Why does the Xpan have an offset tripod hole?

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Topdog1

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I am sooo excited. I just picked up my Xpan from a very nice local seller on eBay. Much to my surprise, I see that the tripod socket is offset way to the side of the body, kind of like an M body wannabe. Now, why would they do that on a camera that spends so much of its life on a tripod? Does anyone know if there is an adapter to provide a centered tripod hole?

Regards,
Ira
 
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I've lusted after some of their ballheads for my field pod for a while now - can't quite justify the cost.

Really nice quality plates - and their pano leveling heads are some of the most reasonable and well made in the business.

I like these guys.
 
Some people just prefer a lens axis mount - especially for critical composition, multiple image stitching, and panorama's since (for me) it makes it easier to ensure true level, and other film plane to subject measurements.

Depends on your needs and preferences.
 
BlackCloud said:
While I agree that it's odd that the hole is offcenter, I have found no impact on functionality whatsoever.

Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

I just find it easier to adjust tripod mounted cameras when the socket is on the lens axis. It also has an effect on parallax error for stitched panoramas.

/Ira
 
Kirk has excellent products.
Ira, You could use a wide quick release plate on the camera. Also congratulations on getting the Xpan. Is it a I or a II?
 
sjw617 said:
Kirk has excellent products.
Ira, You could use a wide quick release plate on the camera. Also congratulations on getting the Xpan. Is it a I or a II?
Click to expand...

It's an Xpan I with 45mm lens. I'd like a 30mm lens, but they seem to cost a fortune.

/Ira
 
They are very expensive. The 30mm in panoramic 'equals' a 15mm lens. That is a very wide lens. The 45 = 24mm. The 90 = 50mm.

Steve
 
I really dont see the big deal.

You DO get used to it..

The only thing i really dont like about it is levelling the camera then because the weight is so far over, if your handles arent tight enough it will tilt over a little or a lot.. depending how tight..
Can be a pain... but i wouldnt spend money trying to fix that. Buy film instead 🙂
 
Long story short - picked up an almost new XPan II from a friend who doesn't have the time to use it anymore. First thing I got was an L bracket from Kirk, the second was a shutter release from B&H. Just came back from the Islands in the sky district of Canyonlands National Park in Moab UT where I used the camera for the first time. Totally blown away with the results. I have kirk brackets on all my cameras, wouldn't use anything else.
 
I use the Manfrotto L bracket that has two built in quick release plates for Manfrotto's tripod heads or those using a similar fitting. I think the Kirk uses the Arca quick release? In the U.K. the Manfrotto is less than half the price of the Kirk and also has the advantage of a screw adjustable body support. A bit larger and heavier than the Kirk I think, but it works well with the XPan.
 
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