Kodak Panoram

1910 catalog page scanned by Mario Groleau  (Image rights)

The Panoram cameras were a range of swing-lens Panoramic cameras made in Rochester, New York, USA by Eastman Kodak between 1899-1928. The design was patented by Kodak Brownie designer Frank A. Brownell.

The Panorams had a swinging lens in a leather tube; and they had pronounced curves to the film plane, to match the movement of the lens. The swinging mechanism formed the shutter; the lens tube did not point at the film at either end of its travel, but exposed the length of the frame progressively as it turned to cover the angle of the shot.

Each, except the original No.4, has a fold-down door covering the lens when not in use. A small brilliant finder was mounted centrally on the top-front edge - some with a cover providing a mirror for eye-level use, supplemented by V-shaped sighting-lines across the top of the camera. The viewfinders were also equipped with spirit levels.

Kodak No.1 Panoram (Original Model) image by AWCam (Image rights)

Models

Model	Film type	Frame size	Angle	Dates
No.1 Panoram Original + models B,C,D	105	2¼x7"	112°	1900-26
No.3A Panoram	122	3¼x103/8	120°	1926-28
No.4 Panoram	103	3½x12"	142°	1899-1900
No.4 Panoram B,C,D	103	3½x12"	142°	1900-26

Links/Sources

• On Scott's Photographica:
  • No.1 Panoram
  • No.3A Panoram
• Harry Green's experience of Panoram No.1
• US Patent 693583: Shutter for Photographic Cameras - granted 18 Feb 1902 to Frank A. Brownell; the patent for the Panoram's shutter. Drawings show the internal structure of the camera.
• US Patent 699161: Panoramic Camera - granted 6 May 1902 to Joseph Forsheim