Review 1 of 1
Price Paid:
$1200.00
from ATHENS IMPORTER Summary: This is a real panoramic 35mm camera. Viewing a (13,5X38,5)cm print, held at reading length, requires viewer to turn head from left to right simulating exactly the moment of making the picture.
The swinging lens is razor sharp corner to corner and covers a horizontal angle of 127 degrees (147 degrees diagonally) .
Loading the film is easy-a 36 exposure film gives 19 panoramic. A tripods is almost indispensable though even a hand held shooting may give good results provided there is no horizon or horizontal lines within the picture frame.
An eye-spirit level is a must (for the PROSPORT model) if horizon is to be pictured, that, nevertheless, can easily and temporary be put on top of the viewfinder.
Negatives (24X66)mm, can easily be scanned and prints are affordable.[(a 13,5X38,5)cm print usually costs twice the price of a (13X18)cm print]
Most impressive prints: (22X60)cm and/or two frames stitched together to give an impressive (14 X 76 )cm
Fuji's REALA 100 suits perfectly with panoramic
Strengths: Plastic body, of course , but strong enough to withstand moderate blows.
Four AAA alkaline batteries can handle four to five films. Have spares.
A hand-held light meter with the widest possible reception angle is also a must
The electronic-driven swinging lens is a very smooth mechanism with consistent speed all the circle around. The drum that holds the lens with its opening, is parked within the camera body in the darkness, travels all the swinging around on the (constant) speed specified,from left to right, to record the world then returns quietly to its parking place. Weaknesses: Power button is difficult to access particularly when camera is on a tripod.
Accidental pushing of the frame counter zeros the counter and the sequel is lost.
Accidental tripping of the shutter button with the power button in the off position leads to a lost frame because the shutter can not be re-cocked for this particular frame.
Careless grasping of the camera when in hand-held shooting, may lead to record the photographer's fingers on both sides of the frame.
When inserting batteries one has to wait for some time for the shutter capacitor to saturate, before testing drum swing. Similar Products Used: Similar swinging-lens cameras from Russia are completely different in that Russians employ a spring driven shutter with whatever drawbacks a loaded/unloaded spring means.
|