The Widelux camera is no doubt the finest 35mm panoramic camera. But there is also a Russian version called the Horizon. Not as well made as the Widelux but a good one costing anything between USD100 and USD150. There is an older metal model which is more a collector camera and is much more expensive. The later ones were the Kompakt and the model 202 and a third model costing some more called the S3 Pro. All these Russian versions are mainly plastic but it are well made and the results are really good. And much more affordable than most Widelux models which costs small fortune.
Horizon S3 Pro: ruclips.net/video/82dSO5VYQXs/видео.html
Horizon Kompakt: ruclips.net/video/81F0MbySm4o/видео.html
I have the original Horizont. It looks super cool but is plagued with problems. I’ve taken it to the shop twice and they can’t fix the banding or scratching issues. They even replaced the seals and made a brand new gear for the shutter cocking mechanism that was worn out. Still messed up.
I’m thinking of getting a later model.
@@B3D5X I hear that there is a shop in Tempe, AZ which services swing-lens cameras.
@@OlDoinyo Thanks I'll look it up!
@@B3D5X Did you ever get your HorizonT fixed? I got one and it works quite well. Early on, I did have a couple frames that had some banding, so, I might have a problem on one speed or the other....need to redo on all speeds to see. I"m pretty sure I was trying the "unofficial" faster than marked speed on it, turning the shutter speed beyond the last marked speed (250?)....it works for some, but I think that's the problem one on mine.
I love the thing...feels like a small tank in your hands.
X-Pan or Fuji 617 cannot be compared to Widelux because images of the same subject render completely different.
Contenders of the Widelux are russian Horizon, german Noblex and swiss Seitz Roudshot
8