I think the Reto Pan is a fantastic camera with lots of great reasons for you to want to shoot with it. Finally, I mean, we’ve got a 35mm compact camera that goes between panoramic format and standard format. That’s awesome. When I started this review on June 6th, I was so hyped about this camera. It’s uniquely different in every single way. Other publications have gotten their reviews out as well – but mine; well I took my time with it even though I shot only a single roll of film. And that’s what I realized: I love film, but I’m the type of person who will shoot lots of it and then put off developing for something like a year or so. And this camera is no exception in a world where so many excellent digital cameras give me a look that I’m yearning for with less work.
The Reto Pano came to me in a box with a little postcard and handwriting. “Dear Chris,” they start the note with. It’s under-appreciated how nice it is to read “Dear” when writing to me. Then I hold the package in my hand and a feeling comes over me that I haven’t experienced since childhood. The packaging transports me back to a time when my parents would buy me action figures. I’d stare in awe at Swamp Thing, Batman, Spider-Man, and so many others. And in that moment before my morning chai, I’m so very excited to shoot film again. Considering how innovative the Reto Pano is with its ability to switch between 35mm and panoramic shots, I’m filled with hope that I haven’t felt in a really long time.
This camera is pretty simple overall. There’s a switch to set the shoot modes: off, on, and flash. That’s it. Then there’s a switch on top to set the camera to panoramic or standard. It even changes the viewfinder for you, too.
Then, when you’re done shooting, you simply wind the wheel towards the bottom. That’s really all there is to it.
Loading film into it is also simple enough if you’ve loaded film before. If you haven’t, then don’t worry about it. You’re just going to roll it incorrectly and ruin a perfectly good roll of film, then tell Reddit all about how sad you are, only for R/analog to berate you in some way or another.
That won’t actually happen; just be careful without being too cautious. It’s just film.
Then again, I realize that I’m probably financially better off than most people wanting to use this camera because I’m about 38 years old and well-to-do. So really, again, just be cautious. I recommend this camera for anyone who wants to shoot film but also wants to switch between 35mm and panoramic at any point. It’s for a more advanced user in some ways because of this.
As for the image quality, well, there’s a reason this was delayed. I dropped the film off at a local-ish film lab, deciding that I’d try someplace different from the labs I typically go to. Here’s the text message I got from the manager:
“hey chris just tried calling. sooooo sorry for the delay!! and also I accidentally washed your film with the water filters off and it came out with many particles. I tried rewashing and scanning (those files are still uploading) but I wasn’t able to really do much”
Typically, I’d send my film to one of two labs. But I think that it’s important for us to try new ones. And the images are okay; but they’re not anything that even I’m amazed and in love with. Maybe I’m just too smitten right now with the retro digital look. Even so, I’m not overwhelmed or underwhelmed, I’m just whelmed. I’m reminded of some recent fun times and the moments where I was just trying to shoot to see what I’d get with this camera and the film.
Would I shoot with this camera again? Probably not. And I love shooting in panoramic format. But if I were to do that, I’d probably want to shoot in medium format instead. The Reto Pan is very much a point and shoot affair and panoramic images deserve your taking your time to make each and every single photo really count to make it look unique and breathtaking. I ultimately don’t think that this camera lets you do that.
