The WideluxX Revival is coming, and it has an unlikely backer

The iconic Widelux panoramic camera is making a comeback, with a modern revival that has the backing of an unlikely ally - the Big Lebowski himself, Jeff Bridges. 

Back in September 2024, Oscar-winning actor and long-time photography enthusiast Jeff Bridges announced he and his wife, photographer Susan Bridges, had teamed up with SilvergrainClassics to launch a new company called SilverBridges.

Their goal was to bring the legendary Widelux camera back into production for a new generation of film shooters.

The challenge came from the fact that the original Panon Widelux factory closed more than 20 years ago after a fire destroyed the facility, along with tooling, parts and production capability.

That loss effectively ended the line, even as the cameras themselves became cult favourites among panoramic photography fans.

Bridges, who is a well-known admirer of the format, helped lead the push to rebuild the camera from the ground up.

The result is the WideluxX F10, a carefully re-engineered and clear labour of love version of the classic design (the new revival model intentionally uses WideluxX as its updated name).

Incredibly, the team has reverse engineered components, recreated tooling, and refined the build while staying faithful to the original panoramic concept.

It remains a fully mechanical 35mm film camera, using a rotating 26mm f2.8 lens to sweep across a 24 x 58mm frame, producing around 21 panoramic frames from a standard 36 exposure roll. It offers three shutter speeds, a 140-degree field of view, fixed focus from 1.5 metres to infinity, and weighs about 880 grams.

The new camera is being positioned as both a tribute and a functional upgrade. Each unit is built to order, with optional engraving and customisation, and comes with a two-year warranty.

Priced at around $7,000 AUD, it ain't exactly pocket change, but this does sit close to the current secondhand value of original Widelux F8 cameras, which are increasingly rare and sought after.

The first production run is limited to 350 units, with delivery expected in six to eight months and full completion of the initial batch taking a further few months. Within minutes of pre-orders opening, nearly 50 cameras had already been sold, suggesting there is still plenty of enthusiasm for panoramic film photography in a digital-heavy world.

You can learn more about the WideluxX here.