Xpan, my favorite camera

[armadsen]

I have an Xpan II. It's far from my most used camera, but I do use it fairly regularly, and absolutely love it. I like rangefinders, like shooting film, collect interesting cameras, and (sometimes) want to shoot panoramics. No digital camera can check all those boxes. There are rumors of Fujifilm introducing a "TX-3" true panoramic digital camera in 2028, which I'd be first in line for (my digital cameras are all Fujis). But I still wouldn't get rid of my Xpan II.

 

[boojum]

I have an Xpan II. It's far from my most used camera, but I do use it fairly regularly, and absolutely love it. I like rangefinders, like shooting film, collect interesting cameras, and (sometimes) want to shoot panoramics. No digital camera can check all those boxes. There are rumors of Fujifilm introducing a "TX-3" true panoramic digital camera in 2028, which I'd be first in line for (my digital cameras are all Fujis). But I still wouldn't get rid of my Xpan II.

They are beautiful cameras just as a mechanical creation. That they do 24:36 and 24:65 makes them "wizard" cameras. I just wish you have good luck with yours as I understand repairs are a problem. But running a roll or two of film through it now and again has to be just great. HB was wise enough to offer Xpan format in its X1D and X2D cameras. The scarcity and cost of film are eliminated as a hindrance and the images are quite large, 50MP and 100MP respectively, and flattered by the marvelous HB color science.

With a camera we are but witnesses. Some of us see dramatic, wonderful things, some the humdrum day to day drama, some wildlife and some bugs and on and on and on. And we have formats other that 24:36 and 6:6. Alchemists, each in our own way. It's fun.

 

[armadsen]

They are beautiful cameras just as a mechanical creation. That they do 24:36 and 24:65 makes them "wizard" cameras. I just wish you have good luck with yours as I understand repairs are a problem.

I understand repairs can be a problem too, so hopefully mine keeps going for a long time. I daydream about working on replacement parts for common failure points (I'm an electrical and software engineer by profession), but to be honest, haven't really seen anything solid about the most common failure modes. And of course, there's a difference between daydreaming and actually finding the time to sit down and do something, which I doubt I'll ever do. Luckily, so far, mine has been 100% fine, and at least for now, some problems can still be repaired.

 

[Ororaro]

Xpan-1 and tx-1 the problem is the on-off switch.

My best recommendation I can give you is to ALWAYS and FOREVER leave the switch on the ON position.

Just find a way to properly store the camera in the bag while traveling in order to avoid inadvertant battery leak, or taking the battery out during transit/trips.

I’ve had the luck to find someone that made his own parts for that switch, but my other xpan’s part is increasingly stiffening. Leaving it on the ON position is the smartest thing I can do.

Precisioncameraworks worked on mine. I’m not sure Bob is still working or even alive, but he was a specialist.

 

[boojum]

Xpan-1 and tx-1 the problem is the on-off switch.

My best recommendation I can give you is to ALWAYS and FOREVER leave the switch on the ON position.

Just find a way to properly store the camera in the bag while traveling in order to avoid inadvertant battery leak, or taking the battery out during transit/trips.

I’ve had the luck to find someone that made his own parts for that switch, but my other xpan’s part is increasingly stiffening. Leaving it on the ON position is the smartest thing I can do.

Precisioncameraworks worked on mine. I’m not sure Bob is still working or even alive, but he was a specialist.

PCW

www.precisioncameraworks.com

 

[Ororaro]

PCW

www.precisioncameraworks.com

… and…?

 

[yossi]

According to their FAQ: NO.

 

[Ororaro]

That was 2021. So I go back to what I was saying, is he still alive is a valid questiion. He had health problems.

P.s.: I know their website.

 

[yossi]

According to their Repair Update: still NO.
(Not 2021 but end July 2023.)

 

[snaefell]

Xpan-1 and tx-1 the problem is the on-off switch.

It's been three years now, but Les Victor in Paris replaced my old switch on the Xpan with a new one in 2021.

 

[Rob-F]

Not exactly true that digital is all that's left. There are a few medium format cameras that will take backs that give roughly the same Xpan format on 35mm film, 24x58mm. Probably the cheapest option is the Bronica ETRs, for which one can purchase the 35W back. Unfortunately, those backs are scarce, and will easily set you back about $600.00. That's the cost of a complete camera (body, lens, finder, and normal back).
I do have the ETRs system, so I've been very tempted to get the 35W back. I suppose I ought to, before they get even more expensive!

I agree! I've owned the XPAN. It's a wonderful camera in some ways, but its focal lengths were never quite right for me. The 45mm was not quite enough, and didn't cover enough vertically. The 30mm was often too wide. With either lens, when I had the image width covered to my liking, I didn't have enough foreground or sky. The somewhat (IMO) too extreme aspect ratio made that worse.

In the early 1950's, after CinemaScope (2.54:1 initially) came out, Paramount's cinematographers and directors realized that while wide-screen was wonderful, height was an important element as well, and they felt that an aspect ratio of about !:85 to 2:1 was about right. Later, Panavision settled on 2.21:1 for 70mm Panavision.

So my own adventures in still photography (I project my slides on a 48 x 96 inch screen) led me to settle on a 2:1 aspect ratio. For me, it's the goldilocks ratio! I accomplish it with my Hasselblad 500CM with 50mm Distagon, 40mm Distagon, or 38mm Biogon. I use the A16 back, then crop to 2:1. Cropping gives me a little room to allow me to keep the camera level for architectural shots.

So, I agree: a roll film camera is a good alternative to the XPAN.

 

[trix4ever]

According to their Repair Update: still NO.
(Not 2021 but end July 2023.)

View attachment 4847684

This a bugger, I was going to get him to service my Widelux F7.
Anyone know who else to go to?
There used to be a guy at the Camera Clinic in Melbourne but I think he's retired.