is there a poor man's xpan/tx?

[paisatge]

Been looking for one but the prices are like with a bit more, i can get myself an M8.
What's discouraging is when you factor in the cost of film and developing, it becomes another M8 with time.....

so, is there a more economical alternative?

[tribal.snake]

lomo horizon?

[sabrewolf]

Horizon will give fisheye effect I believe, as with all curved film cameras.
If you want the xpan look, maybe its better to use Holga, with cropped film mask or 35mm adapter.

[paisatge]

Originally Posted by tribal.snake lomo horizon?

how does the swing lens work? Does it mean you always have to use a tripod?

[sabrewolf]

1. Unlike traditional lens where a circular image hit the film plane, swing lens is masked by a vertical rectangular slit so that at any given time only a portion of the film is exposed
2. It does this as the lens swing/rotates so that the film is expose from end to end (the film plane is curved as well).
3. In theory this would mean a 1/15s exposure would take longer than that, probably as long as 1 sec (the film is still exposed at 1/15sec for every part that the light hits) and you might think this would cause camera shake.
4. However, in practice camera shake blur is minimized because the lens is normally superwide (any movement will be almost negligible)
5. The problem is that handholding at that speed you will get wavy lines instead of continous long lines if you are not steady.

[paisatge]

Originally Posted by sabrewolf 1. Unlike traditional lens where a circular image hit the film plane, swing lens is masked by a vertical rectangular slit so that at any given time only a portion of the film is exposed 2. It does this as the lens swing/rotates so that the film is expose from end to end (the film plane is curved as well). 3. In theory this would mean a 1/15s exposure would take longer than that, probably as long as 1 sec (the film is still exposed at 1/15sec for every part that the light hits) and you might think this would cause camera shake. 4. However, in practice camera shake blur is minimized because the lens is normally superwide (any movement will be almost negligible) 5. The problem is that handholding at that speed you will get wavy lines instead of continous long lines if you are not steady.

thanks for the info sabrewolf!

hmm...doesn't really sound encouraging. probably better off taking several frames with a normal camera and stitch them.

[sabrewolf]

Panoramic stitching will give a fisheye effect as well, you are basically rotating the camera along an axis(yourself), much like what a swing lens camera would do. You have to digitally correct the distortion later to give a panoramix xpan look.

Or, instead of swinging/rotating the camera, you could sidestep to take the pictures

[paisatge]

Originally Posted by sabrewolf Panoramic stitching will give a fisheye effect as well, you are basically rotating the camera along an axis(yourself), much like what a swing lens camera would do. You have to digitally correct the distortion later to give a panoramix xpan look. Or, instead of swinging/rotating the camera, you could sidestep to take the pictures

guess the problem comes when you do a vertical shot, huh?

[boochap]

make your own pinhole camera.
u can design any focal length and any film size u like.

[cphile]

Hi,

You may wish to consider getting a Mamiya 7ii rangefinder camera with the 35mm adaptor kit.

[chiif]

You might want to consider this.

Review is here.

I think Terence has one. Check out this & this.

Alternatively, Fuji 690 & 617 or this or this

[paisatge]

Originally Posted by chiif You might want to consider this. Review is here.

Thanks chiif! 25000 euros allow me to get one of the last 100 noctiluxes, a black M8, a chrome M8 and some summiluxes and probably with leftover to go travelling

[chiif]

Originally Posted by paisatge Thanks chiif! 25000 euros allow me to get one of the last 100 noctiluxes, a black M8, a chrome M8 and some summiluxes and probably with leftover to go travelling

No lah.. where got so expensive? It's only USD3'875.35.

Only the Seitz 6x17 Digital with Seitz D3 digital scan back is 25,000 euros.

[sabrewolf]

Definitely not your everyday camera haha

[denniskee]

other than normal swivel of the camera, you can try

1) use 24mm or 35mm shift lens.

2) use 24mm lens on a macro slide eg. manfrotto 454.

these will give you side way movement.

[paisatge]

Originally Posted by chiif No lah.. where got so expensive? It's only USD3'875.35. Only the Seitz 6x17 Digital with Seitz D3 digital scan back is 25,000 euros.

ya...went straight to look at the digital one

still...for USD3'875.35, guess I would just pick up an xpan

[clubgrit]

Try to find a Fuji GSW690III (120/220 Medium Format), 6 x 9 ... Xpans are Fuji anyway, with Fujinon glass. This is a rangefinder, and it's MF, even bigger.

One MKII was on eBay, but quickly sold, USD 650 only :
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fuji-GSW690-II-6...2em118Q2el1247,

But if for showing on a computer screen only, I don't think there is any need for one ... IMHO, panorama deserves to be printed :-), I still have old panorama family photos and it's a delight to look through them once in a while.



.

[paisatge]

thanks everyone for the input.

the MF body option with 35mm adaptor sounds interesting and economical.
any pointers to where can I get more info?

[Ansel]

Widelux.

[jonathan_wong]

I have the Fuji GSW690. First few rolls of Fuji Velvia was "wow! wow! wow!" then after that, 10 years sleeping in the dry box. Recently a friend loaned it.... maybe just sell to him lah.

Recently rediscovered the following fun:

LowTechFun
Holga Glass lens with 135mm back. Agfa B&W film sproket picture on 6X6 mask.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aye_sha.../pool-holga135

HighTechFun
Samsung NV30 Schneidler lens (or any P&S) and post process stitching....
http://lifehacker.com/378490/stitch-...-free-software