Panoscan

Panoscan MK-3 Camera

The Panoscan is a high resolution digital panoramic camera. The first Panoscan model MK-1 cameras were manufactured and sold starting in January 1999 by Panoscan Inc. in Los Angeles California. The subsequent MK-2 and MK-3 models improve on resolution and speed over the MK-1 model.

The Panoscan camera uses a tri-linear CCD array in much the same way as a slit film rotational camera might operate. The camera assembles an image by capturing a single line of pixels at a time while rotating through a 400 degree arc. The digital images from a rotating line camera are extraordinarily sharp. With resolution capability up to 9,000 by 65,000 pixels, images can be printed at 30 feet in length while maintaining extreme sharpness.

The latest model MK-3 Panoscan camera accepts Mamiya 645 format lenses from 24 mm up to 300 mm focal lengths. Unlike film-based rotational cameras, the digital Panoscan camera can be used with a 24 mm fisheye lens to capture completely spherical images for use in computer-based virtual reality players such as QuickTime VR. Due to the dimensional stability of the digital images they can be used for various measurement purposes such as Photogrammetry. The Panoscan company also offers a photogrammetry application for measuring the panoramic images called PanoMetric.

The Panoscan MK-3 camera is also capable of capturing extremely wide exposure range. While most film cameras can capture approximately 6 f-stops of dynamic range, the Panoscan can capture up to 12 f-stops of range. This extended range captures all of the highlight and shadow detail that would be missed on film exposures. Furthermore the digital exposures from the Panoscan can be combined into high dynamic range imaging as well. This combination of spherical capture capability combined with the high dynamic range of the system make it an ideal tool for high dynamic range imaging.