Difference between revisions of "Panon"

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'''Panon''' Camera Shoko  was a small-scale Japanese camera manufacturer, founded by Shozo Nakayama in 1952. The company is bets known as the maker of the '''Widelux''' [[Panorama camera|panoramic cameras]]. The Widelux, as well as its predecessor the Panon, uses a lens which swivels through a horizontal arc, projecting an image onto a cylindrical film gate.<ref>Movies showing the turret of a Widelux F7 turning at various exposure speeds as seen from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/5784368662/ camera front] and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/5784421187  camera back]</ref> The principle is similar to the [[Noblex]] and [[Horizont]] cameras—or for that matter the [[Kodak Panoram]] series, begun in 1899.
 
'''Panon''' Camera Shoko  was a small-scale Japanese camera manufacturer, founded by Shozo Nakayama in 1952. The company is bets known as the maker of the '''Widelux''' [[Panorama camera|panoramic cameras]]. The Widelux, as well as its predecessor the Panon, uses a lens which swivels through a horizontal arc, projecting an image onto a cylindrical film gate.<ref>Movies showing the turret of a Widelux F7 turning at various exposure speeds as seen from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/5784368662/ camera front] and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/5784421187  camera back]</ref> The principle is similar to the [[Noblex]] and [[Horizont]] cameras—or for that matter the [[Kodak Panoram]] series, begun in 1899.
  
Panon was the name of the company's original 1952 panoramic camera for 120 film. In 1958 the company introduced the Widelux FV which used [[35mm_film |35mm]] film (135), and which underwent various model upgrades (last model F8, ceased production in 2000). The Widelux F-series models were designed for 35mm film, giving horizontal coverage of about 126° and a vertical coverage of 55º (24 x 59mm image size).<ref>A roll that would ordinarily give 36 conventional exposures will yield about 21 panoramic images on the Widelux</ref> Based on serial numbering, it seems that only about 20,000 total 35mm cameras were produced.<ref>[http://manualcamera.info/widelux.htm Widelux serial number data base] at [http://manualcamera.info/ Manual Camera]</ref> Beginning in 1990 Panon resumed offering a model for 120 film, the Widelux 1500.
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Panon was the name of the company's original 1952 panoramic camera for 120 film. In 1958 the company introduced the Widelux FV which used [[35mm_film |35mm]] film (135), and which underwent various model upgrades (last model F8, ceased production in 2000). The Widelux F-series models were designed for 35mm film, giving horizontal coverage of about 126° and a vertical coverage of 55º (24 x 59mm image size).<ref>A roll that would ordinarily give 36 conventional exposures will yield about 21 panoramic images on the Widelux</ref> Based on serial numbering, it seems that only about 20,000 total 35mm cameras were produced.<ref>[http://manualcamera.info/widelux.htm Widelux serial number data base] at [http://manualcamera.info/ Manual Camera]</ref> In 1987  Panon resumed offering a model for 120 film, the Widelux 1500, but production was ended when the factory suffered a fire in the mid 1990s.<ref>Detailed information on Panon is very hard to come by</ref>
 
 
  
 
==Models==
 
==Models==

Revision as of 04:10, 4 June 2011

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Panon Camera Shoko was a small-scale Japanese camera manufacturer, founded by Shozo Nakayama in 1952. The company is bets known as the maker of the Widelux panoramic cameras. The Widelux, as well as its predecessor the Panon, uses a lens which swivels through a horizontal arc, projecting an image onto a cylindrical film gate.[1] The principle is similar to the Noblex and Horizont cameras—or for that matter the Kodak Panoram series, begun in 1899.

Panon was the name of the company's original 1952 panoramic camera for 120 film. In 1958 the company introduced the Widelux FV which used 35mm film (135), and which underwent various model upgrades (last model F8, ceased production in 2000). The Widelux F-series models were designed for 35mm film, giving horizontal coverage of about 126° and a vertical coverage of 55º (24 x 59mm image size).[2] Based on serial numbering, it seems that only about 20,000 total 35mm cameras were produced.[3] In 1987 Panon resumed offering a model for 120 film, the Widelux 1500, but production was ended when the factory suffered a fire in the mid 1990s.[4]

Models

120 format

  • Panon Camera 50A (1952)
  • Panon Camera AII (1952, Oct) with Konica Hexanon f/2.8 50mm[5]
  • Panon Camera AIII (1953, Jun) with Panon /2.8 50mm[6]
  • Panon Camera AI (1954)
  • Widelux 1500 (1980)
  • New Widelux 1500 (1987)

135 format

  • Widelux FI (prototype?)
  • Widelux FV (1958) with Panon f/2.8 26mm
  • Widelux FV I(~1964)
  • Widelux F6 (~1970)
  • Widelux F6B (~1970s)
  • Widelux F7 (1979-1988)
  • Widelux F8 (1988–mid 1990s)

Other


Sample Photos


Notes and References

  1. Movies showing the turret of a Widelux F7 turning at various exposure speeds as seen from camera front and camera back
  2. A roll that would ordinarily give 36 conventional exposures will yield about 21 panoramic images on the Widelux
  3. Widelux serial number data base at Manual Camera
  4. Detailed information on Panon is very hard to come by
  5. West Licht Auction 3, Lot 799
  6. Panon Camera AIII at Map camera

Links

Technical details:

Tips:

General