joshua_guthrie Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 My father-in-law is looking for a new camera and has asked my advice. The hitch is that he wants a 35mm point-and-shoot that can switch to the panoramic format a la an APS camera. The prints are dreadful but he really likes the idea. He's got a little Pentax 35mm that does the job but it's on it's last legs and is no longer produced. I am largely unfamiliar with P&S cameras and really don't have any advice to offer but I promised to look into it. I found a Kyocera/Yashica 165EF Zoomate at a reasonable price at BH for him. Can anyone offer an opinion of it or an alternative suggestion? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phule Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Have you ruled out digital? A Digital camera and the photo-stitching software that comes with it can be a powerful and fun tool in the P&S world... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanleyBeck Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Almost all of the consumer panoramic cameras, including APS, achieve the panoramic images by cropping the top and bottom of the image. Sometimes this is by masking the film, or in the case of APS, by cropping at the time of printing. This means that the negative will still be 36mm long (35mm film), and the image will still be what is given by an moderate wide angle lens. The most inexpensive way to go is to take the image that he likes, get an 8" x 10" or 8" x 12" inch print, and trim off the top and bottom -- you get the same results. Digital will allow you to stitch several images together on your computer (some, in the camera), and a true panoramic camera costs more than I care to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amalexander Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 The Olympus LT Zoom 105 has the "panoramic" feature you are looking for although I do not believe it is in their current P&S line up, they are available on ebay (just checked it out). I (oops! the wife has one)and they are descent cameras for P&S plus they look pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent_demas1 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 The Nikon 28ti also has a "panoramic" feature. A jewel of a camera as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 In some camera mockups; we just made our own masks; which cuts the top and bottom part of the 35mm frame off. We used plastic shim stock; epoxy; and black flat paint; on several 35mm cameras. One must not interferre with thou's shutter!<BR><BR> Today I have an old Zorki LTM; which when fitted with a Jupiter-8 or Summicron that makes nice Panoramic prints. The photo labs machines key off the two black areas; and force a 4x12 inch print. This is using only about 12x36mm of the 24x36mm frame; but works OK. It makes alot better images than the cheap P&S cameras. A 28mm or 15mm LTM lens works well too. One can make a "fun" extra body; with the mask; and produce quick Panoramics; here the 1 hour Lab does these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 The mechanical "shutter/gate/doors" on used 35mm Panoramic P&S cameras is often broken; or in poor shape. One should see if the doors actually open and close. Many times one door is hung up; or abit lazy. The cheap plastic P&S cameras are many times useable with a full 24x36 frame; but have broken "panoramic shutters"; when on the 2nd hand market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee_brand Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 Best one I have used is a Ricoh S1 - looks like the GR1 and offer a optional Panorama mask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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