Panoramic Camera

Fixed Lens Cameras : from speciallized fish eyes to "normal" camera with longer back ...

Scanning Cameras / Swing lens cameras

Noblex
SpheroCam

SpheroCam :

Full spherical (360°x180°) digital images in a single rotational pass

1° - 1600° cylindrical panoramas in a single rotational pass

Highest-quality image data in the 50-megapixel league, with 48-bit colour depth per pixel and integrated ICC colour management

Black moutain tower partial panorama : 6 6Mpixel image, 25% overlapping ... 6 + 5x6x.75 = 28 Mpixel ...

Fast operation: less than 5 minutes from setting-up and preview exposure adjustment, to final exposure

Image monitoring on the notebook computer display, also in real time during the actual exposure

Fully-digital workflow - no film, development and scanning expense

No “stitching” of discrete images

 

More about that subject :

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Nook/4792/panphoto.html

http://www.panorama-gallery.com/technics.htm