Panoramics:  Horizon 202, Pentax and 625eq

Gene F. Rhodes                05-25-02                   home

xxxxxx

Horizon 202

Handmade 625eq

Horizon:  The Russian Horizon 202 is a swing lens camera with a 28 mm,  f 2.8 - f28  lens and a view of 120 degrees. Negative size is 24x58 mm and requires three scans to digitize. Its swing lens does not create barrel distortion so four negs can easily be stitched for 360 degree views.  The short 28 mm lens produces severe center image bending, as can be seen below.
625eq:  Is a handmade, fixed lens, wide angle/wide image, 35 mm panoramic camera with a Schneider Super Angulon 47mm  f8 - f32  lens.   Its view is approx 100 deg and image size is 24x102 mm, and also requires three scans to digitize.     The Schneider lens does not have center image bending, but its images cannot be stitched for wider views.
Telephoto Panorama:  Multi-image shots are comparable to those made with swing lens cameras, including the center image bending.  One important difference is that the multi's can be made with telephoto lenses, and the bending is reduced as the lens length increases. (See photos below) Stitching software is generally necessary for shorter lens photos, but tele shots can easily be stitched manually.

x

A test photo from my front yard,  (Horizon 3 negs 220 deg) was cropped to remove excessive foreground and sky which reduces some of the bending distortion. The cropping  also reduces the negative size and prevents full enlargements. This image was made in July and at high noon, the best time for panoramas because of the greater shadow detail.
TCCW    Telephoto panorama. 14 vert negs stitched manually.    Pentax   250mm  1/250   f 16   ISO 400
The 250mm lens greatly reduces center image bending
TCCW  Tele panorama 15 vert exp stitched manually  Nikon 950  230mm 1/125 f 11 ISO 80
TCCW    Fixed lens panorama
handmade 625eq  1 negative  1/60   f 32  ISO 400
xxxxxxxxx xxx 
This photo is a comparison of the panoramic capabilities of a 35mm "625eq" fixed lens panoramic (top), a Pentax SLR (mid) and a Nikon 950 digital. Pan/Ortho Images:  Panoramic (top) compared to orthographic. Shot with Nikon 950 230mm 1/125 f 11 ISO 80.
Fixed vs. swing lens panoramic cameras. Note the difference in perspective between the handmade 625eq (top) and the Horizon  photos.
625eq handmade fixed lens panorama of ORU Mabee Center
RESTORATION:  This is my first panorama restoration. It's a wagon train full of wool and the wagon master is my friend  Bill  Stone's great grandfather.
Horizon 202:  Multi image swing lens panorama of Ray Stinchcomb's estate