rick_drawbridge Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 Thanks to the lockdown I've been poking around in forgotten corners of the house, and I came across a packet of negatives, dating back to the mid-1970's. Among them was a series taken at an old country house my wife and I were involved with, early in our marriage. The camera involved was a Widelux FV, owned by the commercial photography company in which I was a partner, and the film appears to be Kodak Ektacolor Type S. I was astonished by the excellent condition of the negatives in their glassine sleeves; colour negative film of this age almost invariably showing signs of deterioration, but these negatives scanned with very little adjustment to the scanner's concept of how they should look. The colour has a decidedly retro look, quite unlike modern digital colour or even the colour rendition of modern film, but I think it has a certain charm, and I'll post some samples below. The negative size is 24mm x 56mm and they were scanned on an Epson V800 using the native Epson software. The Widelux featured quite regularly on the forum years ago, but it's ages since I've seen any mention of it. For those of you unfamiliar with the camera, here's a crude stock photograph of one. The Widelux was a swing-lens panoramic camera manufactured in Japan by Panon Camera Shoko, first appearing in 1958 and continuing with a progression of models in both 120 and 35mm formats through to 2008. The FV Model appeared in 1959 and had a Panon f/2.8 26mm lens and three shutter speeds, 1/15, 1/125 and 1/250. Focus was fixed, and a spirit level was incorporated to assist in keeping the camera on an even plane. The results display the distortions typical of these and the Noblex and Horizon cameras, but the lens is quite sharp and in the right situations the camera certainly had it's uses. The camera stayed with the company when I left and while I've sometimes toyed with the idea of buying another example, they really are of limited use and sell for quite hefty prices. I hope there's something of interest here for members. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Gammill Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 Outstanding images, Rick. I used Ektacolor to photograph weddings using my Dad's Mamiya Super Press 23. Found a few from that date and surprised at how well they held up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochetrider Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Those scans are very nice! The color is, in my humble estimation, pretty great. Thank you for posting these interesting images, Rick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCL Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Always wondered about the utility of those cameras...thanks for clarifying that with the shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Smith Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Always wanted one, but never had one. The trouble with panoramic cameras is actually printing the images or even displaying online to the effect they deserve. Very long and very thin makes them disappointingly small online, and the same when printing unless the print is huge. When printed very large so the vertical dimension is considerable they can be wonderful. Robin Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orsetto Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Beautiful shots, as always from you! Sometimes we forget your talents extend beyond taking the pictures to mastery of the Epson v800 flatbed: these scans from the old pano negs are quite impressive. Even today, wouldn't a Widelux with rotating lens sometimes have advantages over something more modern like a FujiBlad X-Pan? Like not having to deal with a center spot filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Seaman Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 Very nice results from the Widelux. I was reminded of those school pictures, where the whole school used to assemble in front of a camera which somehow scanned across the scene. At least one pupil ran behind from one end to the other during the exposure, and so appeared twice in the picture. Or so it's said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen_h Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 For some years now, the usual photo printing places will make panoramic prints. There used to be a Kodak disposable panoramic camera, which uses a 24mm lens, for a 12mm x 36mm image. I presume I could put a 24mm lens on an SLR or DSLR, and crop appropriately, but never tried. It seems that Target will do it starting at $2.50, though I don't know the size. Many have printers that print on 4 inch continuous roll paper, and can make a 4x12inch print. It might be that the price is the same as a wider print of the same length, though. Also, it should be pretty easy on an inkjet printer, even better with roll paper. -- glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subbarayan_prasanna Posted April 30, 2020 Share Posted April 30, 2020 Lovely pictures Rick! Typical of your class! Thanks. SP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted April 30, 2020 Author Share Posted April 30, 2020 Lovely pictures Rick! Typical of your class! Thanks. SP. Thanks SP! Good to see you back on the forum. Thanks to the other posters for your responses and kind words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur_gottschalk Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 An amazing book shot entirely with a Widelux that may have escaped your attention: "Inside Algeria," by Michael von Graffenried, published by Aperture. The Swiss photographer traveled through Algeria in the 1990s, documenting the social upheaval underway. Amazingly, all the pictures were made surreptitiously, with the camera disguised as a pair of binoculars hanging from a neck strap and shot from the waste. An astonishing accomplishment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 arthur _gpttschalk said : An amazing book shot entirely with a Widelux that may have escaped your attention: "Inside Algeria," by Michael von Graffenried Thanks, Arthur, I had come across this book, and shared your amazement and admiration. The actor Jeff Bridges has published two fine volumes featuring his work with the Widelux, "Pictures" and "Pictures Volume 2", each equally impressive in a very different way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandy Vongries Posted May 16, 2020 Share Posted May 16, 2020 Very nice shots, and a fascinating look back in time. I had / have a Nikon Pan head just for panoramas - even with that, printing and some assembly required. Now many cameras and editing software will do the same thing. These were always thin on the ground - even though I was in the retail camera business the place I worked never had one in inventory. One of our wealthier customers brought one in - think it is the only time I saw or handled one. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 I really wanted some kind of panoramic camera like the Widelux, and your work with it shows why they were so neat. Thanks. Nowadays, I mostly stitch, although I have accumulated some ultra-wide lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Evans Posted May 17, 2020 Share Posted May 17, 2020 Rick, the pictures melt my heart. A hint as to location? I doubt Wairarapa. Tony Evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Rick, the pictures melt my heart. A hint as to location? I doubt Wairarapa. Ah, Tony, spoken like an ex-pat...The location is a fascinating old home named Oruawharo, at Takapau in the southern Hawkes Bay. I felt a tinge of nostalgia when looked again at the images, roads not taken, all that stuff... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Very nice, Rick. I suspect my Widelux & Kodak Panoram images are what you alluded to when you mentioned Widelux posts here in the past. . My own Widelux is also an FV, though upgraded to later design spiral bevel gears around 2006. I used mine a lot from purchase in 2006 to 2011. It went down the Blue Ridge Parkway on a motorcycle trip, Route 66 on a Jeep trip with my 12 year old son & me, and 280 miles through Grand Canyon on a raft. . On the Grand Canyon trip, it collected sand, and currently is in need of cleaning. . I've recently married, and my wife & I shoot weddings together. She's at least my equal with weddings, her college major was art, and she also enjoys shooting film. . Relevance: We shoot weddings on modern dSLR Canons, but I'm about to have my Widelux cleaned and add it to my quiver for weddings. It would seem an ideal arrow for the current rage of photojournalistic style weddings. . Attached is one of my own Widelux photos, my older son asleep in my Jeep on the Route 66 trip, July 2007. Enjoy! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glen_h Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 It seems that an alternative is an extreme wide angle lens. I suppose one could even digitally modify such images to give them the Widelux effect. -- glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 doug grosjean said: Very nice, Rick. I suspect my Widelux & Kodak Panoram images are what you alluded to when you mentioned Widelux posts here in the past. Yes, Doug, it was your pictures taken on the Grand Canyon trip that came to mind. Many of those were beautiful images. Good to know you're still taking photographs! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Thanks! For casual documentary pics of that trip, I can't imagine a better camera. Like this.... Funny thing is I thought that would be worst camera for that trip. I was wrong. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Rick, I have a toddler at age 58, and a young beautiful wife. Two very strong muses. Sorry for this digital image, but yes I am still taking photos, with whatever camera is handy & loaded. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 The Widelux's forte is architecture, inside or out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Bike night. Genoa, Ohio May 2007 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug grosjean Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 A 1940s roadside diner at Henry Ford Museum. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 A lovely series of images, Doug. Exquisite photograph of your little one. You certainly haven't lost your touch! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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