The Widelux F7 is currently my new favorite camera. I purchased it April 2026 for $1,865 from Used Photo Pro / Roberts Camera located in Indianapolis. It's in excellent condition. The only issue is a missing shutter release button collar.
The Widelux is a unique 35mm panorama camera. The unique feature is a moving swing 26mm lens. The lens sweeps across the film plane during the exposure.
A few features:
- Ultra-wide field of view up to approximately 140 degrees horizontal.
- 3 shutter speeds: 1/15, 1/125 & 1/250.
- Aperture settings of f/2.8, 4, 5.6, 8 & 11. However, the aperture can be set anywhere between f/2.8 - f/11 (i.e. f/9).
- Negative size of 24x59mm.
- Uses normal 35mm film.
- Fully manual - no battery required.
- Fixed focus from 5-6' to infinity. The Widelux isn't useful for closeup.
- Surprisingly compact (This past weekend I carried it in my shorts pocket).
- Top plate bubble level.
- Very clear viewfinder.
- Unique image rendering.
- Creates images with distinctive curved "immersive" perspective
- Moving subjects can appear stretched, compressed or distorted for creative effects.
Here is how the swing lens works at 1/15 & 1/250:
The downsides in my experience with the Widelux are:
- No light meter. An external meter or modified sunny 16 is required.
- On sunny / overcast days (i.e. street photography) low ISO film is often needed (I primarily use 50-100 ISO film).
- Loading the Widelux has a learning curve.
- You only get 20 images on a 36 exposure roll.
- Rewinding the film can be rough on your thumb / fingers. The rewind knob has a bit of resistance & very deep, somewhat sharp ridges.
- The swing lens is mechanically complex requiring periodic maintenance to prevent uneven exposure ("banding"). I haven't run into this yet, but it was an issue with a Widelux I previously borrowed.
- In my experience having a level camera is important unless you are looking for a specific creative look.
- Because the field of view is so wide you need to hold the camera in a unique way to avoid photographing your fingers.
- These are NOT inexpensive cameras. No signs of price decreasing anytime soon.
Top plate & back of the camera showing clean lines and function layout:
I'm vert happy a Widelux became available and that I was able to purchase it. Here are some recent images:
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Ilford PanF Plus 50 |
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| Kodak Ektar 100 |
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Kodak Ektar 100
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| Leica Monopan 50 |
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Leica Monopan 50
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Leica Monopan 50
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