[Leica] Was 6x17 lust, now Noblex Oblige

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

>Does anyone in the group have experience with the Noblex cameras, in 
>particularly the model 150? While the 6 x 12 format yields a less 
>extreme aspect ratio (1:2 instead of 1:3) the curved platen and 
>revolving lens seem to make a wider angle of  acceptance than the 
>617 cameras.  I'm wondering about reliability, and about distortion. 
>Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?  /David
>

I've had Noblex 150 cameras since they came out (my first one was 
ser. no. 6). I currently have a 150 with the slow speeds etc.

I've had Widelux cameras since the 60's and have also had/used 
Horizon (Horizont) cameras, as well as many wide aspect 6x12 and 6x17 
cameras and holders. I also use a Roundshot 28-220 which does 
rotational panos in 45 degree increments up to multiple rotations.

The Noblex cameras have given me consistently excellent results; 
never any banding (as opposed to the Widelux), are easy to load and 
have truly outstanding lenses, although slow. There are a couple of 
operational quirks, but no serious ones. When you start a shot, the 
barrel holding the lens makes 1/2 a revolution before the exposure 
starts. This is great at 1/125 sec, as the camera is properly up to 
speed by the time the exposure starts, but not so good at 1 sec, as 
it takes the better part of a minute before the exposure starts. 
Fortunately, you can set it to 1/15 sec for the first part, and when 
the barrel gets close to starting the exposure, set it back to 1 sec.

With the cameras that have no slow speeds, long exposures are still 
quite possible; just set it on multiple exposure and keep the shutter 
release cable pressed for additive exposure. If you need 1 sec, and 
all you have is 1/30, just let it rotate about 35 times (to 
compensate for latency effects and you're there.

The cameras are very reliable. I've not had any problems, and haven't 
heard of any real problem from others. They use double A batteries, 
and the switch has to  be turned off. Some early ones don't have a 
switch; you have to take the batteries out after you finish shooting 
as they drain within a couple of days.

Distortion in rotating lens cameras is a bit of a strange concept as 
one type of distortion is built in but other types are intrinsically 
impossible.

When you want very wide pictures, you get distortion. Which kind you 
want is up to you. A single shot instant camera can be made with a 
lens with essentially no linear distortion, such as the 35 
Apo-Grandagon I use on my Cambo Wide with a 6x12 back, but since the 
angle of view is so huge, the corners will show the typical 
distortion of three-dimensional objects.

Here, another lens with no so good correction might produce some 
barrel distortion, pincushion distoriton (unlikely) or complex 
distoriton if it's a retrofocus lens.

If you want a very wide shot, you could use a fisheye lens, which has 
infinite barrel distortion. This gives you an extreme angle of view, 
but bowed lines away from the axis in any direction. The 
three-dimensional distortion from rectilinear lenses is gone, but all 
sorts of other distortions show up at the edges of the image.

The rotating lens cameras will give you bowed lines off the horizon, 
can give you 360 degree views, but due to their basic concept cannot 
give you any linear distortion in the other dimension.

So in answer to your question, the Noblex of course has zero 
distortion other than the one it's designed to produce.

I've used the Noblex extensively in architectural/development work 
and also travelled with it; it's seen the high ridges of Annapurna.

-- 

    *            Henning J. Wulff
   /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
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