If you think you can get away with a digital still camera, that also shoots video, that’s entirely your problem and please stop whining. The SmallRig cooling system might save your camera from overheating and it might also not. Depending on the circumstances. Watch Gerald’s video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQlvKGYiY_A if you want to know more. The fact is: You can’t trust that stuff. If that’s OK for for you because you are working on a tight budget and money saved on cheap equipment weighs more than wasted time and talent, all fine.

I have shot my Sony PXW-X70 (and that is by no means a professional camera, it does not even have interchangeable lenses!) at 40°C outside in the sun, in 4K mode until the battery ran out of juice. Next battery, repeat. Not the slightest indication of overheating.

So if you cram S-Log, 8K, IBIS, face detection and stuff in a tiny package, overheating is to be expected. And an add-on fan is not gonna change that.

Yes, I use my Nikkor PC-E 24mm as well, but didn’t mention it for the obvious reason: that it’s a far greater investment than a panorama head or even a second hand 8×10 field camera.

But I’ll go further and say that for the distant image you show, just a digital camera and a tripod would work. Possibly even handheld. With the subject that far away, any distortion caused by moving the camera would not be noticeable.

Interesting article, nevertheless.

Thanks Tom,
I don’t disagree at all. My goal is to go a little retro in the look and feel of the final images. Modern lenses are so sharp and well made sometimes images seem a little edgy and less appeaing . . . depending of course on the subject and the intent for the finished picture.

When I really want the quality offered by digital lenses in panorama shots, I typically reach for a T/S.

Dave,
I’ve done a number of stitched panorama shots from this location, some at similar field of view, roughly speaking. The digital images are typically more sharp, more contrasty than what I get out of the Graflex. The old lenses certainly don’t have the quality or coatings of the newer digital lenses. Also, there was much more lens flare using the Graflex.

The final imaging, at least prior to editing, is different because, using the Graflex is basically what I would do with a 177mm T/S lens, if I had one, and that greatly reduces the curavature introduced by Panning, thus allowing more of the scene into the final image. BUT, when I do stitch using the digital at this location, I don’t do two rows top and bottom. That might be worth trying,

The experience is a little more rewarding. It takes more time, more planning, more care and that offers a different kind of reward.