Minolta Freedom Vista QD 24mm lens

[pagpow]

This camera has a 24mm lens and permanent panoramic mode -- masks off top and bottom of 35mm frame. Has anyone carved out the frame material to 24X36 and seen how the lens operates full frame?

 

[kzphoto]

Interested in this project as well -- 24mm seems to be the ideal focal length for my way of 'seeing.'

I think if you can't carve out the mask, you could at least replace it with another mask from a similar camera. What cameras are contemporary to the Riva Panorama / Vista Freedom / P's?

I need to get my hands on a couple crappy Minolta P&S cameras from the same era and see if the masks can be ripped out and replaced.