nf3996
Member
I need to raise some money so one of my rangefinder camera setups has to go, but I can’t decide which one.
I have a Bronica RF 645 with 45mm, 65mm and 100mm lenses, and a Hasselblad XPan with 30mm, 45mm and 90mm lenses. I use them primarily to shoot transparencies of landscapes for projection.
I do a lot of walking in some of the UK’s more scenic parts and the XPan wins hands down on portability. I can put the body with 45mm and 90mm lenses in a beltpack (plus a small digital P&S) and carry it all day without noticing any weight. The 30mm lens tends to be used only when I’m primarily out for photography, such as on a workshop and carrying a photo backpack and tripod, and then the whole XPan outfit gets used alongside my digital SLR setup.
On the other hand, the RF 645 outfit gives me a larger film area, which can be cropped to a panoramic format if necessary, and 645 format slide mounts are more easily obtained then XPan ones. I wouldn’t have the advantage of the XPan’s 30mm lens, which gives a horizontal field of view of about 17mm equivalent when used in the panoramic format – the 45mm lens on the RF 645 is about 28mm equivalent.
Other considerations that I’m mulling over are support for these discontinued items if they go wrong at some point. I believe Hasselblad will support the XPan through to 2014, but I don’t know about the commitment of Bronica (now subsumed into Tamron, who in turn are handled by Intro 2020 here in the UK) to supporting the RF 645.
I still shoot 35mm film in another camera occasionally, so keeping the XPan setup would mean I could standardize on one film format. And I guess 35mm film will be more readily available than 120 format in the longer term. But how long will Gepe (or others?) produce slide mounts for the XPan format?
My head is telling me to keep the XPan outfit, but I do enjoy the quality of 645 slides. And from a financial point of view, I’d raise more by selling the XPan outfit (probably about GBP 1800/USD 3600) than the RF 645 (about GBP 1200/USD 2400).
I’ve put down my current thoughts here, but input from anyone else would be useful in helping me come to a decision. I’m posting this in both the XPan and MF fora to get the benefit of views from both sides.
Alan
I have a Bronica RF 645 with 45mm, 65mm and 100mm lenses, and a Hasselblad XPan with 30mm, 45mm and 90mm lenses. I use them primarily to shoot transparencies of landscapes for projection.
I do a lot of walking in some of the UK’s more scenic parts and the XPan wins hands down on portability. I can put the body with 45mm and 90mm lenses in a beltpack (plus a small digital P&S) and carry it all day without noticing any weight. The 30mm lens tends to be used only when I’m primarily out for photography, such as on a workshop and carrying a photo backpack and tripod, and then the whole XPan outfit gets used alongside my digital SLR setup.
On the other hand, the RF 645 outfit gives me a larger film area, which can be cropped to a panoramic format if necessary, and 645 format slide mounts are more easily obtained then XPan ones. I wouldn’t have the advantage of the XPan’s 30mm lens, which gives a horizontal field of view of about 17mm equivalent when used in the panoramic format – the 45mm lens on the RF 645 is about 28mm equivalent.
Other considerations that I’m mulling over are support for these discontinued items if they go wrong at some point. I believe Hasselblad will support the XPan through to 2014, but I don’t know about the commitment of Bronica (now subsumed into Tamron, who in turn are handled by Intro 2020 here in the UK) to supporting the RF 645.
I still shoot 35mm film in another camera occasionally, so keeping the XPan setup would mean I could standardize on one film format. And I guess 35mm film will be more readily available than 120 format in the longer term. But how long will Gepe (or others?) produce slide mounts for the XPan format?
My head is telling me to keep the XPan outfit, but I do enjoy the quality of 645 slides. And from a financial point of view, I’d raise more by selling the XPan outfit (probably about GBP 1800/USD 3600) than the RF 645 (about GBP 1200/USD 2400).
I’ve put down my current thoughts here, but input from anyone else would be useful in helping me come to a decision. I’m posting this in both the XPan and MF fora to get the benefit of views from both sides.
Alan
szekiat
Well-known
u do realize that the xpan is closer to a 6x7 cropped than a 645 cropped?
anglophone1
Well-known
Keep both sell blood.
If not an option keep xpan.
Clive
If not an option keep xpan.
Clive
Range Loser
Established
Bronica spares
Bronica spares
I recently had to have my Bronica RF 645 repaired after a fault with the film advance. My repairer found that the gear mechanism at fault was one of only two available in the UK. Doesn't really bode well for future repairs. There are so many more Xpans/TX1s around I think they mut be a better risk for future longevity.
Both great cameras, but my DSLR can make pictures as well as the Bronica, and there are no digital alternatives to the Xpan yet.
Andy.
Bronica spares
I recently had to have my Bronica RF 645 repaired after a fault with the film advance. My repairer found that the gear mechanism at fault was one of only two available in the UK. Doesn't really bode well for future repairs. There are so many more Xpans/TX1s around I think they mut be a better risk for future longevity.
Both great cameras, but my DSLR can make pictures as well as the Bronica, and there are no digital alternatives to the Xpan yet.
Andy.
david b
film shooter
As mentioned by Andy above, I would sell the Bronica, and sell it fast. The market is probably at it's peak for that camera and the xpan keeps increasing in value.
And since it is backed by Fuji and Hasselblad, the parts will be around for a lot longer than the Bronica.
And since it is backed by Fuji and Hasselblad, the parts will be around for a lot longer than the Bronica.
summicron2020
Member
I have both cameras. I wouldn't part with either if I could avoid it. I think it would be much harder to replace the RF645, especially the 100mm lens if you think you've made a mistake after the fact.
I wouldn't count on either company continuing support. I would just enjoy the cameras while they last.
I wouldn't count on either company continuing support. I would just enjoy the cameras while they last.