Kodak Panoram (1899–1928)

A series of swing-lens panoramic cameras made by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York.

Overview

The Kodak Panoram is a series of swing-lens panoramic cameras. Eastman Kodak built them from 1899 to 1928. The most widely used model was the No. 1 Panoram Kodak, introduced in 1900 and produced until 1926. The No. 4 Kodak Panoram was available between 1899 and 1924. All of them were made in Rochester, New York, and the swing-lens design gave them an imaging ability most cameras couldn't match.

Specifications

Design

The lens assembly rotates to sweep a wide arc and expose a curved strip of film. The swinging mechanism is the shutter. There is no conventional shutter. The No. 1 Panoram Kodak comes in two versions, and one of them has a back that detaches completely from the body.

Context

Few other cameras of the era could match the sweeping panoramic view the Panoram series produces. The No. 1 Panoram Kodak became the most widely used model in the line. Modern users have adapted the camera to accept 120 film, which is the same width as the original 105 film but uses slightly different spools.