Noblex or Widelux?

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stiff68

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Thinking to get a swave camera and poundering on Noblex and Widelux.
However, not easy to find spec and review of Widelux.
Anyone can provide some information concerning the comparison between N and W? As well as the tech spec of them?
So far as I know, Widelux is full mechanical but Noblex needs battery. I'd appreciate if someone can provide some information about these two camera or other choices.
Thanks!
 
I've had a Widelux 1500 - mechanical. Uneven reliabilty. I have a Noblex 135U now - I feel it's better build quality and feels more reliable as a whole.
 
Thanks both of you.
How about Widelux F7 or F8? Are they better and reliabel than 1500?
I heard about Horizon, produced by Russion. Is Russion product reliable?

I wanna shoot 135mm film, because I'm not going to shoot landscape but would rather scan on street, or shoot silently among people. So I want a pana-camera small, quiet, reliable and sharp.
So, which one is suitable? Does Horizon has a good lens?
RGDS

Stiff68
 
The newer Horizons are quite reliable. They have a metal frame with a high impact plastic outer skin.
I've only shot extensively with the older, metal Horizont from the late 60s-early 70s. I found it worked well but only had a few shutter speed selections so I didn't keep it, but will someday get a newer Horizon. You can browse my gallery for some photos from the old Horizont.
 
photogdave said:
The newer Horizons are quite reliable. They have a metal frame with a high impact plastic outer skin.
I've only shot extensively with the older, metal Horizont from the late 60s-early 70s. I found it worked well but only had a few shutter speed selections so I didn't keep it, but will someday get a newer Horizon. You can browse my gallery for some photos from the old Horizont.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I visited your gallery and like some of the pictures very much.
I found that you shoot some pictures by Kodak 400TMY film. Do you develop them to negative and then scan them and revert their color on PS?
 
Thanks for the compliment! TMY is TMax black and white. I just scan it as a black and white negative and it comes out looking normal. You can also scan it as a positive and invert it to get more highlight detail.
 
Started off with a Horizon, got pan bug, bought xpan, like it but still wanted the "curved" look sometimes, bought Noblexa as well. Noblex streets ahead of Horizon!
However for street work you will find that Noblex has some shutter lag whilst the drum gets up to speed....................
Clive
 
They are very simple and beautifully machined bodies. There is virtually nothing to go wrong with them and the manufacturer provides a lifetime warranty. There are one or two quirks, the film winds from right to left for example but OTOH film flatness is not a problem even on the 617 or 624 bodies because you can counter rotate both film knobs just before you take a shot so the film is tight along the back. The hidden cost with them is the lens cones, you need a cone for each lens but if you are already a MF or LF shooter you already have lenses so that's a plus. The camera is an attractive option IMO.
 
photogdave said:
A Horizon is better built, has more shutter speeds available, focuses closer and is cheaper than Widelux.
Click to expand...

I went to the camera shop today and saw Horizon. It's indeed compact and light. However, the workmanship is not quite good, esp inside. Seems made of plastic.
And the price no longer cheap now. The clerk charged me about US$500 per piece!
While in 2nd hand market, the Noblex seemingle costs about US$600-700?
 
anglophone1 said:
Started off with a Horizon, ... shutter lag whilst the drum gets up to speed....................
Clive
Click to expand...

Quite right! I've also got an Xpan but still like the CURVE scene sometimes. That's the point why I'm thinking about Noblex/Widelux/Horizon.

Shutter lag? I cannot get the point very well at present. Possible to provide a picture to illustrate this?
 
pfoto said:
They are very simple and beautifully machined bodies. There is virtually nothing to go wrong ............. The camera is an attractive option IMO.
Click to expand...

I used to consider 612 and 617 format. However, large format negative is impossible to be projected. So far as I know, only Rollei used to provide 6x9 projector. So I turn to Xpan and Noblex. Their film can be hold in GEPE 2702 and projected.
In addition, Xpan and Noblex are small and light enough to be hand-hold and shoot. 612 is a bit heaveier if shoot without a tripot.
To shoot people, a tripot is sometimes not convenient.
That's why I'm consider 135mm swing camera, which is light, can be hand hold, compact enough for a waist-pack.
 
In addition, I heard that lens of Noblex is from Zeiss.
How about the lens of Horizon? Is it good?
Pls comment the qlty and difference between pictures taken by Noblex and Horizon.
 
stiff68 said:
I went to the camera shop today and saw Horizon. It's indeed compact and light. However, the workmanship is not quite good, esp inside. Seems made of plastic.
And the price no longer cheap now. The clerk charged me about US$500 per piece!
While in 2nd hand market, the Noblex seemingle costs about US$600-700?
Click to expand...
You can buy a brand new one online for about $350 I believe. The Horizon seems cheap feeling at first but they are really well-built. Metal inside and plastic outside. I have some good links bookmarked on my work computer that I'll try and post later today.
 
photogdave said:
You can buy a brand new one online for about $350 I believe. The Horizon seems cheap feeling at first but they are really well-built. Metal inside and plastic outside. I have some good links bookmarked on my work computer that I'll try and post later today.
Click to expand...

How about the lens of Horizon? Better than Noblex's or not? Is the lens sharp and good enought to provide a slide negative?
I heard that Noblex's lens is of Zeiss, is that true?
 
Searching on net, I found that Horizon 203 S3 serie is the latest edition. It has S3 Pro, S3 U500, S3 Perfect and Compact. Any difference between them?

Of course, 203 is much more smooth and quiet than 202.
 
widlux or noblex

widlux or noblex

I started out with a horizon about 9 years ago, they don't feel great but they work.... After about 1.5 years I got a Noblex 135u great camera much better then the Horizon. The battery is just 4 aaa size easy to find, not a problem.

Widlux is out of production and I think the factory burned down??? they seem to have problems with banding, Noblex I have never had any banding problems. I would be looking for a used Noblex just my .02

wbill
 
agfa100 said:
I started out with a horizon about 9 years ago, they don't feel great but they work.... After about 1.5 years I got a Noblex 135u
wbill
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot.
Do you know any difference between 135U and 135S? It seems they have the same tech spec.
 
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