Which Horizon panoramic Camera?

[Keith Tapscott.]

I have been looking at the Horizon 35mm film cameras, but not sure which version is considered to be the best overall.

Advice appreciated.

 

[M-88]

Since no one else has showed up so far, I'll chime in. So, there are two main models in Horizon line: Horizon and Horizon 202. There's also Horizon-S3 (made in early 00s in small numbers), Horizon-Perfekt (made in 2005, also in small numbers), and Horizon-Kompakt (with only 2 shutter speeds) but the last two are pretty rare, so I have no clue about those.

Original Horizon was made between 1967-1973 and like any other camera of that age, will definitely need CLA. Most common issue with these Horizons are due to light seals gone bad. Because of this, entire portions of photo (from top to bottom) will have uneven exposure. Replacing light seals fixes it. There's also another issue which leaves traces on the image, similar to "bromide drag" during film development. This is caused by uneven movement of the lens assembly and simple cleaning/lubricating won't fix it, you'll need a donor camera to replace the mechanism. So you might want to buy a camera with an option of hassle-free return and run a film through it as soon as you get it. In addition, sometimes 1/250 gets out of alignment and in that case, images shot at that speed come out blank. This too needs adjustment. One more thing: while the camera captures 120 degrees of angle, its viewfinder sees only 110. You get four shutter speeds (1/30, 1/60, 1/125 & 1/250) and a fixed focus lens with f/2.8-f/16. The viewfinder is not aligned with lens axis - it's on the left side of the camera and it's removable. One must remove the viewfinder in order to rewind the film.

Horizon 202 is an improved version from late 80s. It's made of plastic. The viewfinder (again with 110 degree view) is centered with lens axis. 202 is less prone to uneven exposure, less prone to "zebra" stripes, less prone to tearing film during the advance/rewind. Maybe it's because of actual improvements, maybe because it's a couple decades younger, I don't know. It's got more speeds (1/2-1/250 sec) thanks to the fact that speeds are changed not only by adjusting the slit width, but also by changing the speed of lens assembly "swipe". The downside? It's noisier and really, really cumbersome (although it weighs 30% less than the original).

The S3 version (aka S3-Pro, 203 and S3-U500) is a further improvement of 202 and the most recent of the bunch. It's quieter ("S" stands for "Silent") and U500 even goes up to a whopping 1/500 of a second! Other than that, it's even less prone to uneven exposure (better light seals). It's also the worst looking Horizon. And while beauty can be subjective, none of these cameras look as good as a Widelux. I'm not sure about its reliability because never encountered one.

If I were to choose one among these, I'd probably go for 202.

P.S. There's also Horizon-205 which is a medium format camera with perspective control feature. Some claim there were less than 100 built. Talk about hen's teeth. But this topic is about 35 mm anyway.

 

[reddesert]

Thanks for the summary. The Horizon 202 is the only one I have used (I've had one since the 1990s but only use it occasionally). A minor remark, I think the inner frame of the Horizon 202 is metal, or at least important parts are. The outer body cladding is plastic. This gives it a bulbous and rather clumsy appearance, but I don't think it's difficult to hold. Any swing lens panoramic camera of course requires some extra care in use due to the unusual perspective effects. The 202 has a bubble level on top that is visible in the viewfinder; the other models may also.

 

[brbo]

Since no one else has showed up so far, I'll chime in. So, there are two main models in Horizon line: Horizon and Horizon 202. There's also Horizon-S3 (made in early 00s in small numbers), Horizon-Perfekt (made in 2005, also in small numbers), and Horizon-Kompakt (with only 2 shutter speeds) but the last two are pretty rare, so I have no clue about those.

Horizon Perfekt is still in stock at Lomography webshop so perhaps it wasn't made in that small a number or it might even still be in production? Same look and specs as S3 U-500.

 

[4season]

I have been looking at the Horizon 35mm film cameras, but not sure which version is considered to be the best overall.

I don't know that there's any consensus in favor of a specific model. Look for variations in terms of shutter speeds offered, variable apertures/cable release socket/bubble level or no.

But despite differences in appearance, these are all pretty similar, and I suspect all based on the old Horizont chassis.

I owned S3 Pro and thought it was alright, but whether it's "modernized" curvy shape was an improvement over the older 202's blockier shape ..?

 

[Citsmith]

I have used one of the metal Horizont since 1971. It is very durable and heavy. It does take some TLC or CLA to keep the drum revolving smoothly. I have not used the plastic version.

 

[M-88]

Horizon Perfekt is still in stock at Lomography webshop so perhaps it wasn't made in that small a number or it might even still be in production? Same look and specs as S3 U-500.

Some sources indicate it to be identical to S3-U500, made specifically for Lomography. Various sources indicate it to be introduced in 2005 and I could find samples for sale on Russian sites dating up to 2015, so you might be right.

EDIT: I could also find Horizon S3-U500 in "new" condition with 2 year manufacturer warranty, so you're right: they are definitely still in production, in one name or another.

 

[brbo]

EDIT: I could also find Horizon S3-U500 in "new" condition with 2 year manufacturer warranty, so you're right: they are definitely still in production, in one name or another.

Are they cheaper than Lomography Horizon Perfect?

 

[M-88]

Are they cheaper than Lomography Horizon Perfect?

Horizon Perfekt went for 15000 roubles which is roughly 200$. But it's out of stock. S3 Pro and S3-U500 both cost 12000 roubles (155-160$) and they are in stock. And the prices are for a new camera, bought from brick-and-mortar store in Moscow. If only one could buy it from there... I wouldn't have to shoot two consecutive images with my PC-Nikkor and stitch them later to get a panoramic shot

(Not sure if external links are welcome here, so I'll refrain from posting).

 

[joe bosak]

I have a Horizont, originally I thought it was working but when I used it, it was shredding film. As far as I could make out, the film takeup spool was for whatever reason not taking up. It was incredibly stiff to rewind. The faults only became obvious when using it with a film in it, so sellers on ebay - even reutable dealers- may reasonably think such a camera is in "fine working order" when it isn't. I got mine from a regular dealer in Russian gear based in the UK (who I have dealt with several times, good guy who will take returns or help with issues...), but it took me two years to get round to testing it. Lesson learned....

I had the Horizont fixed, and now it's now back at the repairers to fix a light leak that didn't get fixed first time round. So far the servicing has cost 3x what the camera cost me. Two renowned UK repair places refused to look at it.

Previously (some years back) I've had a Noblex, a 202 and a Kompact. All worked fine. The noblex is like a Rolls Royce by comparison to the Russians. I don't like the plastic casing of the 202, and the noblex is very big. I like the Horizont styling...

 

[M-88]

I had the Horizont fixed, and now it's now back at the repairers to fix a light leak that didn't get fixed first time round. So far the servicing has cost 3x what the camera cost me. Two renowned UK repair places refused to look at it.

Original Horizont is easy to fix if one is good with DIY repairs, without the need of specialized repair shop. The takeaway is the "zebra stripe" issue which can't be fixed conventionally, without appropriate spare parts. Most probably that is why they refuse to look at it.

 

[joe bosak]

Either way, I wouldn't buy another. Life's too short.

 

[Citsmith]

Some times the striping is because one has squeezed the button rather than pushing it all the way down quickly. The release is a pin that rubs against gear teeth and makes the speed vary as it touches the gear. This was most apparent to me when I was using a cable release.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I have the Horizon 202, bought it new in the early 1990's, it has been quite a good camera for what it is.

It has the plastic outer body shell with a very heavy metal interior swinging lens mechanism. The only time I have had any banding, and it was very minor banding, was in extremely cold weather (around -25ºC) and running on the slow swinging speed. I sensed something was amiss as I heard the rotating lens mount making different noises as it apparently gummed up then cleared. I put it away after two exposures and took it out when in Singapore on the way home, where it worked perfectly well at either speed.

Over the decades I've probably run around 150 rolls through it, the first 20 years all colour negative. I had a special negative holder made for my DeVere enlarger and overall the enlargements have been superb. It has a very good lens.

These days I don't use it so much, but when I do I only use B&W, it's great for group pictures, everyone is going to be included without those on the edges having stretched heads, and it really shines if you arrange the line-up of people in an arc, not only do they start to be really interested, everyone is crisply sharp.

There is a handle that clips on for when using the camera without a tripod, inside the handle, (the bottom unscrews) you should have a set of four filters. This is a perfect place for carrying those filters, but unfortunately these filters seem to be lost as the camera goes through owners.

I've never had any shredding of film, careful placement of all films put through it seems to have done the trick. Also I suggest you wind the film on steadily and slowly as it has a rather torturous route.

The bubble in the viewfinder really is the icing on the cake, works perfectly in obtaining a horizontal camera. However tipping the camera up or down can make for some interesting effects.

In my gallery, there is this effort in my neighbour's backyard.

The washing's UP

This is a neighbours backyard washing line, perfect for the swinging lens format for an effect. I tilted the camera upwards slightly, ensured that the washing lines were off the centre of the lens axis, hit the button

www.photrio.com

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Thanks to everyone who replied .