Re: Question on Noblex Panorama

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

[from a private mail, CC to the Panorama Photography Mailinglist for 
comments on some details]

On 24 Jul 00 at 0:31, david A wrote:

> Dear Sir:
> 
> I've read with great attention your excellent info on Panoramic cameras
> because I'd like to turn to shot street photo with a 35mm swing lens
> camera. I've asked for the price and caracteristics of the Noblex 135 U
> but I'm starting to think that may be not the best choice because you
> say that this model  has a time lag to accelerate the drum.

Yep, mechanical cameras can fire instantly, with a strong clock-work 
spring; electro(nic) cameras are less powerful, and require some 
spin-up time.
  
> I usually work with  Leica M-system and, of course, I shot the picture
> when I "recognise" something through the wiewfinder. My questions are
> ¿how long does the "time lag" last? ¿Is it possible to make
> photojournalism with this camera or I will miss all my pictures?

Now that's an interesting question....with the Noblexi, there is 
indeed a time lag, while the drum speeds up for the correct 
speed....which means that during most of it's 180 degree 'spin-up' it 
will have the same speed as during exposure....which means, with a 
1.4mm wide slit, on a 66mm wide frame, = 66/1.4 = 47x the exposure 
time, or nearly 1 second at 1/60s....or, from start to finish, nearly 
2 seconds (including exposure itself)....this is the inherent 
downside of such a small slit (on a normal SLR, the shutter gap is 
full-size until it reaches flash-synchro speed, but due to the curve 
in a panorama camera, the slit must be very small....make it too 
wide, and the image will become soft, because the edges are not in 
focus (flat image on a curved plane....no idea why the lens couldn't 
be designed as 'curve-focus' btw....comments from the list?). 

This is also why flash doesn't work with panorama cameras....there
is simply no moment in which the entire frame is exposed, in which a
flash can be fired....only very fast stroboscopic flash could work,
or a strong continuous light source (video light). 

> I'm very aware that you are a very busy professional but it will be a 
> great help if you could answer my doubts. As you know better than me the 
> camera costs a lot and I don't want to make such a expensive mistake...

Well, I can't decide how important this shutter lag is for you, but 
you should also consider that the key feature of the Noblex 135U 
compared to the Noblex 135S(hift-only) is the range of longer shutter 
times (1/15-1s); you pay a premium for a feature that is standard on 
the Horizon 202 (1/2s)....about a factor 4-5 in price 
difference....(I can sell you a brand new 202 for US$375....mail me 
if you want more details).
On the other hand, for action/people photography these longer times 
can't be used anyway....1s effective shutter speed means 47x2 = 94s 
total operation time.
(on the Horizon 202, with its 6mm wide slit, and 58mm wide frame, 
it's only 58/6=10s (no speed up time)....<mmm....I just checked, it 
takes much shorter in fact, about 5s....in that case I made a math 
error above as well, so devide all times by 2....:-))....>
 
> Thanks in advance for your attention and for your wonderful web site.

Thank you for your kind words Sir....:-)) 


--                 
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'!]