Panoramic mode is a camera setting found on many compact cameras and some SLRs that masks the film or sensor to record a narrow, wide-format strip of the scene. The resulting image is typically printed on elongated paper, producing a dramatic widescreen-style photo, often around 10x4 in.
This mode works best with wider-angle lenses, but panoramic-style images can also be achieved without the mode by cropping a larger print or negative. Photographers can even request labs to create panoramic prints from standard film, provided the subject is centred. Panoramic mode offers an easy way to capture striking, cinematic compositions directly in-camera.