Value of Xpans sky rocketing?

[Huss]

Leica Store is selling a boxed but used Xpan II with 45mm lens and center filter for EUR 5900!

http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en/hasselblad-xpan-ii-outfit-sku30796-1.html

 

[finguanzo]

Tell me about it. I payed $1200 for one about 6 years ago, sold it for the same price two years later. I would've kept it if I have known... 🙂

 

[j.scooter]

Yes. I had one but had to sell it 3 years ago. I got quite the shock when I was recently looking to buy one.

I have noticed that the Zeiss Ikon has gone up in value too by about 50%.

I will endeavour to keep all my cameras and figure out something else to get rid of if need be.

 

[Corran]

This is why I don't get rid of cameras I use, even if I go a bit w/o using them. I want an XPan but prices are silly. I've seen beaters for stupid money still selling quickly.

 

[mod2001]

well, just because Leicashop tries to sell it for this price doesn't mean they actually do. Most of their overpriced items appear since several month and some even since years there. Same with eBay and Japenese seller and most wanted analog cameras.

At least in Europe, you can get a decent Xpan with 45mm plus center filter for around €2000 without any problem with a little patience.

Jürgen

 

[Archlich]

5900 euros is too much. But the Xpan price has indeed gone up a lot during the past year. In some extreme cases I know of it's like almost doubled.

In fact the prices of any 135 film cameras of moderate interest, except those of the autofocus SLRs or the some obscure rangefinders, are going through inflation. Suddenly there is a demand for everything. Don't be overly optimistic and take it as signs of a "film renaissance" though - like you don't take the booming cryptocurrencies as proof of a strong economy.

 

[snaefell]

Prices have gone up quite a lot, 2 years ago you could get XPans around 1200€, sometimes below depending on the condition of the camera. Now it is more like 1800 (with luck) to 2000 Euros, but mostly for the Version I, I rarely see XPan II. As the others say, 5900 is way of the top and will most likely not sell for this price.

 

[HHPhoto]

That prices of Xpans have an increasing trend is not very surprising:
1. When it was introduced at the end of the 90ies it already was an expensive niche camera - therefore only a relative small amount of cameras have been built over the years.
2. In the last years more and more photographers have realised how good the Xpan / Xpan II are, and that outstanding pictures can be made with it. You get medium format quality with 35mm film. With a relatively small package.
3. More and more Xpan users keep their cameras, resulting in less supply on the used market.
4. There is a rising interest in film photography, and lots of new users are looking for "rare" cameras with no equivalent in digital imaging. And there are no digital panoramic cameras.

Cheers, Jan

 

[LukasB]

I passed up a chance to buy one in good condition (on ebay) with 45mm Lens and centre filter for £1150. This was around two Years ago... I would have had to sell some stuff I didn't feel like getting rid of (Cameras.) I regret this decision. Massively. One in rough condition without the centre filter now sells (ROUTINELY, I might add.) for approximately £1800-2000. I still absolutely love the format and there is simply no alternative to the XPan. I believe this is the reason for the rise in price. If you want one, you must pay whatever the price.

Unfortunately as much as I would value it as a creative Tool - I'm not in a position to spend £2000+ on a Camera system that may break irreparably at a moment's notice. I suppose I will just have to use the M2 forever. 🙂

 

[Rob-F]

You get medium format quality with 35mm film. With a relatively small package.

Cheers, Jan

You get medium format quality horizontally, but 35mm film quality vertically.

I'm not in a position to spend £2000+ on a Camera system that may break irreparably at a moment's notice. I suppose I will just have to use the M2 forever. 🙂

Yes, Hasselblad has discontinued repair services for the XPAN. After spare parts are all gone, the XPAN may become an expensive paperweight. Using the M2 forever (and the M4-P and MP and M7) is OK by me. The XPAN format was a bit too extreme for me. I need more height to go along with the width. I sold mine.

 

[shawn]

I considered picking one up a few years ago too but at the time decided against it. Regret that now.

Closest (reasonable) digital is any of the current Sigma's shot in 21:9 format. The SD Quattro H in 21:9 mode ends up with 16 megapixels panoramic ratio shots with the advantage of a lot more lenses available.

Would love it if Sigma made an actual panoramic ratio sensor though....

Shawn

 

[raid]

I have been very interested in using such a camera, but in the end I decided to get a Zeiss Hologon 16/8 instead.

 

[burancap]

I had one years ago from KEH. Arrived DOA and was sent back for repairs. Several months in and with no answer in sight from Hasselblad or Fuji regarding the repairs, I traded back to KEH for a new Olympus E-PL1 kit. I think they may make $100 on eBay today.

 

[HHPhoto]

You get medium format quality horizontally, but 35mm film quality vertically.

The quality is dependant on the enlarging factor.
And the enlarging factor with a panoramic format is determined by the long side, not by the short side!

For example:
You make a 10x enlargement with a Xpan negative.
Than you get a 24 centimeter x 65 centimeter enlargement.

And then you make a 10x enlargement of a 6x7cm negative (which has 6.5 centimeter effective lenght on its long side).
You get a 56 cm x 65 cm enlargement.

The quality (sharpness, resolution, fineness of grain) is completely identical on both enlargements.
The only difference is the 6x7 enlargement has more height on its shorter size.

Cheers, Jan

 

[John Lawrence]

Another old Xpan owner here.

Sold mine years ago as I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it.

John

 

[raid]

I had one years ago from KEH. Arrived DOA and was sent back for repairs. Several months in and with no answer in sight from Hasselblad or Fuji regarding the repairs, I traded back to KEH for a new Olympus E-PL1 kit. I think they may make $100 on eBay today.

I bought a new E-PL1 with lens and warranty for $150 a few years ago. You really gave away your (broken) Xpan! :bang: 😀 😱

 

[Huss]

The quality is dependant on the enlarging factor.
And the enlarging factor with a panoramic format is determined by the long side, not by the short side!

Exactly. The Xpan is a very compact MF camera, with the option of on the same roll of film shooting regular 35mm format with the flip of a switch.

 

[brbo]

Exactly. The Xpan is a very compact MF camera, with the option of on the same roll of film shooting regular 35mm format with the flip of a switch.

Just imagine the price of an XPan if there was an additional pair of lenses available (like 28/2 and 50/1.4 that would only cover 24x35 circle)...

 

[snaefell]

Just imagine the price of an XPan if there was an additional pair of lenses available (like 28/2 and 50/1.4 that would only cover 24x35 circle)...

You can still adapt lenses from 24x36mm cameras if you want. You will only have to try out the correct viewfinder image...

 

[brbo]

You can still adapt lenses from 24x36mm cameras if you want. You will only have to try out the correct viewfinder image...

And just guess the distance when using a fast lens in low light when you often only have a few cm of dof?! That's certainly beyond my capabilities...