Panorama on the PhotoKina

[Willem-Jan Markerink <w.j.markerink@xxxxx>]

Dear group,

The Russian Horizon department had more interesting news to offer 
than confirming the existence of a high speed 202 (with the added 
1/500s).
- the medium format 205PC is said to be available in Januar....parts 
are all manufactured, the only waiting is for the assembly department
- it offers 1, 1/2 and 1/4s as slow times (and 1/15, 1/30 and 1/60s as 
fast times, not sure)
- 10mm shift (forgot whether it was up- or down-specific....might be 
both, who knows)
- film transport and turret cocking are separate handlings, the first 
with a knob a la Noblex, the second with a lever on the front, above 
the drum
- 2 tripod sockets, for both vertical and horizontal tripod mounting
- estimated price is better than announced on the previous two
PhotoKina's, US$2000, instead of US$2500 (and a 1000 unit order
requirement at that time)....this is MUCH better than Noble,
considering the very nice slow exposure range (which costs you a
bundle with Noble!)....the non-tripod night shots I performed on the
Expo in Lissabon could not have been made with multi-exposures, and
the Noble slow speed drive on the bottom of the camera is a
nightmare if you want to lean the unit to a fence or wall

No proofs of optical quality, so we'll just have to wait and see 
whether it matches the Noble performance....once that has been 
confirmed, I think this beast will have to be added to my 
stable....if only for the slow speed potential, and the very relaxed 
idea of no batteries....:-))

- there seems to be a silent version of the 202, for church and 
museum use (sic). Neither touched nor seen this model, but it is an 
interesting development. Both high and slow speed were silent.

- one of the Silvestri viewfinders shows a remarkeable resemblance 
with the Horizon 202 viewfinder....same spirit-level construction, 
same large screw on top. 
Got a nasty look from the guy when I mentioned this, and he refused 
to answer. Fool. It had to cost nearly as much as a complete 202 as 
well....perhaps they are throwing away the rest of the camera....8-))
(PS Steve Morton, didn't you once mention this resemblance too, many 
moons ago?)

- the guys at the German Spheron (Sferon?) stand were very nice....
they however did say that the price would probably be significantly 
higher than that of a Seitz Super Roundshot, over 20k Deutsch Marks 
(less than US$15k).

- biggest eye opener for me were the digital printers in the 
professional media department....printing up to 5m wide (that's 
*wide*, not long!), and fascinating brilliant....even in qualities 
that were warranted with 4 years, outdoors. Think about the 
panorama's one could do with that....5m tall, 12-30m long....it 
better be outdoor quality indeed....either that, or you have to 
sacrifice two floors in your home....8-))

- seen worlds largest one-piece photo, over 60m long, an old mural 
taken with a Seitz Super Roundshot.

--                 
Bye,

Willem-Jan Markerink


      The desire to understand 
is sometimes far less intelligent than
     the inability to understand


<w.j.markerink@xxxxx>
[note: 'a-one' & 'en-el'!]