lonelyboy
Established
Yes, I am still having a 30/5.6 and using it:
30mm f/5.6 lens
- Thread starter Ted Striker
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noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
I have one XPAN II body and the 45mm lens. I used to have the 90mm and 30mm lenses too, but didn't use them much so I ended up trading them away.
The 45mm works well outdoors while the 30mm is a better choice for indoor shooting in confined spaces in my experience.
I regret letting the 30mm go, as there are times when it would come in handy; I am planning on replacing it when I can. I am still of the opinion that the 45mm is the best all around lens for the XPAN, but the 30mm is a close second.
The 45mm works well outdoors while the 30mm is a better choice for indoor shooting in confined spaces in my experience.
I regret letting the 30mm go, as there are times when it would come in handy; I am planning on replacing it when I can. I am still of the opinion that the 45mm is the best all around lens for the XPAN, but the 30mm is a close second.
Ted Striker
Well-known
I have a question about the 30mm lens. If you switch to non panoramic mode with your XPan/TX- camera, do you get accurate frame lines in the camera viewfinder? My guess is no, but that's only a guess. Perhaps this lens is only for panoramic use.
snaefell
Established
Ted Striker
Well-known
Excellent. Thank you very much.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Yes, I am still having a 30/5.6 and using it:
Very nice looking image.
Ted Striker
Well-known
I found an even better one, this is a screenshot from the manual of the 30mm lens (found here) which also explains the meaning of the different markings:
What is the difference between 8A and 8B? They are both at infinity focus.
snaefell
Established
I have no idea. For composing I use the frame like in B.
lonelyboy
Established
Thank you.
Ted Striker
Well-known
Of course, I get my hands on the 30mm lens and the weather turns so drab and gray, absolutely the worst light imaginable.
mpirie
Newbie
C'mon Ted, the weather must have changed by now? 🙂
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Too wide too much of the time. In today's overdeveloped world, I too often ran into a utility pole, sign, or remote weather station with such a wide lens. And with the necessary center filter, it is an f/8 equivalent lens even wide open.
The horizontal field of the 45mm lens is more useful; but it can be too limiting in the vertical plane. Pictures require some height in order to show enough foreground. The extreme aspect ratio, 2.66:1, of the XPAN is limiting in that way. Even 70mm Panavision is only 2.21:1!
For me, the ideal XPAN would have had a lens between 35 and 40mm. The 38mm Biogon of the SWC would be just about right. And I'd have made it with a 54mm gate width, not 65mm. That's so the film would be the right size for my Hasselblad PCP80 projector! Again, that's just for me! Others have made wonderful use of the 30mm. See, for instance, f/16sunshine's shot, above!
So what do you think I did? I sold my XPAN and shoot my outdoor panoramic with my SWC with its 38mm lens, or my 500CM with a 40mm!
Niko
Established
When i got my XPan it was a package deal with the body+30+45. I thought i would sell the 30mm (and get a reasonably priced basic set that way), because i had never been very familiar with that wide lenses in any format. It had always happened that very soon after starting to use a superwide i noticed all the photos i´d taken with it were just about the special wide-angle effect. But what happened ? I noticed liking the 30mm a lot already in the beginning. After 2 years with the XPan i love the lens, it´s my favourite even. The panorama format for me is the perfect way to use a lens even this wide. I like grain, so i don´t mind it being slow, just shoot ISO 1600 indoors. See my Flickr, if you like.
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