Topic: Reader's Digest Panoramic Camera

[inksmelladdict]

Hey,
So I recently accidentally purchased a 35mm panoramic camera that once came free with Reader's Digest off of some kind of popular auction site. Needless to say I was not impressed with my trigger happy hands. Especially when I discovered that there were literally no settings on it whatsoever. Point and shoot and repeat. Anyway, when it arrived I figured I'd pop a roll of Fomapan 200 in it and take myself and it for a walk. Which I did today. Not expecting much, I set about developing and scanning the film ,only to find that it had taken some genuinely interesting photos. Ones which I really like.

Anyway, my question is whether or not one of you have used one of these and if so, what did you think? (Plus examples would always be nice.) And so this isn't text only, here are a couple of shots from today's roll:


inksmelladdict27, on Flickr


inksmelladdict27, on Flickr

Inksmelladdict

[Francois]

I don't have the Readers's Digest one, but I have used once a Vivitar IC-101 which was pretty good (except for the flare in the viewfinder due to the metallic plastic used).

I know Ed did some interesting things with his panorama camera a very long time ago... He was using it vertically, taking the scene on multiple images and reassembling it all in 'shop.

[inksmelladdict]

This camera looks similar to the Vivitar IC-101 but much more basic. (Flash. Pah.)

I've definitely got lots more experimentation to do with this thing. As long as the light conditions are right it seems like it's capable of some interesting things.

[This-is-damion]

Francois - That goes back to the toycamera days... the Ansco pix panorama was the camera du jour back then.

This was my contribution back then  (i.e ripping off ed)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisrice/tags/ansco/


Eds were a lot more eloquent I recall.  One of a block of flats near his house and this one

https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwenn/tags/anscopixpanorama/

[Francois]

Was it that long ago?
Time sure does fly...

This camera looks similar to the Vivitar IC-101 but much more basic. (Flash. Pah.)

Well, you can't get more basic than the IC-101. No flash. No hotshoe. No settings. No tripod mount.
It does feature a lens cover that slides into place, a shutter release button, a film advance wheel, a rewind button, a rewind crank and a small door release button...

But the lens is really nice with color (like pretty much all Vivitar lenses)

[astrobeck]

Love cheapie panoramas!
I've also started using mine again..an ansco pix...

[Francois]

I've got a couple of weird ones also which I have yet to try.
Namely the incredible Pentax Espio (which is a bit too much in the quality department), the Vivitar PN-2011 and the Ultronic Panoramic (which is probably the cheapest piece of junk I have... you feel like it's going to break just by looking at it! )

[jharr]

Do these shoot real panos or are they masked off 35mm frames (36mm wide)?

[inksmelladdict]

I love that shot  Bex.

Jharr, yes it does just mask off a 35mm frame. It makes for some satisfying looking negs.

Also, I had a little go at making my own shoddily stitched together panorama with it...

[astrobeck]

Thanks, I like the stitching aspect inks.   

Most cheapie panoramas do just crop the frame and make it look letterboxed, which is kind of cool in itself.   

The cheapie panos usually have a 25-28mm wide lens installed, so it does give you a wider view to go along with the "pano" format.

Here's a link to the specs of the Ansco pix, and a lot of other cheapie panos have the same specs.
http://scottj.info/2009/02/ansco-pix-panorama/

[p4portra]

Hey,
So I recently accidentally purchased a 35mm panoramic camera that once came free with Reader's Digest off of some kind of popular auction site. Needless to say I was not impressed with my trigger happy hands. Especially when I discovered that there were literally no settings on it whatsoever. Point and shoot and repeat. Anyway, when it arrived I figured I'd pop a roll of Fomapan 200 in it and take myself and it for a walk. Which I did today. Not expecting much, I set about developing and scanning the film ,only to find that it had taken some genuinely interesting photos. Ones which I really like.

Anyway, my question is whether or not one of you have used one of these and if so, what did you think? (Plus examples would always be nice.) And so this isn't text only, here are a couple of shots from today's roll:


inksmelladdict27, on Flickr


inksmelladdict27, on Flickr

Inksmelladdict

I need some panorama in my life.

[astrobeck]

Ansco Pix panorama with some expired color...

[inksmelladdict]

That is fun. Have you noticed how the car is definitely attempting to run someone over?