Quite a setup. Great resolution BUT what practical applications are there? The cost makes it seem like a rather a expensive toy.

http://www.photofidelity.com/blog/extreme-photos-from-giant-35-foot-camera.html

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I can think of a few advantages:

1. You've effectively and seamlessly captured the equivalent of several hundred MegaPixels worth photos without the challenges of having to stitch both horizontally and vertically, all in one shot, all at the same exposure moment.

2. Assuming you have the right field-of-view, you can take detailed photos of large scale objects or landscapes, albeit the objects might have to come to you, and breakdown/assembly of the camera becomes a challenge in of itself.

Some of those items do become cost-prohibitive - particularly Item 1 - so it might be worth the 50 grand when you compare that to manhours to capture and process the stitches alone.

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Get out of the car.
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I dunno. I think gigapan would be far simpler.

I don't think there's any practical application for it, it's to make "art". A mobile version is planned. Allegedly it's designed for a project themed "vanishing cultures", but I don't see how the extreme size works into that theme.

I'd like to see the giant negatives (or a positive version of the film, or a contact print). If they came to a museum near me I'd go see it.

...Mike

My website | My Nikonians gallery

Indeed I wonder if the results are really superior to what you can get with a LF camera.

First, how consistent can a 6-foot piece of film negative be made? The fineness of the grain, consistency of manufacture, and flatness of the mount will all determine the ultimate resolution of the image that is captured on it. Does it hold up to close scrutiny over the entire surface, or is it effectively no better than a scaled up large format camera (i.e. the dimensions are greater, but the resolution is no better than if you blew up an 8x10 negative to large size)

Second, how well is the lens made? High end lenses for 35mm, and even large format can resolve incredibly fine features over the image circle. But this image circle is orders of magnitude larger. Can modern manufacturing even produce a lens so fine, capable of resolving micron-scale features consistently over an image circle of >6 feet?

Nevertheless I would like to see what they look like. If this really does resolve as fine as a LF film camera, but on a sheet of film many times larger, the results would be truly incredible. Even if not, the novelty factor would be interesting. It would be cool to stand inside the camera while the exposure was being made, to actually watch the film develop

Norman

edit: I'm mainly speculating here since I can't see the sample images as I don't have flash installed on my computer.

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I wonder how he keeps the film flat with that much area. Also where is he getting film sheets that large. Are those custom made?

JCA

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> I wonder how he keeps the film flat with that much area.

No problem there. Mapping cameras have used a vacuum platen to hold 9.5 inch wide film flat for decades. Even uses a slight puff of air during transport to the next frame.

Jim

My Nikonians Gallery

I agree that it's probably a vacuum system, but keeping that much area perfectly flat without wrinkles is quite a feat.

JCA

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The biggest print I ever made was 74"X42" on a K&E HE12 enlarger. A bit of a problem because the vacuum easel was 72" wide. The trick is to tape the film in place as flat as you can and then hit the vacuum. Then stop the lens way down and expose for about 3 minutes. Glad I don't have to do that sort of thing anymore.

Jim

My Nikonians Gallery

>I wonder how he keeps the film flat with that much area.
>Also where is he getting film sheets that large. Are those
>custom made?
>
>JCA

I think I read somewhere that this is a new venture for Kodak.

Bill
D300

I'll take 2 80' x 100's and a dozen wallet size..


Lee Baylin

There's a kickstarter project to fund his mobile version.

...Mike

My website | My Nikonians gallery

I saw a presentation on my local Public TV station some time ago where the guy had this camera that tool huge photos. It was used by a museum to record precious art, etc.. As I recall it was a Polaroid.

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They still have the 20x24 Polaroids and film:

http://www.mammothcamera.com/

Film is only $200 a sheet.

...Mike

My website | My Nikonians gallery

Really big cameras have been around for a while.

http://robroy.dyndns.info/lawrence/mammoth.html

Jim

My Nikonians Gallery

What a slice of history then and now. Curiosities forever abound!

jdroach, a Milwaukee area and sometimes Chicago area Nikonian.





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Dr. Land built a camera producing life sized photos that were developed in 1 1/2 minutes in the late 70s. This is the same camera that Joe McNally eventually used to photograph the life sized portraits from those of 911.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/essays/vanRiper/011120.htm

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Absolutely a fascinating read.

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I'll wait for the digital version to buy one.

Larry
http://www.larryandersonphotography.com
http://www.andersonmasterbuilders.com