Panorama 35mm Plastic Film Camera Review

(If you can't see the video, please click here.)

I picked this great cheap little plastic camera from a charity shop on the Isle of Wight (£2), and I have been pleasantly surprised with the results that I've got from it.

There are many variations on this camera - different colours, names and styles, but they all are a bit of a cheat, not having true wide-angle lenses, instead these cameras simply mask off the tops and bottoms of the 35mm frame to give a panoramic look.

Saying that though, the photographs are much more than a sum of their constituant parts. Even though they are simple crops, I think they have a distinctive look, and that slim viewpoint has made me choose distinctive subjects.

 On the back of the camera is a reminder to tell your lab to process the film as panoramic. You may find that not many know how to do it, or hold the 4" paper required to produce the wide, slim prints, but they may well be able to scan them as panoramic, so you'll at least get some impressive images on disc.

 

 Perhaps a more challenging perspective, the vertical panorama does have it place and provides an unusual point of view.

 With one aperture, one shutter speed, and a fixed-focus lens, the panoramic camera is simplicity in itself to use. All it needs is some film, probably ISO 400 for drab days, 100 for sunny, and a willingness to experiment.

 So next time you're out and about, keep your eyes open for these little panoramic cameras. They look like ordinary 35mm film models, but that simple addition of a cropping frame makes a wonderful difference.

 For me I think I'll be trying some black and white, self-developed film next. Oh yes!

Cheers, Rob.

Comments

[Ben]

I love it! I have a Supapix which I found at a car boot for 50p which is similar to yours, but it gives you the option of 'Panoramic' or 'Normal'.
Do Jessops charge extra for the panoramic prints?

[Rob_Nunn]

Hi Ben,

You'll have to find a lab, Jessops or otherwise, where the technician knows how to print the pano size, and also one that actually has the pano paper size, the 4" roll normally used for APS prints if my memory serves me well.

Otherwise you'll get normal size prints with black borders, not such a bad thing.

Thanks, Rob.