At a recent exhibition in Tokyo, VWFNDR, a team led by UX designer Álvaro Arregui Falcón and industrial designer Chris Seidenfaden, showcased their captivating concept—the Keirin camera. Inspired by the Japanese cycling discipline of the same name, Keirin is designed to revolutionize panorama photography. Its striking visual centerpiece is a curved OLED touchscreen that wraps around the back panel, housing almost all camera controls. This intuitive interface allows for seamless swiping gestures to adjust exposure, aspect ratio, and other settings. Despite being a nonfunctional prototype, the OLED display effectively conveys the intended industrial design.
A working prototype of Keirin, complete with a disassembled version revealing its hardware, was available for hands-on experience. Seidenfaden enthusiastically explained the engineering and UI behind the prototype, emphasizing its purpose as a proof of concept for Keirin’s design and practicality. Utilizing off-the-shelf components like the Raspberry Pi board and Pi Camera module, the prototype prioritizes functionality over image quality. However, its rear-mounted wide screen effectively showcases Keirin’s unique UI.
Keirin’s design revolves around a 60-megapixel full-frame sensor and a 35mm lens. The camera is envisioned to incorporate SSD storage and mobile connectivity, enabling automatic photo saving and cloud backup. Additionally, VWFNDR has designed a proprietary magnetic expansion bay called XPNSNBAY, which uses pogo pins for attaching accessories such as a panoramic optical viewfinder. Another notable accessory is REMOFLSH, a wireless flash unit that communicates directly with the camera’s built-in trigger.
While Keirin’s commercial viability remains uncertain, it represents a niche product with immense potential. Its thoughtful design, innovative UI, and clever accessories have captured the imagination of photography enthusiasts. Despite the proliferation of XPan-branded modes on high-end smartphones, Keirin stands apart as a dedicated panorama camera that embodies the essence of classic film cameras like Hasselblad’s XPan. Its existence serves as a testament to the passion and dedication of VWFNDR, a small team that has dared to push the boundaries of camera innovation.
