Any input on the Widelux F8 camera? I have someone that would like to sell one to me. Any concepts on price, reliability, image quality, etc? Thank you- Jon

-- Jon Paul (jonpaul@aci.net), April 25, 2001

Answers

My page (in French) about Widelux is at : http://www.multimania.com/cesarigd/photopmat Price (in France) 500 $ B+ Reliabilty : good, but not a workhorse image quality : very good

IMHO : the Widelux is not a LF camera. For all-round pano photographs, stitching is the way to go now. It still may be of use for creative pictures and moving subjects. A Widelux 1500 (using 120 roll film) is worth for large prints..

-- Dominique Césari (cesarigd@club-internet.fr), April 27, 2001.

The correct address of my page is : http://www.multimania.com/cesarigd/photopmat.htm

-- Dominique Césari (cesarigd@club-internet.fr), April 27, 2001.

This contribution is probably too late to assist with your decision, but I have some general comments. There is very limited first-hand info out there about Widelux. In part, this is because Panon is no longer producing the F8. Much of the info circulating is negative--tales of terrible banding problems, unreliability, etc. However, many of these stories are being retold and magnified by individuals without direct experience with Widelux. Consult users and techs before you make up your mind--there are fanatically dedicated Widelux users out there. The Widelux banding problems were largely solved with the F8 model, and most of the pre-F8 cameras are fine with diligent user care and regular CLA's. You can use a Widelux for journalistic photos that are not possible to make by stitching. It certainly has limitations, such as few shutter speeds and slowness of film-loading, but its lens is superb, it is quiet, it occupies a small space in your kit, and it is a pleasure to handle. Contact me directly if you want a summary of a small survey I took of Widelux users and technicians a few months ago. Good luck!

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), August 15, 2001.