SUMMARY
The Vivitar IC 101 is a peculiar 1990s panoramic point-and-shoot camera that achieves its wide-format images by physically blocking the top and bottom portions of a standard 35mm film frame. This method wastes over half of the film, unlike the Hasselblad XPan's more sophisticated approach. Despite its basic fixed aperture (f/8) and shutter speed (1/125s), cheap plastic construction, and occasional mechanical quirks, the IC 101 is noted for being surprisingly fun and affordable, often available for under $15. Vivitar, a company with a long history in photographic equipment, produced this camera, which is now considered a forgotten oddity that offers a unique, albeit flawed, shooting experience.
TAKEAWAYS
The Vivitar IC 101 creates panoramic images by masking the vertical height of 35mm film.
It features a fixed 28mm lens, f/8 aperture, and 1/125s shutter speed.
The camera is known for its cheap price, quirky operation, and image quality issues.
It is presented as a much more affordable, though significantly less sophisticated, alternative to the Hasselblad XPan.