A Panoramic Medium Format Camera Is Born

<p>I just discovered this, and thought I should share. </p>

<p><a href="http://cameramill.co.uk/camera-born-f-c-ii/">http://cameramill.co.uk/camera-born-f-c-ii/</a></p>

<p>It's marvelous! It may be new, but it's old technology.</p>

<p>I'm all for the joy of tinkering but the standard solution, a 4x5 camera with a 6x12 roll holder, has many advantages over Mr. Lira's cameras. Interchangeable lenses, broader range of focal lengths, easy focus over a considerable range, ... My 6x12 rig, built around several Cambo standards, can use lenses from 35 mm to 900 mm (this is the longest lens I have, the rig can handle longer) and shoots 6x9, 6x12 and, if I ever decide to move up in format and use sheet film, 4x5.</p>

<p>Get similar results from adapting a 616 camera to 120 film.</p>

<p>Excellent project and execution, a sort of panoramic box camera. It must have been fun to do. Another solution is a 6x12 (or 4x5 or whatever) that I put together from a collection of odds and ends, rather like Dan's. Basically a Cambo Wide with a Sinar rollfilm back.</p><div></div>

<p>Shortly after the turn of the Century, there were many roll film panoramics with swinging lens, including a cheapie from Kodak.</p>

<p>John, thanks for the link. I like the beautiful craft work which in itself would make that camera a pleasure to use.</p>

<p>I grew-up with 35mm, and larger formats were always a bit of a mystery to me. I thought the only serious panoramic camera was one of those Russian Horizont things - with the swiveling lens and it's consequent image distortion. So it was a bit of a revelation to me that someone could make a large format panoramic camera in their (metaphorical) shed. I'm even more amazed to find that some of you guys are doing this sort of photography, and think it's normal :-)</p>

<p>You live and learn! But I still think the camera in the first post is super cool. I'd be very proud if I could make something like that.</p>

The only serious panoramic cameras are Seitz Roundshots (not the stitching thingies they still sell today, but the 70 mm and 35 mm film using cameras).<br>I make do (as quite a few others) with a 6x12 crop from a 4x5", using a 'standard' 4x5" camera. The Cambo wide type solution Rick shows is a lot more portable, though you still want to use a tripod and work will be slow.<br>A 47 mm lens (still a wide on 6x4.5) on that produces a 98 degree horizontal angle of view, comparable to 16 mm on 35 mm format, so four will just stitch to a 360 dgeree panaroma.

<p>Don't forget the Noblex 120 rollfilm cameras, sort of giant versions of the 35mm Widelux or Horizon, with the rotating lens. I've always wanted one, but could never justify the outlay. As for hand-holding the Cambo outfit, I have no trouble holding it at 1/125 or even 1/60, on a good day. Early morning pic below.</p><div></div>

<p>There is a german guy, Manfred Graumann, who makes his own panoramic cameras for 135 and 120 film. For the 135 cameras he uses old Nimslo 3D camera bodies. His 120 cameras are based on a czech rollfilm holder with integrated film transport mechanism. Unfortunately I could not any reference to a website, his former website seems to be down. </p>

<p>Winfried, www.archive.org may have the site. Try it.</p>

<p>There is a german guy, Manfred Graumann, who makes his own panoramic cameras for 135 and 120 film. For the 135 cameras he uses old Nimslo 3D camera bodies. His 120 cameras are based on a czech rollfilm holder with integrated film transport mechanism. Unfortunately I could not any reference to a website, his former website seems to be down. </p>

 

Winfried, Alter!

Can you tell me more about how the Nimslo is made into panoramic? Does he guts it out?

And which Czech holder?

Maybe a Seitz could be found for little money nowadays?