anyone using an xpan?

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rbelyell

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i'm seriously considering an xpan system, not only for landscapes, but for a type of pano street shooting that has been flitting about in my head for a few years. ive tried MF 6x9 folders, and while i love the detail, i dont love the ergonomics nor are the results wide enough for me.

i am curious as to xpan users thoughts about how they enjoy the system, its pluses and minuses. also very curious about relative xpan IQ juxtaposed against both top line 35mm equipment and traditional MF results.

thanks so much!
tony
 
I just joined the club recently, in April this year, and enjoy the camera a lot. I have the 4/45 lens only but I think it is the perfect "one body / one lens" setup for travel and documentary photography. The lens is top-notch and can easily compete with Leica`s products.

Only drawback (for me) is the limited usability at night, the meter only goes down to EV 6 (from memory only) and f/4 as a max aperture forces to use 1600ISO a lot for this type of photography. However, even DELTA3200 rated at 3200ISO is very usable since the frame is twice that of conventional 135 and grain is not that visible.

I have written a little about it in my blog and have also a set with XPAN photos here at flickr.
 
Yes, I use XPan a lot for street, in addition to landscapes. Check out the "image" thread on this forum, or http://richardmanphoto.com, the opening slideshow is either Leica M9 (non-pano) or XPan (pano). You can also click on the "blog" menu and then click on the "Hasselblad Xpan" tag to see some photos. Works great.
 
I think the Xpan system is stunning. The lenses are effectively Medium format lenses and the results are awesome. If memory serves the negs are same width as a 6x7 neg.
 
hausen said:
I think the Xpan system is stunning. The lenses are effectively Medium format lenses and the results are awesome. If memory serves the negs are same width as a 6x7 neg.
Click to expand...

is it? thats one of the things i was wondering, if the IQ was just a glorified 35mm type, or if it approached medium format levels...
tony
 
I think the lenses are stunning. See review here on Luminous landscapes. They think so to. Funny here in NZ three Leica users, (myself included) all purchased Xpans. One of us who basically has every important Leica ever made, never carries his MP anymore and uses Xpan full time. He said he feels he can't miss with his Xpan.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/haselbla.shtml
 
rbelyell said:
is it? thats one of the things i was wondering, if the IQ was just a glorified 35mm type, or if it approached medium format levels...
tony
Click to expand...

To cover the XPan frame, the lens has to cover an image circle at least the size of a 645 camera, if I recall correctly (just draw some circles to cover the rectangles). The lack of distortion and the IQ is astonishing given the sizes of the lens.

I have 7 canvas prints of 50" long from the XPan hanging in my house right now and the IQ is amazing.
 
didjiman said:
To cover the XPan frame, the lens has to cover an image circle at least the size of a 645 camera, if I recall correctly (just draw some circles to cover the rectangles). The lack of distortion and the IQ is astonishing given the sizes of the lens.

I have 7 canvas prints of 50" long from the XPan hanging in my house right now and the IQ is amazing.
Click to expand...

wow! i'm feeling more and more of a tug...
tony
 
I have used an xpan in the past and find it to be wonderful for all kinds of pano needs including street. Think of it as a a baby 6x17. Where those cameras are cropping from 8x10 lenses the xpan uses Medium format lenses. The package is so small because of it's rangefinder design and the need to only capture onto a piece of film as high as regular 35mm. Fuji manufactures the camera and it's marketed (I think) everywhere besides North America as a Fuji TX-1 and TX-2. So if you are searching feel free to grab one of those if you find one. Lots of fun!
 
From what I've read (not my experiences) you can get the same results using a Fuji GSW 690 and cropping and you'll have more money to spend on film. You lose the meter though...
 
I would love an Xpan but they aren't cheap ... and I have noticed that every time I get another camera all the others get used a bit less and I feel guilty and have an overpowering urge to have a shower and start clearing the decks.


So far this year:

Hmm ... an RD-1 would be nice! (tick)

Oh look ... someones selling an OM-3 in the classifieds! (tick)

Wow ... those OMD's really are very nice! (tick)


I've put you all on my ignore list ... I don't need an Xpan!!!!! :bang: 😛
 
Of course you can always crop from 6x7 or 6x9 etc., but it's not the same. Just like it's not the same as stitching. It's all about seeing the framelines float in front of your eyes.... when you do not have the camera in front of you 🙂
 
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