A Classic Camera for Enjoying One-of-a-Kind Panoramic Expression
Hello, everyone.
This time we bring you a hands-on review of the FUJIFILM TX-1and its dedicated lens, the SUPER EBC FUJINON TX 45mm F4, a classic that has a one-of-a-kind presence among all film cameras.
Using ordinary 35mm film, the TX-1 can shoot wide panoramic photos that stand apart from regular photographs. Thanks to its unique format and high rendering power, it continues to captivate many film camera enthusiasts today.
Using sample photos actually shot at our store, we will take a detailed look at the TX-1's powerful angle of view, the rendering produced by the SUPER EBC FUJINON 45mm F4 lens, and how it handles in use.
What Is the FUJIFILM TX-1? Features of a One-of-a-Kind Panoramic Camera
The FUJIFILM TX-1 is a 35mm rangefinder film camera co-developed with Hasselblad.
Its greatest feature is that, while using ordinary 35mm film, you can switch between the standard 35mm format (24x36mm) and the panoramic format (24x65mm) partway through a roll.
The luxurious body design with titanium covers, and the uniqueness of enjoying everything from everyday snapshots to cinematic panoramic shots on a single roll of film, still captivate many film camera fans today.
The Overwhelming Image Quality of the SUPER EBC FUJINON TX 45mm F4
The lens used for these sample shots is the "SUPER EBC FUJINON TX 45mm F4," the standard lens for the FUJIFILM TX-1.
Shooting in the panoramic format (24x65mm) gives you a horizontal angle of view as wide as that of a wide-angle lens on a 35mm camera.
It uses Fujifilm's proprietary SUPER EBC coating, which suppresses flare and ghosting while delivering clear, high-contrast rendering. It is a dedicated lens whose appeal lies in sharp, beautiful images that bring out the texture of film.
FUJIFILM TX-1 Sample Photos (Panoramic Cityscapes)
First, take a look at real-world cityscape shots, where the panoramic format truly shines. Vast scenery that doesn't fit in a normal aspect ratio can be burned onto a single frame of film without cropping.
The contrast between the endless clusters of buildings and the expansive sky is expressed dynamically. Distortion is low across the whole frame and the straight lines of the architecture are rendered truly straight, which shows how high the lens's performance is.
Holding the camera vertically also lets you emphasize the overwhelming height of towering skyscrapers. The upward-looking viewpoint combined with the tall panoramic format creates a distinctive sense of perspective.
FUJIFILM TX-1 Sample Photos (Light, Shadow and Snapshots)
Next are snapshot samples that take advantage of the contrast between light and shadow.
The shooting style unique to a rangefinder, focusing while looking through the viewfinder, suits snapshot photography while walking around town extremely well.
A shot of people by a window in silhouette. The scene has a large difference between light and dark, but the clean rolloff of the highlights and the shadow tones that remain right up to the edge of going black are impressive.
This sample captures strong sunlight streaming into a corridor. The geometric pattern woven from streaks of light and deep shadow becomes an even more striking shot thanks to the TX-1's wide panoramic format.
FUJIFILM TX-1 Sample Photos (Capturing Everyday Life Like a Film)
A panoramic camera is not just for spectacular views; it has the charm of turning ordinary everyday scenes into something like a movie scene.
A person seen from behind walking across a pedestrian bridge. Because the format allows generous space on the left and right, the composition conveys the atmosphere around the subject and even the stillness of the place.
Even for scenes with a horizontal spread that a standard 35mm frame can't contain, such as the symmetrical structure of a staircase or a bird's-eye view looking down, the panoramic format can record the atmosphere and sense of scale of the place in full.
FUJIFILM TX-1 Handling and Hands-on Review
In actual use, even though it is a special camera with a panoramic shooting mechanism, the basic operation felt orthodox and easy to handle.
With the rangefinder method, where you look through the viewfinder and align the double image in the center to focus, the more used to it you become, the more easily it reflects the photographer's intent and the more reliably you can focus.
The wide body designed for 24x65mm panoramic shooting is distinctive, but it is also well balanced in the hand and can be held steadily for snapshots while walking around town.
Conclusion
FUJIFILM TX-1 and the SUPER EBC FUJINON TX 45mm F4 are a special combination that, with the unique 24x65mm panoramic format and high rendering power, offer a shooting experience a cut above ordinary film cameras.
From the moment you press the shutter, to the fun of thinking about composition, to the joy of seeing the finished photos, the TX-1 has a charm all its own.
It is a camera we would love for anyone who wants to enjoy new forms of expression in film photography to try at least once.
About the FUJIFILM TX-1
An interchangeable-lens rangefinder camera released in 1998, co-developed by Fujifilm and Hasselblad.
Its greatest feature is that, using ordinary 35mm film, you can switch between the standard 35mm format (24x36mm) and the wide panoramic format (24x65mm) partway through a roll.
The luxurious titanium-clad body and the excellent rendering of its dedicated lenses are also part of its appeal. Even today it remains highly popular as a classic for enjoying distinctive panoramic expression.
Width x height x depth: approx. 166 x 82 x 51 mm
Weight: approx. 720 g (body only, without battery)
About the SUPER EBC FUJINON TX 45mm F4
A standard lens dedicated to the FUJIFILM TX-1/TX-2. In the panoramic format (24x65mm), it gives a wide angle of view equivalent to approx. 25mm in 35mm terms, suiting landscapes, architecture and street snapshots.
Its optical design has 8 elements in 6 groups, with a minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m. It is a compact, easy-to-handle lens that delivers sharp rendering across every corner of the wide panoramic frame.
Lens construction: 8 elements in 6 groups
Aperture: F4-F22
Minimum focusing distance: 0.7 m
Filter diameter: 49 mm
Size: max. diameter approx. 60 mm, length approx. 47 mm
Weight: approx. 235 g
Click here for the FUJIFILM TX-1 product list
Click here for the SUPER EBC FUJINON TX 45mm F4 product list
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