Nice review Chris. I'm sure a lot of young people are not even aware of the Widelux cameras. Your video reminds me of how much I miss both the camera and "my" Hmart, back in Suwanee, GA. I owned an F8, plus a rare set of proprietary clip-on filters in their original leather case. I'd like to add a couple of points to your review. I think people would be surprised how robust and compact this little mechanical marvel is. As you state, there are no frame lines in the finder window. There are however lines/arrows engraved on top of the turret showing the FOV. This makes it the perfect street camera, removing the necessity to put the camera to your eye. Shoot from the hip! Another thing for folks to consider is the Widelux's film format is not the same as Xpan cameras. Check with your lab whether they can scan/print your negatives. Another fun thing to try, since it's a swing-lens panoramic camera, is placing it on a tripod and utilizing the 1/15th second speed. One can appear on both the left side of the frame and the right if you move quickly from point-to-point during the exposure. And speaking of cinematic, did you know Jeff (The Big Lebowski) Bridges published TWO books utilizing his Widelux to record BTS images on his movie sets?
I love everything about this comment. This is why I love the film photography community when people like you show up. I agree with everything you wrote, and appreciate the bits where I learned (the arrows, didn't notice that earlier). I wanted to squeeze in that segment doing the "Jeff Bridges" portraits, but I'll save that for another video since this serving was dense enough as it is. I've only seen one Jeff book, I didn't know about the other!
More videos with this type of intro song bro. That song got me vibing and in a great mood while watching the entire thing haha. Also now I want to get my hands on one of these bad boys
I have the Horizon S3 Pro, which is a cheaper, plastic, Russian version of the Widelux. Swing lens cameras are fun cameras in general, and being fully mechanical is a plus. The viewfinder of the Horizon is more centered and there is also a bubble level to let you know when you have the horizon leveled.
I heard about that one! A buddy of mine owns it! Swing lenses are great until the day they become jammed or obstructed xD. I love playing with the distortion when the tilt is more aggressive
Also, cameras from horizon series generally have much more control over the image (bigger choice of apertures and exposures), so it might be a good investment. I own one of theese and it's a lot of fun!
I used a Horizon 202 for 20 years, it has leaks I can't fix so I bought a S3 pro and it locked up on my second roll. bought a Widelux and build quality is WAY better and better lens. But yeah the 202 gave me years of awesome use.
Oh what! Why didn’t you say hello? I shot thru 3 rolls there! I was literally just tryna grab some snacks but stayed cuz the activity was surprisingly grray
@@whoschrischu I wanted to say hi but every time I bummed into you, you were with your partner. I didn’t want to intrude. 😅😅 I really hope you enjoyed the obon festival tho!! Also I was the guy shooting Polaroids.
@@melon-ql7kh ohhh it was you! Mad respect shooting Polaroids at the event with you SX-70? Even more respect for respecting my space & time as well :) but next time don't be shy to say hello
A different camera , and resulting image , each having their own special use , look , and picture making abilities . Both are great cameras ! I have Used both . My xpan camera’s were my favorite for all time !
Though Im a bit pissed you're blowing this camera up cause I was planning to get one and now the prices will jump, this is now the definitive Widelux review online. Ive searched for years and nothing is this comprehensive.
yeaah natural consequence of shining the RUclips spotlight on any of these cameras. I'm glad this video will serve as the real review of the camera though. I'm so surprised that nothing thorough existed before
Will most likely take my F6 to NYC this year. I love panoramic photography but sold my XPAN 2 two years ago since there is no repair shop anymore and I was scared of having a very expensive bookshelf XPAN one day. The widelux is sometimes acting strange as well but it is way cheaper and extrem fun. Thank you for the video!
What a great challenge taking street photography in H-Mart! As your neighborhood living in ktown, this is amazing camera review and comparison video. Thanks for sharing. I might get one too. lol
My nervousness with swing lens cameras was always the time for the swing. Just seems too easy for it to go wrong, for something to move in the frame or for the camera to move, and for things to look really strange. However, these shots all look wicked clean. I don't really see anything that looks strange because of that. Sure, there's the distinctive distortion, but no odd motion blurs or anything. Controls look nice, too. For a point-and-shoot, having f/2.8-11 and shutter speeds at 1/15 and 1/250th covers a really wide exposure range.
that was my thought too, and it's a logical fear (what if something happens in to the right of the lens). and like you, I was very surprised to find very clean images! I'm not really sure what the focus zone is for apertures at f/2.8 - f/4 are because there's no distance markers. But anything with f/8 and smaller is great for anything
@@whoschrischu I believe in color it would look dope just cause of the amount of colors you’d see in the frame but I think the B&W added a majestic look to the shots. So at the end it was a good choice. You made an everyday supermarket look different than what we would see everyday in our life.
Very nice shots. Nice to have more widths without having more hight of a wide angle lense. Isn't hard to hold it horizontal at landscape photography, especially a view on the sea? A tripod would be necessary.
That shutter speed issue is like the old Soviet Zorki and FED range finder cameras. I've killed a couple of them by forgetting to wind on before changing the shutter speed. Luckily they are cheap enough and widely available here in Europe.
i have a FVI and ja to load the film is sometimes a bit other fun, but its ok when you know how. the only thing what i miss a bit is to focus like on the panon panox AIII.
@@whoschrischu Both Widelux 1500 and the Noblex 150 are a 120 film size camera... my noblex has a tessar type len which is very sharp... when I want non swing lens I just go to my Fuji G617 camera. Much better deals and quality in the 120 format.. just much greater bulk and weight. I also fine having a handle that screws into the bottom tripod socket helps me keep my fingers out of the very wide lens sweep on the 135 versions
we made the w1500(wrong design, unprecise we had to overhaul a lot) for temporary 12 sec rotation instead of 4 (1/8) too slow on all exposure times for moving objects. by replacing weights.
Funny story I was finding for some pano goodness and I could afford a xpan or find a decent widelux so I bought a lomography sprocket rocket. The very next day a F7 was offered to me for $700 and it was like brand new and working order so I got both cameras. I absolutely love the widelux it's amazing but that cheap sprocket rocket I've taken some damn cool photos with. Give it a try it's really worth it and freeing to shoot a toy camera.
Do you have to wait for the lens to finish “turning” before putting the camera down? How would you know if the camera took the photo already? Is there a lightmeter?
Not bad for a Panoramic. Only thing is, I would be a little concerned with how long the mechanics on it would last. I just picked up an Xpan less than a week ago locally for 4k. It looks brand new with only 14 on the shutter count. It came with the 45mm and am thinking of picking up the 30mm. I took it out for some Street photography and am loving it already. I am very curious with what opportunity your TX-1 Xpan brought you.
Yeah, the Widelux cannot be repaired by 99% of places due to the lack of parts. The XPan is also in danger of that also and it's electronic (so even more of a risk). Panoramic street photography is always going to add a nice novelty to the image. As per the last thing, I think I will be able to talk about it in September at the earliest!
How can you say a camera with a pivoting lens and a slit is better than a “normal” shutter camera such as a x-pan. Xpan gives the normal range from B to 1000/s wile the Widelux just gives you 3 exposure times. That again makes a Xpan the way more precise camera in terms of everything. The “normal shutter” of a Xpan requires the right optics to fill the format but also gives you the option for exchangable lenses and real focusing. The widelux has non of that. Both great cameras but something totally diffrent. Espicially also in the price…
Nice review Chris. I'm sure a lot of young people are not even aware of the Widelux cameras. Your video reminds me of how much I miss both the camera and "my" Hmart, back in Suwanee, GA. I owned an F8, plus a rare set of proprietary clip-on filters in their original leather case. I'd like to add a couple of points to your review. I think people would be surprised how robust and compact this little mechanical marvel is. As you state, there are no frame lines in the finder window. There are however lines/arrows engraved on top of the turret showing the FOV. This makes it the perfect street camera, removing the necessity to put the camera to your eye. Shoot from the hip! Another thing for folks to consider is the Widelux's film format is not the same as Xpan cameras. Check with your lab whether they can scan/print your negatives. Another fun thing to try, since it's a swing-lens panoramic camera, is placing it on a tripod and utilizing the 1/15th second speed. One can appear on both the left side of the frame and the right if you move quickly from point-to-point during the exposure. And speaking of cinematic, did you know Jeff (The Big Lebowski) Bridges published TWO books utilizing his Widelux to record BTS images on his movie sets?
I love everything about this comment. This is why I love the film photography community when people like you show up. I agree with everything you wrote, and appreciate the bits where I learned (the arrows, didn't notice that earlier). I wanted to squeeze in that segment doing the "Jeff Bridges" portraits, but I'll save that for another video since this serving was dense enough as it is. I've only seen one Jeff book, I didn't know about the other!
More videos with this type of intro song bro. That song got me vibing and in a great mood while watching the entire thing haha. Also now I want to get my hands on one of these bad boys
Noted. More hip-hop! The artist’s name is Uzuhan and I vibe with his work a lot
I have the Horizon S3 Pro, which is a cheaper, plastic, Russian version of the Widelux. Swing lens cameras are fun cameras in general, and being fully mechanical is a plus. The viewfinder of the Horizon is more centered and there is also a bubble level to let you know when you have the horizon leveled.
I heard about that one! A buddy of mine owns it! Swing lenses are great until the day they become jammed or obstructed xD. I love playing with the distortion when the tilt is more aggressive
Also, cameras from horizon series generally have much more control over the image (bigger choice of apertures and exposures), so it might be a good investment. I own one of theese and it's a lot of fun!
I used a Horizon 202 for 20 years, it has leaks I can't fix so I bought a S3 pro and it locked up on my second roll. bought a Widelux and build quality is WAY better and better lens. But yeah the 202 gave me years of awesome use.
I’ve wanted a widelux ever since I started researching Jeff bridges photography
Jeff made this camera desirable fs
Man. I saw you with that monster at Japantown a few days ago. I low key want to see the photos you took with it! Also keep up with the good work!! 😊😊
Oh what! Why didn’t you say hello? I shot thru 3 rolls there! I was literally just tryna grab some snacks but stayed cuz the activity was surprisingly grray
@@whoschrischu I wanted to say hi but every time I bummed into you, you were with your partner. I didn’t want to intrude. 😅😅 I really hope you enjoyed the obon festival tho!! Also I was the guy shooting Polaroids.
@@melon-ql7kh ohhh it was you! Mad respect shooting Polaroids at the event with you SX-70? Even more respect for respecting my space & time as well :) but next time don't be shy to say hello
@@whoschrischu very close! I was shooting with a slr 680!! If I bump into you again in the bay I will definitely say hi!
ooh that black and white mercedes’ shot goes hardddd
thanks!!!
Bonus about the Widelux is that it’ll be usable in the future unlike the xpan which the electronics will probably last 20 more years
A different camera , and resulting image , each having their own special use , look , and picture making abilities . Both are great cameras ! I have Used both . My xpan camera’s were my favorite for all time !
The first basketball one was sick
Though Im a bit pissed you're blowing this camera up cause I was planning to get one and now the prices will jump, this is now the definitive Widelux review online. Ive searched for years and nothing is this comprehensive.
yeaah natural consequence of shining the RUclips spotlight on any of these cameras. I'm glad this video will serve as the real review of the camera though. I'm so surprised that nothing thorough existed before
Will most likely take my F6 to NYC this year. I love panoramic photography but sold my XPAN 2 two years ago since there is no repair shop anymore and I was scared of having a very expensive bookshelf XPAN one day. The widelux is sometimes acting strange as well but it is way cheaper and extrem fun. Thank you for the video!
The intro🔥📸✨
What a great challenge taking street photography in H-Mart! As your neighborhood living in ktown, this is amazing camera review and comparison video. Thanks for sharing. I might get one too. lol
loving your review on this. short and concise. pack of information. please do more. god i want one of this F7 😢
My nervousness with swing lens cameras was always the time for the swing. Just seems too easy for it to go wrong, for something to move in the frame or for the camera to move, and for things to look really strange.
However, these shots all look wicked clean. I don't really see anything that looks strange because of that. Sure, there's the distinctive distortion, but no odd motion blurs or anything. Controls look nice, too. For a point-and-shoot, having f/2.8-11 and shutter speeds at 1/15 and 1/250th covers a really wide exposure range.
that was my thought too, and it's a logical fear (what if something happens in to the right of the lens). and like you, I was very surprised to find very clean images! I'm not really sure what the focus zone is for apertures at f/2.8 - f/4 are because there's no distance markers. But anything with f/8 and smaller is great for anything
The shot 00:34 is exactly how you wanna fill the frame with this format.
Filling in the entire panoramic frame is such a reward
Oof that smooth intro breh 🫡
Dude those supermarket shots are great wtf
Damn breh. Thanks breh
Dude they did. I kinda wish I shot color, but the BW came out fire
@@whoschrischu I believe in color it would look dope just cause of the amount of colors you’d see in the frame but I think the B&W added a majestic look to the shots. So at the end it was a good choice. You made an everyday supermarket look different than what we would see everyday in our life.
Came for the widelux, stayed for Kat and Milo.
Also, the supermarket shots with that graaaaiiinnnn. 👌🏻
Milo Rollei! Duuuuuude then supermarket shots came out way better than I thoguht
Must try this! 😇 I have been using 35mm in a Pentax 6x7 to get Xpan crop images. Lots of fun but camera is rather big. 😁
Gotta love these vids with uzuhan in the background 🤝🏻
Uzuhan fuels the energy fs fs
Very nice shots. Nice to have more widths without having more hight of a wide angle lense. Isn't hard to hold it horizontal at landscape photography, especially a view on the sea? A tripod would be necessary.
4:11 great shot!! Widelux is very inspiring camera!
The widelux just makes the xpan's engineering seem even better considering the ease. Fuji really nailed panoramic photography there, final form.
That shutter speed issue is like the old Soviet Zorki and FED range finder cameras. I've killed a couple of them by forgetting to wind on before changing the shutter speed. Luckily they are cheap enough and widely available here in Europe.
Nice one Chris! I always wondering about this camera... maybe time to get one for myself...
You should go for it!
I looked up the price. It 's not cheap either. The Soviet era Horizont can be had for under $200 that does the same.
It's unfortunately not that cheap, but nowhere near as bad as the XPan
How the heck did you shoot Cinestill 800T with only those few shutter speed options on the widelux?
Just subscribed. That intro was lit.
Yo, these are soo good! I have been wanting one of these for awhile. Someday financially I will get one. HA
i have a FVI and ja to load the film is sometimes a bit other fun, but its ok when you know how. the only thing what i miss a bit is to focus like on the panon panox AIII.
Nice review on the Widelux.Have the Noblex versions in 135 and 120 and love them..
Oh sheeeesh. A medium format version of this sounds WILD
@@whoschrischu Both Widelux 1500 and the Noblex 150 are a 120 film size camera... my noblex has a tessar type len which is very sharp... when I want non swing lens I just go to my Fuji G617 camera. Much better deals and quality in the 120 format.. just much greater bulk and weight. I also fine having a handle that screws into the bottom tripod socket helps me keep my fingers out of the very wide lens sweep on the 135 versions
we made the w1500(wrong design, unprecise we had to overhaul a lot) for temporary 12 sec rotation instead of 4 (1/8) too slow on all exposure times for moving objects. by replacing weights.
Had to watch that intro again after finishing the vid
AYYYY ty
Useful thanks.
You can use a cable release with an adapter. I have that adapter so I know it's possible.
Funny story I was finding for some pano goodness and I could afford a xpan or find a decent widelux so I bought a lomography sprocket rocket. The very next day a F7 was offered to me for $700 and it was like brand new and working order so I got both cameras. I absolutely love the widelux it's amazing but that cheap sprocket rocket I've taken some damn cool photos with. Give it a try it's really worth it and freeing to shoot a toy camera.
How does stack up against trying shooting 35mm through a medium format camera using a 35mm adapter (like on the pentax 67)?
Does anyone know what size camera strap that is? I've been looking for a small leather one for awhile
crazy not using pistolgrip with cable.
Dam where'd he get that kodak hat tho?
Great video man
A great camera, good affordable alternative, but not better at all
Thanks for this Chris!
My pleasure!
Do you have to wait for the lens to finish “turning” before putting the camera down? How would you know if the camera took the photo already? Is there a lightmeter?
Point and shoot? 🤔
Super cool cameras but Lordy I am afraid to look up the going price off one. :)
You and me both! This camera is actually my friend's.
bruh where you get that kanye poster at
I have a 17mm lens for my 35mm cameras. I plant to shoot and crop for a panorama look
17mm will definitely give that wide perspective! I feel like if you got that Lomo 12mm, you could mimic this look
@@whoschrischu I have an old Tokina 17mm manual focus lens for my Nikon F3. Need to give it a try
Looks like the widelux's viewfinder is right at home in California..... Aims a bit too the left xD
there is a killer feature widelux has but xpan doesn't, which is selfies!!!! only the 26mm lens can allow you to do that
Not bad for a Panoramic. Only thing is, I would be a little concerned with how long the mechanics on it would last. I just picked up an Xpan less than a week ago locally for 4k. It looks brand new with only 14 on the shutter count. It came with the 45mm and am thinking of picking up the 30mm. I took it out for some Street photography and am loving it already. I am very curious with what opportunity your TX-1 Xpan brought you.
Yeah, the Widelux cannot be repaired by 99% of places due to the lack of parts. The XPan is also in danger of that also and it's electronic (so even more of a risk). Panoramic street photography is always going to add a nice novelty to the image.
As per the last thing, I think I will be able to talk about it in September at the earliest!
Fuji 6 x 17. Best ever
👌👌👍👍❣️❣️💯..
The music in this video is awful!
How can you say a camera with a pivoting lens and a slit is better than a “normal” shutter camera such as a x-pan. Xpan gives the normal range from B to 1000/s wile the Widelux just gives you 3 exposure times. That again makes a Xpan the way more precise camera in terms of everything. The “normal shutter” of a Xpan requires the right optics to fill the format but also gives you
the option for exchangable lenses and real focusing. The widelux has non of that. Both great cameras but something totally diffrent.
Espicially also in the price…
No, no & no. Just Not. Xpan is something diferent