low cost medium format 1:2 panos Re: Panorama cameras

[Robert Monaghan <rmonagha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

quote:
Anyone tried converting old camera into panorama one? I am considering
those old Polaroid or Kodak cameras, they are plenty and under-utilized. 
end-quote:

see http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/panoramic.html
see http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronfilms.html and 
see http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronfilms.html#panoramic

Basically, lots of low end 116 film format (2 1/2 x 4 1/4") cameras for 
low dollars out there, due to difficulty in getting film. The above pages 
discuss a film adapter available or easily made to enable using these 
cameras with 120 rollfilm for an ultralow cost medium format camera with 
1:2 format - prices under $50 and even $25 even on EBAY. 

Lots cheaper than a 4x5 with a rollfilm back; naturally, you can
substitute wider coverage lenses in shutters with the appropriate coverage
and lens registration distances (or hack away a custom solution); the
bellows should make it easy to precisely position the lens, though you
might lose the ability to close up the camera fully with different lenses
in place, so dismounting options might be handy...

http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/lflenses.html  Large format lens notes...

I would be very interested in any experiences or recommendations for 116 
film or similar old cameras for use as panoramic cameras, or other 120 
rollfilm adaptable cameras, as a very low cost way to do medium format 
panoramic photography.  While I can locate 116 cameras and general info, 
there is very little on lenses and coverage (degrees) of these beasties...

Since a 125mm circle of coverage would work for 116 film cameras, it
should be possible to readily swap out say a 65mm to 90mm lens with 100+
degrees of coverage and simply modify the lens mount position (using
ground glass back to test..) for full bellows extension, yielding a low 
cost folding camera with 2 1/2 x 4 1/4" format. 

Anybody have any experiences to share, info on 116 cameras with wider 
coverage, and similar potential lens swapout suggestions and info?

The polaroid cameras are also interesting, as many have small, low cost 
large format coverage lenses at surplus prices, see my pages at:

http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/polaroid.html and
http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/homebrew.html Homebrew cameras pages and
http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/bronhb.html Homebrew lenses pages

Ed Romney has suggested putting a flash synched folder camera lens onto a 
polaroid camera (103-105mm lens registration distance folder to match 
polaroids) to create a nearly no cost polaroid test camera. The reverse 
idea, to take a polaroid lens and modify onto older style film (116?) 
folder camera might also have potential, given the large size of most
polaroid film sizes and quality of some of their lenses (rodenstocks etc).

considering the cost of most medium format rollfilm panoramic cameras, I 
think it might well be possible to 1:2 format camera out of a cheapy 
kodak autograph (116 film converted to use 120 rollfilm) or similar for low 
bucks (circa $50), and then add a low end wide angle in shutter for $300 
or so (Angulon?) to achieve circa 100 degrees of coverage in an oversized 
folder with removable lens? Much cheaper than a rollfilm back and smaller 
than a 4x5 with minimal hacking required...

Marty Megid also provides film adapters (116/616 film to 120) email:

Marty Magid
702 Satterlee Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
USA
MMagid3005@xxxxxxx

Thanks! bobm

* Robert Monaghan POB752182 Dallas Tx 75275-2182 rmonagha@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  *
* Medium Format Cameras: http://www.smu.edu/~rmonagha/mf/index.html megasite*