Part of an occasional series on the W.J. Moore panoramic photographs.
We have previously featured W.J. Moore’s panoramic photography and his life. Here’s a look at the type of panoramic camera and film he used and some of the unusual features of the photographs it produced.
The best-known and most widely used of the rotating-film panoramic cameras was the Cirkut camera. Capable of shooting a 360° view, it was patented in 1904 and sold until the 1940s. It was not easy to use, and so was purchased mainly by commercial photographers. Some photographers shoot with well-maintained Cirkut cameras today.
Cirkut camera with film and accessories. Photographer: Henry Tabbers.
Cirkut Outfit
There were six distinct cameras in the Cirkut family to fit five different sizes of film. Four of the cameras were used exclusively for panoramas; two were built to be used with either panorama film or glass plate negatives. These last two versatile cameras were referred to as Cirkut Outfits. Continue reading
