INTRODUCTION

The Noblex 06/150 is a medium format panoramic camera. It is made in Dresden, Germany, since 1992.

BEST SUITED FOR:

Events

Weddings

Art

Fun!

Landscapes

Architecture

PERSONAL NOTES

What a camera! The Noblex 06/150 is a nice monster of a camera. It's huge!

In panoramic camera land, we have 2 kinds of designs: the first one, where a non moving rectilinear wide angle lense covers the panoramic image size, and the second design, where a less wide lens swivels in front of the film. The Horizon and the Noblex are of the later design.

The perspective given by both designs are different, both have its own advantages. I personally prefers the more natural perspective of the swiveling lens design, but sometimes, the straight lines of the first design is more appealing. I guess it all depend on the subject matter.

If you look at the pillars on the right side, you can see how the perspective is different, with a swiveling lens, the pillars appear to be seen from the front rather than from the side. I prefer this more natural perspective. But with a swiveling lens, the horizon has to be at level, so it doesn't curve.

Also, for moving subjects, the first design produces the usual effect for a long exposure. For example, on the previous color photo, the moving cars are making lines with their headlights. With the pivoting lens design, the effect is different, like on this next photo, where the car appears to be shorter than it is, because it moves in the opposite direction of the rotation of the lens.

What an amazing camera! The Noblex is meant for pros, medium format image size means more details, better quality images, and so on... The camera is well designed, it has multiple exposure prevention, but you can switch to multiexposure mode too. There are guards so your finders do not get into the frame. The finder is impressive, you see what you will get, and it has a bubble level incorporated in it.

Even if the camera is big and heavy, it can easily be used handheld. But for better results, of course, always use a tripod.

Film loading is easy, it takes only 120 film rolls, not 220. There are only 6 images of 50x120mm per roll.

The lens is a really sharp 50mm f4.5, that goes down to f22. When opening the aperture, you better think about your depth of field, it goes away pretty fast. Here is a DoF chart I made for the Noblex 06/150:

The shutter speed goes from 1/250s, down to 1/15s. If you want to do longer exposures, switch in multiexposure mode (that switch button near the shutter release button), then, select the slowest speed (1/15s), then use a remote release cord and hold the shutter open for as long as needed. Now, because of the swiveling of the lens, the time it takes to expose the film, is not the same time as the time of the esxposure itself. For example, if you select, a 1/15s exposure, the lens drum has to revolve a full turn, which takes a few seconds... So here is a chart I made to know how much time the camera has to be running to do long exposures:

Results are worth the wait...

One downside of the Noblex is the lagtime when pressing the shutter. You cannot do street photography or any "decisive moment" photography with the Noblex. When you press the shutter, the lens drum starts turning, and the exposure will happen a bit after. This is mostly a landscape/architecture type of camera, not great for street, but you know, I did street photo with it anyway, not the best way to be discreet :-)

Here is a video on how to load a Noblex :

CONCLUSION

The Hasselblad X-Pan would still be my first pick for best panoramic camera, because it can do more because of its smaller size. But when you want a wider angle, with a nice perspective, the Noblex is king!

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