Widelux F7

[tim_n]

You've probably already found these on the web, but two essential resources for Widelux users are the tip sheet by John Stamets, copied at the Jeff Bridges site: http://www.jeffbridges.com/widelux.html

and the details on Widelux insides and adjustments here:

http://www.jumboprawn.net/jesse/cams/widelux_fv.html

I've had F7 for many years, and 3 essential issues are (1) only change shutter speeds AFTER advancing film/winding turret, (2) gently exercise the turret by hand with empty camera at all 3 speed settings regularly, and (3) keep away from grit and dust. The hand exercises (with turret uncocked and free to rotate) keep the gear clockwork smooth and lubed evenly. In my experience, this generally prevents banding, and can even cure banding once it appears, unless there is serious grit in the works. If you listen to the clockwork, you can hear when there are problems versus when all is smooth and regular. Grit is the worst enemy of the clockwork drive, so best advice is to keep your Widelux as clean as possible. Clean out your camera bag often or line your Widelux slot in the bag with a something that you change regularly, blow out film chips from the camera insides, etc.,

[Nikkor AIS]

Thanks Tim, I really appreciate you taking the time to post those links. Please share some pf your widelux shots in this thread.

























[img]http://rogaltacdesign.smugmug.com/Other/August-
2010/89270003/956767945_jxh6H-L.jpg[/img]

[tim_n]

Originally Posted by Nikkor AIS

Thanks Tim, I really appreciate you taking the time to post those links. Please share some pf your widelux shots in this thread.]

I'll figure out how to post photos here....haven't done this before.
In the meantime, a couple of my own observations about Widelux:
The Widelux filter set is cool in its fitted carrying case, but in these days of digital processing, the only ones really worth using are the UV filter, for high altitude and other UV-rich sites, and the ND filters, to compensate for the limited shutter speeds. The Widelux lens seems not to filter UV at all. I used to travel a lot with a Leica and the Widelux, and the difference in high-altitude images was striking. Modern Leica lenses filter all UV, no real need for UV filters even up in the mountains, but Widelux photos of the same scenes can really suffer without the UV filter. With the ND filters, you can stick with ISO 400 film for most situations. It makes things much easier if you are traveling and shifting between outdoors and indoors constantly. Another observation: the 26 mm lens in the Widelux (I'm familiar only with the F7 and F8) is really good. Because of the swing-lens design, the image is created just from the optimal central field of the lens. If you shoot with fine grain slow film on a tripod, you'll be amazed at the image quality. Can make large landscape prints that are edge to edge really sharp. Another observation: it helps to have a depth-of-focus table for 26mm handy or memorized. A big advantage of Widelux, compared to the Russian and other fixed-focus panoramic cameras, is that it has focus set at something like 3.3 meters (11 feet), while the others are set to infinity. This makes it easier to do portraits at near distance and still be able to do distant landscapes with reasonable f-stops.

Finally, some of my favorite books with Widelux images:
In Algeria, by Michael von Graffenried----stealth reportage
Pictures, by Jeff Bridges-----behind-the-scenes views of active film sets; he's made a limited-edition Widelux book of each film he's been in, and this is a selection. You know that Widelux is essentially a Cinemascope field of view, right?
Portrait of a Market, by John Stemets----scenes from Seattle's Pike Place Market
Signs and Relics, by Sylvia Plachy----street photos and personal; she has other books, plus years of photos in the Village Voice and New Yorker. Later used XPan, I think.

[Nikkor AIS]

Tim, thank you so much for the Widelux links. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. I'm becoming quite fond of this little camera and the more I can learn the better.

[papasnap]

Originally Posted by Nikkor AIS

I'm going to shoot the Widelux F7 with the tripod next week in hopes of avoiding the field curvature and my fingers on the edge of the frame .

Gregory

Hey Gregory, how did you go with curing field curvature with the tripod? I'm curious to know as I've ordered a Horizon Perfekt (cheaper than the wideluxes, not as well built but offers greater range of shutter speeds amongst other things), I've got zero experience with swing-lens panos, but have some shoots in mind (inside some old buildings, etc) where I'd like to avoid curvature..

Originally Posted by Nikkor AIS

looking at this shot, I'm guessing the tripod cures the curvature?

[pagpow]

Having the camera held horizontal, pointing neither up nor down, with the horizon lose to the middle, minimizes the bowl or ball distortion; having no recognizable features near the camera taking up a large angle of the photo eliminates visible curvilinearity due to the short focal length and variable distance from the camera in different parts of the photo.
Clarity is a bit laking -- but I'm hoping you get the picture -- no pun intended.

[Nikkor AIS]

My lab has been broken for the last month. But it's up and running again.
Im really enjoying shooting with the Widelux F7. I got some more images Ill post later.


Gregory

[pauld111]

Hi Greg,

Great shots, wish my Widelux was 100% then I'd be able to share some of mine...

Cheers

Paul

[Nikkor AIS]

Thanks Paul.

Damn shame about your Widelux. Have you found a person who can service it? Looking forward to seeing your Widelux shots in the near future. In fact, show them anyways, who cares about the left side , 90% is good, right?

I'm going shooting tomorrow and I'll do a bunch of Widelux shots. If I get some that are any good, I'll post them by Monday.

[Nikkor AIS]

[pauld111]

Hi Greg,

I have a Panon 120 now, so for the near future I will be playing with that (just arrived in the post). I think I will get rid of the Widelux f7 if I am happy with the Panon.

Take Care

Paul

[Colin Corneau]

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1617913

All with an F7...first done as an exhibition now as a book.

[N.delaRua]

I want one of these so badly. Did they ever make a medium format widelux??

[pauld111]

yes the old medium format version is the one I have called 'Panon 120' and the newer one is the Widelux 1500

[LeicaFoReVer]

wow is that price on ebay true?, ~1000$?
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Widelux-F7-panora...item3f02e9433a

[Mister E]

Originally Posted by raindog61

Great camera, simple to use. However my only beef about the Widelux is rewinding the film. One must hold the rewind button on the bottom of the camera while you rewind the film. And two, the rewind knob on the top of the camera does lift like the older style Leicas (M2 & M3). Rewinding is a slow and painful process with 36 exposure film.

Actually it does lift, just like older Leicas like the M2. Maybe yours is stuck. I do agree though that the worst part about the Widelux is the rewinding. It is painfully slow and frustrating to have to hold the rewind button down the whole time.

I just got my Widelux F6B yesterday. I can't wait to see the scans from the 5 rolls I've already shot.

[Nikkor AIS]

[ellisson]

Even indoors at 1/15 sec, that rotating lens makes a sharp image. My biggest challenge is keeping my fingers out of the way.
Gary


Widelux at 1/15, f5.6.

[mel]

Originally Posted by typeguru

Nice. I've yet to run color film through my Widelux. I've been shooting Tri-X, but now maybe I'll broaden my horizons and try some color.

http://www.dekadesign.com/dmitry_kra...panoramas.html

Interesting to see NYC in this light. Very nice.

[mel]

Originally Posted by Nikkor AIS

Say hello to my new Widelux F7 . After seeing a Toronto Star photographer use it at a funeral, the seed was planted. That was over 20 years ago. So when the opportunity presented itself recently, I jumped all over it.

I'm still getting a handle on scanning/stitching issues. I'm really looking forward to printing images from the Widelux F7 in the darkroom. Until then I will get by scanning the negs. So far I'm really happy with the camera and the images I've made with it. I can see a steep learning curve with this camera but already I can see a huge upside to having it in the bag. It's really sweet to use. And although I've just started shooting, I'm already hooked.

































Gregory

Thanks for showing the correct way to load the film. Very nice images. The saturation is beautiful.

[Nikkor AIS]

You're very welcome, Mel, and thanks for the kind words.
Only a couple of new images with the Widelux F7 to show right now. I went to the mountains and got a couple of rolls but the lab messed up the scans so I have to redo them.

I've gone back to hand-holding the Widelux and just keeping an eye on the bubble. It's nice to get straight horizons.

[Nikkor AIS]

Gregory

[pauld111]

Hi Greg,

such amazing shots. I have sent my camera to the USA for servicing so hopefully I can follow in your tradition.

Cheers

Paul

[Nikkor AIS]

Thanks Paul. I really hope you get your camera back very soon. It's got to be tough to be seeing Widelux shots and not being able to take them.

I got some film back today. There are a couple that worked out okay.













All taken with Widelux F7 and 160 ASA film

[ashfaque]

What a wonderful camera! The images are quite stunning. FYI, I'm watching them from my laptop. So they'd look lot better on my S-IPS panel. Until few days ago, I didn't even know such camera exists. So thank you very much for sharing, Gregory et al.