Panoramic cameras are used to make photographic panoramas. A panorama is generally a photograph with a very wide angle of view. Normal photographs are usually rectangular with a relation of width to height called aspect ratio of 1 to 1.5. This means that the hight is one unit and the with is 1.5 units- the typical 4" x 6" print. Panoramic photographs have a higher aspect ratio of usually at least 1 to 2 and up to 1 to 10 or more.
There are many different kinds of cameras which use what could be called a panoramic format. All the cameras fall into one of the following catagories:
Each of the listed catagories contains several different makes of cameras.
Panoramic cameras have been being invented for 150 years. Mr. Bill McBride has researched the history of panoramic cameras and has allowed his Timeline Of Panoramic Cameras to be reprinted here. To see the timeline click on Timeline below.
Rotating Cameras
Rotating Panoramic Cameras have been made since 1857 the most popular being the Kodak Cirkut Cameras. These cameras were first introduced in 1907. The cameras were originally made by The Century Camera Co. of Rochester, NY. This company was bought eventually by Eastman Kodak Co. and the cameras were manufactured by a division of the company. The Cirkut Camera was made in several different sizes. They used roll film from 5" X 24" up to 16" by 20 feet. The #16 Cirkut is the largest roll film camera ever made. The most popular Cirkut camera was the Cirkut #10. Many Cirkuts are used today to make a variety of panoramic pictures.
Cirkut Cameras were originally made to make shots of large groups of people. Because the camera rotated you could be much closer to the subject and still capture the whole group. Many are still used for this purpose.
Cirkut Cameras were made with a spring wound clockwork. Two different methods were used to regulate the speed of the motor. The first used small air resistance fans attached to the bottom of the camera. The larger the fan, the slower the motor would go. Later, a ball governor device mounted inside the body of the camera was used.
Cirkut Cameras are still used totay by many photographers, but, they are not the only rotating panoramic cameras. Some of the others are the Roundshot-a superb pan camera available in many models, Hulcherama, Globuscope, and many cameras made by amateur camera builders. These modern rotating panoramic cameras use easily available film and produce stunning images.
Swing Lens Cameras
Several different makes of swing lens panoramic cameras have been made throughout the history of panoramic photography. The swing lens camera has a lens that is mounted in a way so that it pivots around an axis of rotation. The camera and the film remian stationary. The film is on a curved backplate so that the distance of the film from the lens is always the same. This keeps the image in focus throughout the whole arc of the picture. These cameras generally make a photograph that is about a maximum of 150 degrees. Swing lens cameras have been made since the very beginning of panoramic photography starting 1843 with the first known patent for a panoramic camera.
Many swing lens panoramic cameras are being used today to make beautiful panoramic photographs. Both modern -of which there are many - as well as antique swing lens cameras are used.
Some of the more well known antique swing lens panoramic cameras are: Al-Vista, Kodak Panoram, and the Osborne Photo Transit.
The Al-Vista Panoramic Cameras were manufactured by the Multiscope & Film Co. of Burlington Wisconsin. The cameras were made from 1899 to 1910. These cameras were made in many sizes the largest of which could make a negative measuring 8.5" X 26".
The Kodak Panoram was first made in 1899. This camera was also made in several sizes over the years the largest capable of making a negative 3-1/4" X 10-3/8".
The Osborne Photo Recording Transit was made for the Forest Service in 1932. This camera had a built in transit that recorded the compass points on the film. This way one would know the direction the camera was looking when the photo was taken. The camera covered an angle of 120 degrees on a 6" x 14" film. One of these photos can be seen in the forest service station in Packwood, WA. This Photo was made in the 1930's and consists of three 120 degree views to make a full 360 degree pan.
Many modern swing lens cameras are being made. These include: Horizont, Widelux, Noblex, Cyclops,and Pinoramic. All of these cameras are commercially available and produce beautiful images covering various angles of view from 120 degrees to 150 degrees.
Extra Wide Angle Cameras
Many Extra Wide Angle Cameras have been made over the years. One antique camera is the Kodak Banquet Camera. These cameras were made in various sizes from 7" X 17" to 12' X 20". The film was held flat and a wide angle lens was used to cover the long narrow format. Some of these cameras are still used today.
Today a large variety of Extra Wide Angle Cameras are available. These cameras use small to medium format film. Some of the Extra Wide Angle Cameras available today are the VeriWide, Globus WIde, and Gowland Wide.
Many different brands of Stationary Panoramic Cameras are made, these include Fuji 617, Art Panoram-available in several sizes, Linhof-available in 2 sizes, V-Pan-a monorail pan camera, and K. B. Canam 4" X 10" pan camera. All of these cameras make beautiful images in a panoramic format.