The Horizon Revue is a panoramic camera and is a member of the Horizon family. It was manufactured by KMZ in the former Soviet Union. It was sold on the Soviet market under the model name Горизонт. This model was available for West German customers at the German photo retailer Foto Quelle under the house brand Revue.
The special feature of this camera is its method of taking panoramic pictures. While some panorama cameras use an extremely wide-angle lens and then remove a section at the top and bottom to create the panoramic effect, the Horizont works more like a scanner.
With the Horizont, the film lies curved in the camera, in front of which the lens moves from side to side during the shot, capturing a 120-degree angle of view. This works similarly to the panorama function of smartphones, except that here the lens is moved and not the camera or smartphone.
The advantage of this system is the easy creation of panoramas without problems at the transitions. This also makes it possible to take pictures without a tripod. One disadvantage, however, is that there is a certain delay. If the subject moves faster than the camera, it appears in several areas of the picture.
The negatives of the camera are 24 mm x 58 mm. In comparison, a normal image is about 24 mm x 36 mm on 35mm film.
It is to be expected that the lens of this camera is not interchangeable. The Horizont Revue is equipped with an “OF-28P”. The largest aperture of the lens is f/2.8 and the focal length is 28 mm. The focus of the lens cannot be changed. The closest focusing distance is 100 cm. The focus range can be influenced by the selected aperture.
It should be noted that this camera does not have a light metering function. Aperture and shutter speed must be set manually. An external light meter or an estimated exposure can be used for this. For the shutter speed, you can choose between 1/250 second, 1/125 second, 1/60 second and 1/30 second. For the aperture, there is a choice of f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16.
No batteries are required for taking pictures. All functions are mechanical. The film advance is manual. Before rewinding the film at the end of the roll, a small button on the bottom must be pressed. Then the film can be rewound and the roll removed. Before this process, the camera must not be opened.
There is also a thread for a tripod on the underside. This is especially necessary for sharp pictures with longer exposure times. In addition, there is a connection for a cable release.
Films for the Horizont Revue
Regular 35mm films are sufficient for photography with the Horizon Revue.
Available films for the KMZ camera, easily obtained online, include the Ilford XP2 Super* for fascinating black and white images and the Kodak Ultramax 400* for vivid colour images. Both films are ideal for a wide range of applications, as confirmed in numerous test reports.
The development of the films is carried out by many laboratories. It is important to inform the lab that it is a film with panoramic images. Otherwise the negatives could be cut in the wrong place.
Other models
Models based on the Horizon
- Horizont Revue
- Panorama camera
- 35mm
- 28 mm
- Fixed
- Tripod mount
- Kalimar Wide-X
- Panorama camera
- 35mm
- 28 mm
- Fixed
- Tripod mount
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Panorama camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Film transport mechanism | Rotary knob |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 58 mm |
| Lens name | OF-28P 2.8/28 mm |
| Focal length | 28 mm |
| Widest aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum focus distance | 100 cm / 3.28 ft |
| Focus | Fixed |
| Exposure times | 1/250 second to 1/30 second |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Double and/or multiple exposure function | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | Not necessary |
| Company name of the brand | Foto Quelle |
| Manufacturer | KMZ |
| Country of production | Soviet Union (USSR) |
FAQ about the Horizont Revue
How does the Horizont Revue create panoramic images, and what is its unique feature?
Unlike cameras using wide-angle lenses, the Horizont Revue uses a moving lens that scans the scene across a 120-degree field of view, resulting in seamless panoramas. This creates a smooth transition between sections of the panorama.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the panorama mechanism of this Soviet-era camera?
Advantages include easy creation of seamless panoramas, even without a tripod. Disadvantages include a slight delay; fast-moving subjects might appear blurry or in multiple sections.
What film type and size does the panoramic camera utilize, and what are its lens specifications?
It uses standard 35mm film, but the resulting negative is a panoramic 24mm x 58mm. The non-interchangeable lens is a fixed-focus 28mm f/2.8 OF-28P.
Does this camera offer automatic exposure settings, and what manual controls are available?
No, it lacks an exposure meter; aperture (f/2.8-f/16) and shutter speed (1/250s-1/30s) must be set manually, potentially with a light meter.
What are the essential mechanical aspects of this mechanical camera concerning film handling and accessories?
Film advance is manual, requiring a button press before rewinding. A tripod mount and cable release connector are present on the bottom; no batteries are needed.