Pantostat

Pantostat (from the Greek παντο - “all” and στατός “standing, installed”) is a device used in photography in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. to position the camera in different shooting positions.

The pantostat allowed the photographer to accurately install and fix the camera in the desired position in height, tilt, rotation and movement along the axes. This made it possible to shoot from different angles, as well as take panoramic and stereoscopic pictures.

The pantostat consisted of a massive base on three legs with a tripod mounted on it, which could move along the base and be fixed in the right place. The tripod had a rotating head with a clamp for attaching the camera. The head could be rotated horizontally and vertically, and also changed its inclination relative to the tripod.

The pantostat allowed the photographer to fine-tune the camera to shoot and obtain high-quality images. This device was the predecessor of modern photographic tripods with panoramic heads.

Pantostat is an electrical installation switching device designed for switching alternating current circuits with a frequency of 50/60 Hz with a voltage of up to 660 V and direct current with a voltage of up to 440 V. They consist of switching contacts, a sliding contact, a spring supporting the spring and a switch handle. The index “P” is included in the symbol designation of devices.