xpan 90mm curiosity

[msbel]

Hi all,

Just acquired a Xpan II/45mm kit in very nice condition. Tremendously excited. Once I calm down I will shoot some more and see what happens on the other end 😉

I am curious as to who of you xpan'ers use the 90mm lens often. I know the conversion is into a 50mm FOV - standard "eye" view.

How has the 50mm view worked out for many of you in pan mode? It seems some images I have tracked down were for closer "medium portrait uses", and some of the photos are indeed interesting.

Thanks in advance. I understand the 50mm, it's the use on pan mode that interests me...thanks in advance.

Best,
MSB

 

[sepiareverb]

I sold my 90 as I rarely used it. Find the 45 is a much more natural FOV for me & XPAN format.

 

[david b]

I owned the 90mm and never used it. Same with the 30mm. The 45mm is just so perfect.

Glad to see the Canadian dollar worked out for you.

 

[msbel]

Well - I passed on the 90 on fleabay, and it was bought in an hour. Think I will save for the 30mm if there is a good deal floating around sometime.....like that will ever happen 😉

MSB

 

[Rayt]

I had the 90mm and didn't like using it. I use the 80mm often on 6x6 and thought the 90mm would be as natural but was not. I tend to go wide with the Xpan and often use a 35mm Curtagon on it.

 

[jan normandale]

I bought a 90mm a while back, I think from someone here at RFF ;- )

I like it. I'm using it for a street photography project and like the 'letterbox' look because I can add several people into the frame. It provides a different perspective. I've got some back recently but haven't scanned the negs yet due to "project priorities" ie long overdue stuff I have to do first. ;D

BTW: the 30mm, bring a lot of cash for that one!

 

[sepiareverb]

The last 30 just went for a very good price on ebay from a buyer's perspective. I'm sorry I missed it ending.

 

[msbel]

Yea saw that 30 go. Attractive price compared to some of the others that have gone on there.

Jan - please post your pics with the 90mm once you have them ready to go.

MSB

 

[jan normandale]

OK so what was the final ticket on the 30mm that was "reasonable" ... I'm sitting down.

 

[jan normandale]

I had the 90mm and didn't like using it. I use the 80mm often on 6x6 and thought the 90mm would be as natural but was not. I tend to go wide with the Xpan and often use a 35mm Curtagon on it.

I'm really curious about the set up you are using "a 35mm Curtagon.." I didn't know there were any lenses but the three discussed here.
Please tell me more! :- )

 

[didjiman]

Jan, there are a few adapters to use non-Xpan lens. None has RF coupling. I have a Leica R Summicron adapted with RF coupling and the result is quite good. Just go back a few threads and you'll see it.

I may have to sell my 30mm setup (complete with center filter, viewfinder etc.) If I do, I will sell it at a reasonable price (for the 30mm), but not a "bargain" price. Anyone interested please PM me.

// richard

 

[KM-25]

I did a month long road trip in which I shot Kodachrome 25 and 64 in the XPan and Leica bodies.

I shot quite a bit using the XPan, the 30 about 20% of the time, the 45 about 30% of the time and the 90 50% of the time.

I found the 90 outstanding at getting panoramic pics that don't include everything but the kitchen sink.

The other plus is that the 90 can use a polarizer and does not need a center grad.

 

[Rob-F]

When Hollywood came out with wide screen, studios and exhibitors both imagined that for the image to be valid on the panoramic format, the lens must be an extreme wide-angle. Mike Todd had Brian O'Brian at American Optical design a very wide "bug eye" lens for the Todd-AO system, along with several less extreme lenses. But in filming, the bugeye was used for only a small number of takes. Soon they realized that an image can be valid on the big screen even when a wide-angle lens was not used.

So: it turns out that there is a difference between "wide aspect ratio" vs. "panoramic." An XPAN shot with the 90mm won't be panoramic, but it can still be valid in the XPAN format.

 

[xpandebt@9%]

I tend to use the 30mm and 90mm more than the 45mm. Of course, the 30 is unsurpassed, so I tend to go for that when I want to gobble lots of space and the background distance doesn't matter. However, I like the 90 for the opposite reason- if I want to hone-in on something specific and get that background to cuddle up to the foreground, the 90 is the way to go. I also love the 90 for it's ability to have a narrow FOV for close-ups.

For comparison, here are two photos I made from the same spot:

90mm: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=67404

30mm: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=67403

If you click on the 30mm image for a larger photo, you will see the rock on the horizon.

Unlike most others so far, I find I have a tough time finding a reason to use my 45mm!

Here's an example of the 90mm lens- not panoramic, but useful for blurring the background for making my subject "jump out" more: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=68797

30mm: complex, deep, diverse.
45mm: vanilla, dependable, consistent.
90mm: spicy, individualistic, passionate.

I've learned the personalities of my lenses. (I haven't named them yet.)

 

[Rob-F]

I just remembered that "Lawrence of Arabia" was filmed in widescreen (Panavision if I recall), yet it included a shot taken with a 1000mm lens. Director David Lean asked Bausch& Lomb to make this lens. B&L responded that they could design & build the lens in one year. Lean replied, "You have two weeks." They did it. The lens was used for the shot of Peter O'Toole riding his (horse? Camel?) over a distant sand dune, seen through the rising desert heat vapors. The "David Lean Lens" as it came to be known, has been used since in other films, and I understand is still available for rental.

So, again, the point being that long lenses can be used with validity in any format, including wide aspect ratio ones.