Widelux F7

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:

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Kodak Ektar 100

Kodak Ektar 100

Leica Monopan 50

Leica Monopan 50

Leica Monopan 50