thumb|right|250px|Model FVI from 1969.
The Widelux is a fully mechanical swing-lens panoramic camera developed in Japan in 1958 by Panon Camera Shoko. There are both 35mm and medium-format models. Instead of a shutter, the camera has a slit that exposes the film as the lens pivots on a horizontal arc. This pivot causes some distortions which do not occur with traditional cameras. The last Widelux model, F8, ended production in 2000.
There are important differences between the F and 1500 series cameras. The 35mm cameras have a set focus (5 ft to infinity), whereas the 1500 Widelux can focus from a bit less than 1m to infinity with seven markers. The 1500 Widelux also used different shutter speeds of 1/8, 1/60 and 1/250 of a second. The F series covers a 140 degree view, whereas the 1500 series covers a slightly wider area (150 degree view-diagonally-140 degr.horizontally). The 1500 Widelux, like most manual film cameras, has a shutter that must be cocked before the camera will fire. When setting focus below 5m on Widelux 1500, the resolution will be reduced due to optical limitations.
Notable users
Jeff Bridges, actor and photographer, began using the Widelux in 1984 to document life on movie sets. His distinctive behind-the-scenes panoramic images gained recognition for their candid, immersive quality. In 2003, he published a collection of these photographs in his book Pictures, which includes commentary and set photos from films like The Big Lebowski and Seabiscuit. Bridges was recognized for his Widelux photography by the International Center of Photography's Infinity Award in 2013.
NASA used the Widelux in the 1960s to capture wide-angle panoramic images with minimal distortion. It was notably employed during the Gemini 5 mission, where its 140° field of view allowed astronauts to document interior spacecraft views and experimental setups in a single frame.
WideluxX revival
During a podcast interview with photography magazine Silvergrain Classics in 2020, actor Jeff Bridges first brought up the idea of reviving Widelux production. Bridges ended up forming a company, SilverBridges, to bring back the camera. The new model is branded "WideluxX". Silvergrain has just stated that is will be based on the F8 model, but with small "upgrades". They also plan to use no plastic components and only manufacture in German facilities that use green electricity sources.