XPan Newbie

[mikealex]

Hi there. I just joined the forum and want to take the time to introduce myself.

I'm a XPan Newbie, having just bought one used, along with a 4/45 and a 4/90. Actually, I haven't even got it yet. I'm buying it from a friend, and I'll be meeting him in NYC later this week, which is when I'll get the camera. I saw the camera when I met him down in Mexico last fall, so I know it's in great condition.

I've been shooting 35mm SLR for years, as well as a digital SLR for the last 2.5 years. This is my first venture into both panoramic format, and rangefinders. Hopefully I'm not biting off too much, but I'm really psyched about this camera, and looking forward to the new perspective.

I have a gallery on PBase, but all the panoramas on there (there aren't many) are just crops (I'm too lazy to stitch). It'll be nice to actually frame one in the camera.

I'm looking forward to participating here, and benefitting from all the great information available here (and passing on to others when I reach that level).

...Mike

 

[berci]

Hey,

Welcome to this forum.

The XPan really is a great camera, I am sure you won't be disappointed with it.

Is it the II or the I you are getting?

Berci

 

[mikealex]

It's the I.

I borrowed the manual from a pro-photographer friend of mine (I'm just an enthusiastic amateur), who also has one (the model I as well), and I've already read it cover to cover. It all seems pretty straight forward to operate, but of course, I'll have to wait until I have it in my hands to really know.

I think learning to compose with the wide (or tall) perspective is going to be the bigger challenge than the actual mechanics of the camera.

...Mike

 

[anaanda]

welcome to you Mike...The camera is very simple and easy to use. I actually find it hard to shoot the regular 35mm frame these days because I love the large negative. This is definitely an exciting camera. It does take a little time to get used to the format, or to see what really works and what doesn't. The camera turns heads, people are always asking me questions when they see me shooting....I rarely shoot vertical as I don't find it that interesting. The camera is small but Its like having a large weapon, sort of like a high powered rifle that's shoots one at a time very carefully as opposed to a small machine gun(35mm). I don't know if that is a good analogy or not.... Its plodding and careful, not quick and fast..

Positives
Large negative
Two formats(35 and pano)
Interesting perspective through the viewfinder
Exceptional Build Quality, good feeling in the hand
Compact Medium format quality with convienence of 35mm film
Great lens

Negatives
Slow lens
Some light fall off
Film and developing can get expensive(as opposed to digital)

check out my gallery... most are from the Xpan

 

[SHERPA]

Welcome to this forum.
The XPan2 really is a great camera,

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Watch a few movies. And see how great film directors use what they call 'widescreen' and we call 'panoramic'.

 

[Ben1]

Hi mikealex,

Congrats on becoming an xpan owner., and welcome to the forum. Really is a fantastic camera, you will find yourself hooked and dreaming of panoramics 🙂

I bought my camera site unseen mainly because i loved seeing panoramic works done by this camera so much, i had to have one. I have not regretted it one bit!!
It is a very simple camera to use, however when i first started using it i had problems with the metering but soon worked out how to correct/work with it. The xpan IMO underexposes a fair bit!! Like anything tho, it just takes experience and learning to use your gear 🙂

Anyway, if you got any probs or need some advice, theres plenty of people on here to help ya, myself included.

Enjoy it!!

 

[Jon Graham]

Jon Claremont hit it on the head - the xpan experience is very much the same as 'widescreen'. Rent or see some visually good films and that is pretty much the experience or view of this camera. You really see the world differently through it.

It (IMHO) is not the same deal as stitching because you can just point and shoot. The film "Capote" gives you an idea of what can really work in this format.

Before deciding on a film type, get your processing and printing figured out. Personally I use mainly B&W and C41 because my local lab can process and scan to very high res CD either in tiff or jpeg for less than $10 per roll.

 

[anaanda]

Before deciding on a film type, get your processing and printing figured out. Personally I use mainly B&W and C41 because my local lab can process and scan to very high res CD either in tiff or jpeg for less than $10 per roll.

I shoot c-41 BW as well, scans well, relatively cheap, saves time, nice looking film and most important comes back flat!.

 

[mikealex]

Thanks everyone!

I just got back from NYC last night, where I picked up the camera from my friend. First thing I did was check the shot count, and it only had 580 shots on it! It's up to 710 now. It even has the -1 EV centre filter for the 45mm, which I wasn't expecting.

I shot 6 rolls of film while I was there (along with endless digital shots). I had the first 2 rolls processed same day, to make sure I was operating it correctly, and they came out great for the most part (some mistakes made near the start, but I corrected). Now I have to take the other 4 rolls into the local lab here. Nothing has been scanned yet.

I wanted to use transparency, so I could see and interpret the results without printing. I used some Kodak E100VS and 1 roll of Fuji Velvia 100 (which is still in the camera).

Which C-41 film do most people use? The only choice I can see on the local camera-pusher's website for B&W C-41 is Kodak BW400CN 135-36.

I can see I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this camera!

 

[anaanda]

For Black and White I shoot Kodak 400CN and Ilford XP2 Super, Fuji makes a c41 bw as well... Both give good results.....I am debating whether to buy the center filter or not. The vignetting is noticeable on some shots. (the price hurts however ($278)... ouch!

 

[rebbot]

Hi there,

I just managed to get a great copy of the TX-1 as well. Have popped in a roll of Tri-X for testing. Still trying to get used to the framing though as this is the first time I ever used a RF. Hope the first roll comes out well. 😛

 

[OscarGarrido]

I use Ilford XP2,you can see the results in my picture gallery.
Cheers

 

[mikealex]

I've got all my film back, and considering it was my first time using a panoramic camera, I'm happy with the results.

I had to buy new scanner software, since the software that came with my Canon 8400f doesn't like panoramas (without stitching anyway), and I never did get good results scanning film with it anyway. I selected SilverFast SE Plus, which lets me scan the entire XPan frame, with no stitching required, and gives much better results than I was able to get from either CanoScan or VueScan.

Here are a couple of early samples

 

[anaanda]

Very nice, It seems as though the camera feels good in your hand!

 

[mikealex]

It's feeling very good in my hands! Now I have to choose 2 or 3, and get them drum scanned, and printed.