Should I buy the XPAN?

[momentcollector]

Hi,

Im getting cold feet...its a big purchase for me, a college student. 1100.00 for the xpan its a good deal and the seller is a great guy! I have a g1 which i really love and somethings that are making me second guess the buy is...

Its going to cost alot to get a lab to print panos. I dont have a scanner atm but when I get one I will most likely have to get a flatbed to handle this.

The lenses are slow and I do alot of handholding photos.

Is this camera really that good or am I just lusting after this beautiful new toy.

I should just buy a bunch of film and shoot everything in site with what i have...
what do you guys think. Especially those of you who have a Xpan.

Colin

 

[xcapekey]

i'd get it if you have uses for it that you can't do with any other camera or if you are going for the specfic look....

i think if you're going to get prints from walmart or someplace that doesn't have skilled technicians you're gonna waste a lot of extra money...take a darkroom class at school and learn to print your own...that's the way you'll get the most out of your images from any camera...

i've found that i can use the scan dual iv for pano pics....just scan twice, moving parts of the image area over the scanning holes...then stitch...

use a fast film....neopan 1600 works great for BW...npz 800 works great for color.....

the camera is good but it won't make your pictures any better....a panoramic photo of your dog, cat or backyard is just that....if you buy it, use it for something great, the camera deserves to be used for something other than vanity photos, brickwalls, rez charts or lame attempts at ansel adam pictures...

1100 can buy the xpan....1100 buys a lot of film and processing....1100 also buys a complete darkroom with plenty to spare.....

buy the xpan, but not if it means you'll be shooting one roll a month because you can't afford film or processing.....it's a tool, like any other, and won't make your photos magically better.....after the novelty of pano wears off, it'll be just another camera...

seeing how you're in college and may be strapped for cash, i would suggest spending it with film and shooting and document your college years so you have something to remember them by.....i didn't get into photography until after college, something that saddens me sometimes because thinking back, i could have taken portraits of all the interesting people i met along the way....now all i have is crappy deer in headlight photos of those years

 

[SolaresLarrave]

You're a college student? Pay for your education first, pick your toys carefully later. I tell you as a current college professor.

 

[hoot]

Colin,

just out of curiosity, what sort of rig are you using at the moment?

I don't own an XPan. I'd LOVE to own one, with the 30mm lens. Personally, I wouldn't shell out for a longer XPan lens because I can just use my cheap fixed-lens TLR (it makes 6x6cm negatives on 120 roll film) and crop the negative to achieve the same effect. If you plan on using primarily longer focal lengths, this would be a cheaper option for you. You could even take a felt tip pen to your matte screen to aid with panoramic composition.

That said, if you really lust for the XPan, get it. You'll keep fantasizing about it until you do. And at that price, you can always resell it for a small profit if you end up disappointd.

 

[AlexC]

Another option would be a Horizon 202 or 203 (S3 Pro) from the FSU. These run about $200-325, have a fixed focus 28/2.8 lens (120 degree fov on 24x58mm), and are quite decent performers.

I used the 202 for a bit and have been thinking about getting an S3 Pro [edit: okay, I broke down and bought one!]. I already have too many cameras and can't justify getting an XPan, although I'd dearly love one.