The BeerPAN is a newly introduced 35-mm panoramic film camera created by Dutch photographer Robin Beerman, featuring a widened 65 × 24-mm frame that lets users shoot panoramic images on standard 35-mm rolls. Launched via Kickstarter, the camera was designed with a waist-level viewfinder and a bubble horizon level to encourage slower, more deliberate composition while remaining compatible with Bronica Zenza ETR lenses.
Construction mixes 3D-printed nylon with machined metal components to cut costs and maintain durability; key elements such as gears, the lens mount and film advance are metal for tactile strength. The BeerPAN offers a leaf shutter from bulb to 1/500 s, two body options (nylon or anodized-aluminum plates), and a planned Open Community License release of design files a year after fulfillment.
For photographers seeking an affordable route into panoramic formats, the BeerPAN reduces the barrier to entry by using standard 35-mm film and commonly available lenses, lowering processing costs and enabling easier repairs. Its mechanical, repairable build and waist-level viewing tap into trends favoring hands-on, slower photographic experiences and greater transparency around right-to-repair.
Image Credit: BeerPAN
What's Driving This Trend
- Accessible Panoramic Analog Photography
- A rising demand for panoramic outputs on standard 35-mm film creates lower-cost product categories bridging vintage aesthetic with modern accessibility.
- Hybrid 3d-printed and Machined Construction
- Combining 3D-printed nylon with machined metal parts introduces new manufacturing models that balance affordability with durability for premium-feel devices.
- Open Design and Right-to-repair for Imaging
- Planned release of design files and repairable mechanical assemblies signals shifting consumer expectations toward transparency and long-lived photographic gear.
Who This Affects Most
- Camera and Photographic Equipment
- A segment for mechanically focused, waist-level-viewfinder cameras that prioritize tactile control and bespoke lens compatibility is emerging.
- Film Processing and Analog Labs
- Lower-cost panoramic formats could drive demand for specialized processing and scanning services tailored to wider negative sizes.
- Additive Manufacturing for Consumer Goods
- Use of 3D printing alongside metal components points to hybrid production services that support small-batch, customizable electronics and optical hardware.
