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Robert D Feinman

Comparing Swing Lens to Ultra Wide Angle Images

 (Image Transformations - page 4)

 

Another picture in Central Park taken with the 12mm lens.
This is the Wollman Skating Rink. The structure in the foreground is the roof of the entrance building.
This lens gives a very dramatic view with the converging lines in the foreground, but the rink is somewhat overshadowed.

full frame 12mm
12mm Lens

The same location photographed the Noblex swing-lens.


The narrower format removes much of the foreground and allows us to concentrate on the skaters. However, the skyline in the background is chopped off.

Notice, too, that the roof beams appear curved since they lie below the midline of the image.
Please scroll to see entire image.

noblex image

Noblex Lens

Here is the first image cropped to show about the same  vertical subject matter as the Noblex.
This concentrates on the skaters and makes what has all the characteristics of a panoramic image.
We get the approximate 1:3 aspect ratio as well as the 112º wide angle field of view.

This image shows all the benefits of a panoramic camera without the need of any specialized equipment except for the lens.
The only drawback is the smaller size of the negative after cropping (12mm x 36mm).
With good technique and slow speed film reasonable moderate-size prints can be produced.
The difficulties with long exposures and use of flash that are present with a swing lens camera are avoided.

12mm cropped
Cropped 12mm Image
We can also alter the Noblex image to the remove the chief characteristic of the cylindrical film plane.
Using the Panorama Tools Extract Filter we remap the image onto a rectangular projection.
See one of my prior tips on how to do this.
The curved beams are now straightened and the subject matter at the extreme edges has the lateral distortion characteristic of ultra wide angle lenses. The transformation converts the image to a 1:5 aspect ratio and crops even more of the top and bottom. But, it now looks as though it was taken with a conventional camera.
So there are many ways to create a wide angle or panoramic image.

smaller version
Noblex Image Straightened
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© 2003 Robert D Feinman