Just a thought. We are getting really close to digital version of xpan

[GaryLH]

The xpan 30 was equiv to around 14-18mm lens in Pano mode and the 45 was around a 21. The Fuji 14 and Zeiss 12 now give us so focal lengths that are very similar. The next gen sensor, I hope will be greater than 16. A 24 or greater, I think will provide enough useful pixel for a 2.5:1 Pano ratio similar to the original xpan.. W/o need for sweep Pano mode. Given that Fuji was the original manufacture of the xpan, I hope they add a Pano aspect ratio to their existing formats in the future.

Just a thought.. I still have the 30mm ovf from the xpan that can use and crop later in photo editor. But it would be nicer to have the aspect ratio built into the camera.

Gary

 

[noimmunity]

This does sound nice.

Would be even better if it were a Foveon Merrill sensor with a Fuji UI. 😀

 

[back alley]

funny you should mention it...i was thinking just last night that i want to try the 8mm and the 14mm on the fuji in 16:9 mode...

 

[Rob-F]

I'm finding that with a 10MP or greater sensor, I can just crop in post to any desired aspect ratio, and the pictures look fine on my iMac screen. So apart from having the safe area lines in the finder for a given desired ratio, I think we're there.

 

[GaryLH]

Yes agreed.. This is why the xpan had a 90 and a lot of people wanted to c them come out w/ a 135.. The reason I made a point of the wide angles is that the 90 pan is around 40-45 ish.. The normal lens already covered this aspect in the Fuji line. Whereas only recently have we got a set of lenses that can handle the 30 and 45 from the xpan Pano mode.

Yes in camera stitching can be used... But they are really only good for static scenery. Any movement thru the scene depends on a lot of other factors in terms of will it work. A true panoramic aspect ratio is much better for handling dynamic situations in your shot. Also multi shot stitch later at a pc when u are controlling the way things get stitched up tends to provide a better picture w/ more detail then in camera.

Not everything that is shot using Pano is traditional landscapes as well.. I have seen some interesting shots of guys at a skate board park for example using the 45 on the xpan.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

I'm finding that with a 10MP or greater sensor, I can just crop in post to any desired aspect ratio, and the pictures look fine on my iMac screen. So apart from having the safe area lines in the finder for a given desired ratio, I think we're there.

I like a bit more safety margin then 10-16 mp, myself. But yeah I have done it in the past... I am not sure it will hold together that well if u blow it up really big, but the standard 8.5 (8.5x23 is it? Haven't printed a Pano in a very long time) inch high Pano should definitely be ok..

As I said in my post I still have my xpan 30mm and its ovf, so I have no problem w/ seeing the aspect ratio properly. Getting 21 ovf's should not be a problem, but 18 i am not sure where to find, 16 are a bit harder to find, 15 are easier. Masking for Pano is doable..

But this year we finally got some wide glass that matches the 30 and 45 from xpan in terms of Pano aspect ratio.

But it would be soooo nice to have the aspect ratio built into the camera...

Gary

 

[Lss]

I would definitely be interested in a real 2.5:1 or even 2:1 aspect ratio digital if the sensor were big enough. In other words, have the horizontal somewhere in full-frame or even medium format territory if you want to charge a premium. I don't know if I were able to afford such a camera, but I would enjoy having one.

None of my current cameras gives anything close. The OM-D offers 16:9 (both framing and RAW support), but the sensor size and pixel count just aren't there for me.

 

[doolittle]

Co-incidentally I have been thinking about this recently too. I would be interested to compare a scan of an Xpan 30mm photograph with a similar panoramic crop of a photograph taken with a D800 and 14-24mm.

 

[corposant]

Here's something that folks should try:
Often when shooting with wides, the background all but disappears into the distance, removing the sense of grandeur in, say, a mountain range. So, try using a camera that has in-camera pano function and shoot long. Around 90mm for APS or 135 to 200 with FF.

Or stitch.

The longer lens will keep the background from being pushed back...The pano/stitch will give the field of view required.

Best,

S

I am okay with how mountains look with wider-angle lenses. You can great perspective with all types of fields-of-view - you just need the right scene/composition.

 

[jsrockit]

The OM-D offers 16:9 (both framing and RAW support),

I didn't know it offered it's other formats in RAW. 😱

 

[Lss]

Yep, the RAW files have the crop. It is however non-destructive (and thus does not save any memory) and depending on the RAW converter you are able to go back to full 4:3.

 

[GaryLH]

I was originally not going to the the 10-24 zoom lens.

http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n130417_01.html

But the more I think about this.. I just might.. A lot would depend on what they do w/ the next en xp/xe camera body though..

Gary

 

[Archiver]

I've been thinking about this a fair bit as well, as the notion of a true digital X-Pan is intriguing. Imagine a sensor the size of two full frames, or even two aps-c's. Now put the appropriate lenses in front of it in a body like the X-Pro 1 or maybe a bit longer. I would definitely buy a camera like this.