Mechanical XPAN, is it possible?

Yup, angle of view in the specs would be based on the image circle. If you use less of that circle your field of view is smaller too.

Playing with that calculator got me thinking. In my Fuji my negatives are 80x24 (with the film gate in) for about 63 degrees by 21 degrees. If I could find non-perforated 35mm and leave out the film gate I'd be about 84x35mm for about 66 by 30 degrees. Might be fun to try if non-perf can be found reasonably.

Shawn
 
another one

another one

Tower 10B (Mamiya) modded with 40mm Bronica. 24x57mm frame, RF coupled. Unfortunately the coupling isn't correct but it's tuned to be reasonably close between 1 and 4m. At least there is ample DOF stopped-down. FOV wise it is pretty close to an Xpan.

DSCF7454 by Olivier, on Flickr

DSCF7457 by Olivier, on Flickr

SIM00382-1 by Olivier, on Flickr
 
sanmich said:
ok...
thinking of this: is there a way of altering a regular 120 bronica etrs back to advance only half the regular distance?
If so, by cutting a slot in a dark slide, there could be a way to get 30 panos from a 120 film.
Click to expand...

I remembered this post after I read something about that today. Here's what can be done.

Modify the dark slide by removing almost half of it, offsetting the cut by 2-3 mm. Also remove the tab that locks the shutter when inserted.

Insert the slide, and you can expose the top half of the regular frame.

Reverse the slide, toggle the multi-exposure switch, cock the shutter and frame the bottom half.

You'd get 30 or 24 frames: ~19x56mm on 645, ~25x56mm on 6x6.

Edit. Here's another way. You mask the film back, leaving the central half (minus small offset for spacing) exposed. Toggle the multi-exposure switch and advance half a frame via the winding knob on the film back. Eyeball the half-way point between the marked frame numbers. This way you can mask the screen for framing. And you can maybe get 2-3 extra frames by offsetting the start arrow and by using a 220 back.
 
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Replacement for the Zorki. Canon 7 with 50mm Bronica, RF coupled. Frame advance adjusted for 65mm frame (2 strokes) and custom pressure plate. Tried my best to adjust for lens/film parallelism with dial indicator but it's not quite there. I'd need a better lens mount.

DSCF7894 by Olivier, on Flickr


DSCF7895 by Olivier, on Flickr


SIM00691-1 by Olivier, on Flickr


SIM00689-1 by Olivier, on Flickr
 
Nice! Perfect aspect ratio 🙂
OlivierAOP said:
Frame advance adjusted for 65mm frame (2 strokes)
Click to expand...
Could you explain how you adjust the frame advance?

I found another potential body for a Fauxpan: Minolta XE-1. It looks like it could go up to 24*70.
Also potentially Minolta XG-1, but probably a bit under 65 in width.
 
First test with 35mm in a Mamiya press back. The Mamiya advanced 35mm just fine without having to do any tricks with silicon tape as in the Fuji GSW690. So it could switch between MF and 35mm at will.

51123181994_4d46f74be8_c.jpg


Used a 120mm takeup spool sized for 35mm.

With an 18" paper leader on the front of the film and a 6x7 back I had the full 20 exposures on the roll and could likely have 21 (shooting after the 20th on the Mamiya back). I rewound in a changing bag but of course could also just put a dark slide in and swap backs to keep shooting. Next roll I am going to try using another 35mm canister as the takeup spool. After the 20th shot there was about 2 winds of film left so it should be enough to get the 20th image in the canister to be able to open it up to cut the film without loosing an image.

Film is drying now but it looks good so far.

51123364819_3498d4ac6a_c.jpg


Shawn
 
f.hayek said:
Wouldn't it be simpler to pick up a GW690III and crop the negative?
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All these ingenious mods really underline what a cool camera the Xpan really is. Small, discreet, the ability to choose between panorama and 24x36. Too bad its price has risen sky high and there's no back-up service for the electronics. Wish i had bought one back in the day.
 
Dante_Stella said:
Let's put this in perspective - your inevitable demise may occur before that of the electronics in any given item. So the entire thing may be off-base.

You will not be able to replace the guts of an Xpan with mechanical parts. There is simply no way to do it.

That said, you could get a 24x80 mask and 35 conversion kit for a Fuji 6x9 and go even wider in a far cheaper (though less light and compact) package. Similar kits exist for Pentax 6x7, which is also all mechanical.

Dante
Click to expand...
I think the Pentax 6x7 is electronic
 
Dante_Stella said:
Similar kits exist for Pentax 6x7, which is also all mechanical.

Dante
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someonenameddavid said:
I think the Pentax 6x7 is electronic
Click to expand...

I have the panoramic kit for the Pentax 6x7, but yes, the camera's shutter is electronically controlled and battery dependent. If the battery dies, your camera cannot fire. Ask me how I know... :bang:
 
Deardorff38 said:
All these ingenious mods really underline what a cool camera the Xpan really is. Small, discreet, the ability to choose between panorama and 24x36. Too bad its price has risen sky high and there's no back-up service for the electronics. Wish i had bought one back in the day.
Click to expand...


I agree! The Xpan is a neat camera. Too bad I will likely never get to try one.



Regarding DIY mods, I'd like to get my hands on a broken Fuji GS645W. The 45mm non-retrofocus lens would be likely more discreet.
 
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