WideluxX is a German-made swing-lens 35mm panoramic camera, 350 units in first release, inspired by the Widelux F8 and priced at $4,400.
Key Takeaways
Swing-lens mechanism sweeps a rotating slit shutter across 35mm film, producing 24x58mm frames at 140-degree diagonal field of view.
Single-exposure panoramas capture continuous time without stitching, eliminating seam artifacts and computational blending.
Fixed focus from 1.5m to infinity; depth of field controlled by aperture (f/2.8-f/11); shutter speeds 1/15, 1/125, 1/250 sec.
At 1/15 sec, the full sweep takes ~2.5 seconds real time, yet each film segment is briefly exposed through the slit, enabling sharp handheld shots.
Built by SilverBridges GmbH in Germany with serviceable parts, modern glass, and long-term repair support modeled on mechanical watch servicing.
Hacker News Comment Review
The $4,400 price and $175 shipping dominated reactions; commenters who had followed the project for years acknowledged the likely engineering cost but found the number hard to absorb.
Jeff Bridges’ actual design or engineering contribution is unclear; commenters noted his presence reads as marketing rather than documented technical involvement.
Some commenters flagged visible panoramic distortion in sample images as a potential concern, though others may see it as inherent to swing-lens optics.
Notable Comments
@lschueller: questions what Bridges actually contributed beyond being “marketing bait” given the about page only repeats a PR biography.
@peteforde: waited five years hoping for under $1,000; calls $4,400 plus $175 shipping “a lot” while respecting the engineering commitment.
