Horizon Kompakt

The Horizon Kompakt is a panoramic camera from Lomography. It captures a 120 degree angle of view with one click on 35mm film. All types of 35mm film can be used.

The Horizon Kompakt was introduced in 2005, along with the Horizon Perfekt, by Lomography in collaboration with Zenit. At that time, the panoramic camera was cream-colored, but it is now black.

An MC Arsat 288, a multi-coated glass lens, is installed in the Horizon Kompakt. The aperture is fixed at f8. When the shutter button is pressed, the lens swings from left to right and captures a panorama on film.

The Horizon Kompakt has two exposure settings for day and night. In the day setting, it exposes the film for 160 seconds. The night mode lets light onto the 35mm film for 12 seconds.

The Horizon does not need batteries, as it has a clockwork motor and is purely mechanical. The shutter sound has a characteristic sound and often leaves other people amazed. The sound of the Horizon Perfekt is a lot quieter because it has a different movement built into it.

By pulling a lever on the top of the camera, the movement is cocked. When the shutter is released, the lens moves from one side to the other. As it does so, light falls through a narrow slit onto the film; you might call this process “scanning.” The way it works is very similar to the Spinner 360.

Approximately 22 to 24 images will fit on a standard 35mm film with a normal 36 frames with the Horizon Kompakt. The exact number of frames also depends on your skill in loading the 35mm film. Each negative is 58mm long, which is about the length of two normal pictures.

When developing in the lab, you should specify in advance that the images are in panorama format (24×58 mm) and that the film must not be cut by the lab. For scanning the finished negatives, a scanner with a transparency unit is not a mistake.

When taking pictures, you should be careful of your fingers, they can quickly be in the picture if you hold them incorrectly.

Double exposures and multiple exposures are easy to create, unlike the Horizon Perfekt. Simply cock the shutter again, take a picture, and you have a double exposure. This is possible because the shutter is not coupled to the film advance. This means you can cock the shutter and release it without having to advance the film.

Included with the Horizon is a book of photos from the panoramic camera.

Alternatives to the Horizon Kompakt

Who somewhat sharper panoramas, than the pictures of the plastic lens of the Sprocket Rocket, should reach for the Horizon Kompakt. It should be kept in mind that the Kompakt is a bit heavier than the plastic camera and does not have features such as bulb mode and a port for a flash.

Horizon Kompakt or Horizon Perfect?
Before buying the Horizon Kompakt, you should also consider buying the Horizon Perfekt for the extra 100€. This offers, among other things, more exposure times and has a larger aperture for shots at night or in dark situations. Another alternative would be the Horizon 202, this offers a little more possibilities than the Kompakt, but is also not so easy to get new.