Re: My 2c contribution to the forum.

[gary irving <panolux@xxxxxxxx>]

Craig Woods wrote:
> 
> Could someone please explain "distortion' as related to a swing lens camera.
> My photographic training, many years ago at the Regent St Polytechnic in
> London, tells me that there is no distortion from a swing lens camera...the
> focal distance being the same throughout. In fact the apparent dsitortion of
> U/W lenses on a flat format e.g 6x17 introduce a distortion that is not
> visually apparent. I know a good photographer must have the ability to
> pre-visualise a photograph and see as the camera sees but I personally
> dislike the image size fall-off, to coin an expression, of these lenses. I
> own an old Panon that shoots a 6x12 cm and covers 140 degrees and I can't
> see any distortion. Does a 360 camera like a roundshot have distortion? Mono
> syllabic answers please.
> Craig Woods
> -----Original Message-----
> From: YDegroot@xxxxxxx <YDegroot@xxxxxxx>
> To: panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 24 February 1999 10:25
> Subject: RE: My contribution to the forum.
> 
> I don't just complain. I just don't like bickering between people through a
> public medium. I agree and disagree with the statement that one's work has
> nothign to do with one's personality. Agree that he/she can still shoot
> great
> photos. But disagree as far as the pratical end of it. As a former photo
> editor, I never used people again who were a pain in the butt, who were
> terribly arrogant, etc.
> 
> I have talked about panoramic topics, about my cameras, etc.
> 
> I shoot with Linhof 617, homemade 6x18 (using B/J & Navy Torpedo parts), and
> very wide angle cameras, such as Brooks Plaubel 100 VW.
> 
> I have had a range of  swing lenses, but really did not like the
> distortions,
> so sold them all.
> 
> I mostly shoot nature, but from a very individual, unique perspective, which
> I
> call tunnel vision. Hard to explain.
> 
> Here's something to discuss: many photographers say light is everything. To
> me
> composition is everything. And every kind of light evokes a certain approach
> to compostion. In other words. Almost every scene has its ideal composition
> under a certain unique and ideal light, that may come around only once a
> day,
> or even less frequent. Thus, there is never a bad time to photograph.
> Whether
> it rains, whether the skies are just gray, there's sunset, whatever. There's
> always something that looks unique in that condition of light.

Craig,

The swing-lens cameras create the distortion that what is seen within
the image was seen within that context: a relatively fixed gaze when in
fact the view is so much greater.The flat print,viewed in its entirety
within your peripheral vision is a distortion of the actual scene in
which the camera had to 
turn around(or the lens did) in order to take in the view: a much
different viewing experience!You would have to print the 140 or 360
degree images large and present them in the same arc as they were
originally seen to get rid of the distortion these cameras create in a
flat viewing environment.

GMI