A 35mm camera makes panoramic film photography accessible to the rest of us

The BeerPAN could be the starting point for photographers looking for an affordable alternative to vintage medium format panoramic cameras, which typically sell for several thousand dollars. It is a 35mm film camera compatible with Bronica Zenza ETR lenses.

The BeerPAN is currently a Kickstarter project and was created by Dutch panoramic photographer Robin Beerman.

“The BeerPAN is aimed at photographers who are attracted to the panoramic format but put off by the entry cost, who appreciate a slower and more purposeful way of shooting, or who want a mechanical camera that can be maintained and repaired,” he says. “You don’t have to be a film photography veteran. If the format excites you and you want a camera that encourages you to slow down, the BeerPAN might be what you’re looking for.”

Buying an antique panoramic camera body from classic brands like Hasselblad and Fuji can be very expensive due to their prestige and rarity, but the BeerPAN aims to provide a bridge to a cheaper option. In addition, shooting on 120mm film stock can be expensive for the casual photographer, mainly due to the chemical processing and scanning that can only be performed in custom film labs (most one-hour processing labs are only equipped to process 35mm film).

The BeerPAN camera instead shoots 65 x 24mm frames on standard 35mm film, with a roll of 36 exposures yielding approximately 20 shots. It also has a waist-level viewfinder with a bubble horizon level to help with composition. This makes for a slower methodical shooting style as the user has to look down to check the image.

“I’ve always loved shooting with a waist-level viewfinder. Looking down into your frame instead of pressing a camera to your face changes the way you compose and naturally slows you down,” says Beerman. “I wanted to combine these two things: make the panoramic format more accessible, with a waist-high viewing experience. That camera didn’t exist, so I started making it.”

The body and various internal frames consist of a combination of 3D printed nylon and custom machined metal parts, which reduces costs compared to traditional injection molded constructions and allows for precise assembly. The gears, lens mount and film advance mechanism are constructed from metal for durability and strength, while embodying a tactile shooting experience.

The leaf shutter in the lens has a range from bulb to 1/500th of a second and is controlled via a mechanical film advance lever built around copper gears and mechanisms that provide a tactile experience.

Beerman has purposely designed the camera mounts to be compatible with the Bronica ETR lens due to their compact size, sharpness and the wide affordable range of lenses up to f/2.8 available on the used market. He claims that the Bronica Zenzanon 75mm f/2.8 or 40mm f/4 lens will work on the BeerPAN.

The camera is available in two versions, with the basic model’s internal frame structure consisting of 3D printed nylon framed between two 3D printed nylon plates. The premium version has anodized aluminum for the top and bottom plates.

Beerman plans to release full design files under the Open Community License a year after all Kickstarter orders have been shipped, allowing open access to the Right to Repair. The user is free to copy, share and modify the designs for their own use under OCL’s terms of use. Anyone with a 3D printer and materials can adjust or improve their design as a non-commercial user.

Beerman will also promptly provide replacement parts and repair instructions if the user does not wish to return the camera for repair and can do so themselves.

You can get your own copy BeerPAN camera for €660 (approximately US$784) for the basic version or the premium €840 ($998). If all goes to plan with financing and production, the BeerPAN will ship in December 2026.

Source: Kickstarter