Re: Request for info on Art Panorama 617

["simonwide:\"First simonwide:Last\"" <simonwide@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

my third simo/wide was
built in japan in 1964. first one i built was in 1961, built by golden
hands danny dunn  (who took over former o.g. heinemann shop when ogee
joined instrument div of ehrenreich photo) with radio chassis, medalist
focusing mount. dutch window handle. 2nd one was by frits rotgans, amsterdam.
it was a temporary camera for south pole trip. frits' camera used 
his version of torpedo camera mags. 3rd model was recorded in two simon
says columns april, may 1970 popular photography. you can  have photocopy 
of columns by putting address on email to me in block form so i can copy
it onto snailmail envelope. it tells why more than how as  (japan)  
nikon's masahiko fuketa turned me over to nikon's prototype shop which
was then the beauty camera works in tokyo. t. hayashi was my interpreter.
he was from nikon as well. in 1983 i bought  g617 and that was A BETTER
CAMERA, BUT NOT F. 8 105MM LENS fixed on the camera. lever winding and
wonderful finder with option of 220 film were factors. i never ever considered
linhof shown at 1976 photokina. lens was wrong for me, too short. simon
nathanitchell P. Warner wrote:

Dave,

I had the same question before I bought my first 617. Much of my decision
was based on the ability to use my already existing large format lenses.  I
was just about to buy a Fuji 617 when I decided to ask Tracy Richards, of
Panoramic Images in Chicago, Ill, undeniably the best panoramic stock rep's
in the world

(trichards@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).

Without hesitation she said that images made with V-Pans sold more than any
other camera.  This could be because V-pan users are more prolific and may
have nothing to do with the equipment itself, which is big, heavy, slow and
strangely wonderful.  You could knock out a charging Black Bear with the
film holder alone. It will NEVER be a hand held camera, but the full moves
on the front standard have afforded the ability to create images which
would have, otherwise, been impossible or severely distorted.

Simon would disagree with me totally, as he wouldn't take money to use a
V-Pan, but then Simon was the first, $ucce$$ful point and shoot panoramic
photographer, using custom built cameras for the flexibility his images
demanded.  The Fuji presently fills this need completely.

Come see America's First Fireworks, on the Island of Guam

http://www.avisoinc.com/guam2000

Mitch Warner

At 03:24 PM 12/28/1999 -0500, you wrote:
>
>I am in the search phase of my first panorama camera. Based upon the
quality I
>am used to from my MF equipment, I have narrowed my search to the 617 format.
>I am interested in any information that may be available on the Art Panorama
>617. I have the typical pre-purchase type of questions: Are there any US
>distributors. Anyone have any experience with this unit ? How might it
compare
>to the Linhof, or the Fuji ? I am interested in the Art Panorama due to it's
>reported lower cost. Any comment on that would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Dave
>
>