M7 Panoramic Insert vs. the Horizon Perfekt

Now for the show down, which really isn't much of a contest.  The Horizon Perfekt is a swing lens panoramic camera:

All of these images were taken from the same tripod position.  The first thing you notice is the much wider field of view for the Horizon, notice my fingers got in the way (lower left):

Horizon Perfekt (above) and Mamiya 7 35mm (below):

Of course the wider field of view adds more distortion, especially if the camera i

s not perfectly leveled.

Again Horizon (above) and Mamiya (below).

Last set, showing the Flatirons:

Horizon (above) and Mamiya (below) which we saw on the first posting.

So that's my panoramic comparison.  I promise better exposures next time you see the Horizon Perfekt.  I'll just have to pull out the spot meter and use ISO 100 film for the very bright sun around here.  I have one more comparison to the Horizon to make.  Coming Soon!

Also posted as Week #18 for the 52 Rolls Project.

A few more from the Horizon Perfekt

I Really liked the way this view of the Flat Irons turned out.

Just a view of the Prairie at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal

And a Panorama at my friend's Church, St Ambrose.  Opens up some interesting opportunities for Architectural Photos.  Hadn't thought of using a Panorama Camera inside.

Panorama Comparison #1 & 52 Rolls Week #13

I'm going to be posting side-by-side comparisons for several options that I have for shooting Panoramas.  You've seen some of these cameras before and others will be new options for familiar camera friends.

Today a new Option.  I will be doing another series, because I had different films in these cameras and I want to do a true direct comparison with the same films and exposures, etc.

But we will start with a new option for an Old Friend:  The Mamiya 7 with a 35 mm Panorama insert and the Horizon Perfekt swing lens Panorama camera.  I had forgotten that I had color film in the Horizon.  But the main thing to notice in the comparison is that the horizon has a much wider field of view,  and that was what I wanted to learn from this experiment.

Above (Mamiya 7 35mm) and Below (Horizon).  Reservoir at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.

Second view of the reservoir, panning north from the same position.

The Indian Peaks from Lake Waneka.

I assume that the streaking is an artifact of developing.  What do you think?

And the NOAA Satellite Communication Dishes.

Some interesting results. As I said we'll do a Redo for a more direct comparison.  I've posted the B&W images as Week #13 of the 52 Rolls Project.  I will post the color photos for Week #14.

Saturdays Online: Experimental Cameras I Have Known........

Experimental Cameras include the expected offerings from Holga or Lomography.  But I'm also including unusual 'found cameras', any plastic camera and some odd little 35 mm cameras that have passed my way.  Click on the links to see example images from each camera type.

Okay, lets start with the obvious, Holga.  But there are many Holgas, and I have two types:  The standard Holga 120:

and the Holga Panorama Pinhole:

See last Year's Pinhole Day Photo here.

The Lomography Fisheye:

An Old School Plastic Camera, the Kodak Dualflex.  Taking a page out of the TLR family.  I had read about someone finding their grandmother's camera (with film) in a closet and developing it to find a whole new perspective on their grand mother as a young woman.  Great romantic Story, but the results of my experiments were lacking.  Seems like I never posted anything from this camera.  I'll take another look through my files.

The Kalimar Wide-X, a found camera.  Literally found in the trash.  The focussing lens had a crack, and the camera was very hard to load properly:

But it still yielded some results that were good enough to lead us to buy it's modern cousin the Lomo Horizon Swing Lens Panorama.

The Kodak Pocket Camera:

I bought this when I lived in New Orleans (Pre-Katrina).  I was afraid to walk around with a 'nice camera' and this slips neatly into the pocket.  Takes decent photos for a plastic lens camera.

And A silly little "Mini Diana" that shoot 110 ( a format I've never tried before).  It came as a bonus gift when I bought the Horizon.  So what the heck.....I'm testing it now.

The film cartridge actually forms the camera back.  

Sounds like a recipe for light leaks.

Cameras that I own as novelties but have yet to use:

Zero Image Pinhole:

This camera was part of the 3-D printing trend.  We'll try to focus on using it for Pinhole Day 2017.  And the same is true of the Ilford Camera Obscura (below).  Of course there is no reason to wait for Pinhole Day.  So we will try to use it sooner.  It is 4X5 format, probably why I haven't tried it yet.

In future weeks, We'll take a look at some Experimental Methods I have known.

Sundays Online: The Sounds of Film Photography

Forget that annoying beeping....Those of us that maintain an arsenal of film cameras still get to enjoy the "Sound of Film".

In the Labels I have listed all the brands of Film Cameras I still use.............

Vintage Camera News: Made in the USSR……..

But found in the ‘trash’ so to speak.  One of the old-timer scientists where Donald works was retiring and cleaning out his laboratory.  Certain items were left out for anyone to take.

So the find was a Kalimar Wide-X, swing-lens panorama camera:

Swing Lens Feature-sweeps across the field of view to limit exposure and create panorama effect.

Essential Data from Camera-Wiki.org:

Dates: 1967-1973

Origin:  An export version of the Russian of the HorizonT 35 mm swing-lens panorama camera for the American market.  Rebadged by the importer Kalimar.  Almost 50,000 were produced, sold under different names in different countries.  Since 1991 it has been produced as the Plastic Horizon Panorama:  Model Horizon-202 from 1991-2005 and Model Horizon Kompackt from 2005-2009.  I could not find any evidence of current production. But for more on Plastic Cameras visit the Lomo Society.

Yes the field of view lens is cracked but still useable.

The camera must be level to minimize distortion, so a tripod is required.

A manual we found in translation on-line warned that the shutter speed was 'only approximate' and the ASA dial 'just a reminder'.

Also a couple of compact light meters:

Sekonic Auto-Lumi L-158 and the Gossen Pilot:

About once a month I intend to write about one of the cameras I own or hope to own.  I had done some of this when I began this Blog.  I may re-post some of those oldies (with updates) for the benefit on more recent followers.