Jeff Bridges Unveils WideluxX Camera Prototype with SilverBridges

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges has unveiled the first prototype of the revived Widelux film camera through his co-founded company, SilverBridges. The prototype, dubbed WideluxX Prototype 0001, was presented at the International Association for Panoramic Photography convention last Friday.

Bridges, along with SilvergrainClassics’ Charys Schuler, editor Marwan El Mozayen, and his wife, renowned photographer Susan Bridges, started SilverBridges to restore the beloved Widelux camera. “Holding a one-of-a-kind camera prototype in your hand is always going to be exciting,” Schuler stated. “When some of the blood, sweat, and tears that went into it are your own, it feels nothing short of extraordinary.”

The original Widelux camera ceased production 20 years ago when its factory burned down, leading to a scarcity of replacement parts. “We decided that rather than letting our favorite camera die, we’d bring her back to life,” the Bridges said. They emphasized that the new WideluxX is a handmade film camera built to last for generations.

The prototype has been praised for honoring the original design of the Panon Widelux camera while incorporating necessary improvements. “Its DNA is still the [Panon Widelux] F8,” Schuler and El Mozayen noted, envisioning their work as a bridge between the history and future of analog photography.

Photographers interested in the project can check updates on the WideluxX platform, where an introductory video featuring the Bridges is set to be released soon.