Mamiya 7 with pano adaptor VS Xpan

[maelswarm]

I have both, and recently started shooting panos on my Mamiya 7II. I've found my negs on the Mamiya are sharper than those from the Xpan, and there's no corner vignetting with the 65mm lens. Also, a body with a set of lenses (including the 43mm) would be cheaper than the one XPan 30mm lens.

So, why would you want to continue shooting XPan when you can get a quieter, cheaper and more versatile camera instead?

 

[gdi]

I can see the appeal of the xpan - it is smaller and you can switch to normal format. And the Mamiya Pano adapter is a real Rube Goldberg deal - complicated and error prone (wait till the back pops open mid roll).

But, the Mamiya image quality and 6x7 "option" make it the more logical setup, IMO.

 

[fbf]

bigger yes, sharper? i don't know.
For pano, I would pick xpan over m7 any time.

 

[maelswarm]

The Xpan has an inferior viewfinder, makes a lot more noise, and I haven't had much luck getting good photos from it even with stopping down (still get vignetting). I haven't had the problem of the back popping open -- loading the film is dirt easy though.

I'll try it with the 43mm lens and see if there's any vignetting.

 

[sevres_babylone]

And the Mamiya Pano adapter is a real Rube Goldberg deal -

I have the Mamiya with the adapter, and have not used the xpan. So I can't compare sharpness. But I find the pano adapter enough of a pain that I've flirted with getting an xpan.

 

[maelswarm]

I'm curious, which aspect of it have you found frustrating to use?

 

[sevres_babylone]

I've mangled film in it, and found the rewind slow and a little awkward.
In fairness, I suspect if I used it more, I could get more comfortable with it. But the xpan seems like a smoother and quicker process.
Aside from the adapter, I think framing takes more time than it would with a dedicated panoramic (though, as I've said, I haven't used the xpan.)

 

[fbf]

I use it for landscaping shot, so don't care about the shutter noise, plus the xpan is not loud by no means.
VF-wise, xpan probably has one of the best VF among all 135 rfs if not THE best. I have no complaints.

 

[gdi]

I'm curious, which aspect of it have you found frustrating to use?

A lot of pieces; lining everything up correctly and taking care that the take up spool "bar" is positioned correctly (if not you may find the back popping open, as I mentioned above); the framing, as mentioned, is via nubs; and the rewind attachment is awkward and can't be used if you use a quick release plate.

Honestly, you do get used to it and it is very nice to have the option. For me it is well worth the trouble, given that I do not shoot a huge volume of panos and do not have an XPan. The results are great; the lenses are beyond compare, from what I have seen.

It sounds like you may be considering selling the Xpan?

 

[newsgrunt]

Have both but gave up using the Mamiya for panoramas. As noted, the cassette holder is a pain, there's a mask to clip in, the rewind is awkward. As well, framing is less than accurate since you're using a separate finder.

For 120, it's formidable.

The Xpan gets the nod for wide negs.

 

[didjiman]

I have both, and recently started shooting panos on my Mamiya 7II. I've found my negs on the Mamiya are sharper than those from the Xpan, and there's no corner vignetting with the 65mm lens. Also, a body with a set of lenses (including the 43mm) would be cheaper than the one XPan 30mm lens.

So, why would you want to continue shooting XPan when you can get a quieter, cheaper and more versatile camera instead?

I have both the XPan and the 7II but not the pano adapter. The XPand is much smaller and lighter so I think I will continue to use that. If I only have the 7II and there are pano opportunity, I can always crop 🙂

 

[rxmd]

Also, a body with a set of lenses (including the 43mm) would be cheaper than the one XPan 30mm lens.

Doesn't give you 30mm focal length though. 🙂

 

[Parkes Owen]

I use it for landscaping shot, so don't care about the shutter noise, plus the xpan is not loud by no means.
VF-wise, xpan probably has one of the best VF among all 135 rfs if not THE best. I have no complaints.

I also use mine for mostly landscape, but it`s good for documentary/street stuff as well, and agree that the finder is great with only one set of frame lines, and think if most of your work is pano, it`s easier to use a dedicated pano camera for composition (617, 612 or xpan)

The shutter is very quiet, it`s the motor wind that you can hear, which I hardly notice.
I seriously considered the mamiya, but the xpan`s size, handling and image quality was too much to resist! (and its made from alloy and titanium, not plastic)🙂

 

[photomadnz]

The Mamiya 7 lenses are sharper than the Xpan. Ive owned both and the Mamiya definitely has more bite and resolution. The M7 is a pain with the pano adaptor though and the Xpan is way nicer to use. Each to there own I guess..

 

[Don Hutton]

The Mamiya 7 lenses are sharper than the Xpan. Ive owned both and the Mamiya definitely has more bite and resolution. The M7 is a pain with the pano adaptor though and the Xpan is way nicer to use. Each to there own I guess..

You may have shot both systems - you clearly never tested them. The Xpan lenses outresolve the Mamiya 7 lenses - I've tested all lenses for both systems.

 

[didjiman]

You may have shot both systems - you clearly never tested them. The Xpan lenses outresolve the Mamiya 7 lenses - I've tested all lenses for both systems.

I have both currently and they both look good 🙂

Any case, could it be simply that the XPan negs need to be enlarged more generally? The long side is just over 6cm, but the narrow side is just a bit over 1/3 of the 7cm.

 

[maelswarm]

You may have shot both systems - you clearly never tested them. The Xpan lenses outresolve the Mamiya 7 lenses - I've tested all lenses for both systems.

Don, I'm interested to see the results of the tests if you have samples. Particularly, how each lens performs wide open and mildly stopped down (to f/8 or f/11 for instance). I'm wondering if the XPan will still have more vignetting without a center filter.