XPan problems/reliability?

[mani]

Hi guys

I'm considering buying a used XPan, and mostly I've read and heard only good things about the camera. However, I also stumbled upon this review, which to say the least, left a rather bleak impression.

Somewhere towards the bottom of the page the reviewer has this to say:

"...my esteem of Hasselblad quality is less than stellar. Frankly, I think they are having serious quality control issues with their XPan line, but you will never learn about this in public. Strange that my sample should keep on developing new issues, I'm not THAT rough a user?... the camera continues to give practical troubles. Time will show, but a tell-tale sign is that the XPan has been swapped for a Noblex panorama camera and a Bessa rangefinder on most trips so far in 2002."

So what is the general consensus? Reliable and built like a cross between an M6 and a Hummer (i read this analogy on another review), or simply falling apart in the hands of a gentle user...?

Input gratefully received.

 

[Jim Watts]

I brought my XPan (version one) secondhand about 4 years ago and it dates from 1999. I have shot in excess of 5.000 frames on it myself and it has proved totally reliable. Build in general seems almost as good as my Leica M4, but thats given me over 30 years of trouble free use and I doubt I'll still be around to give this sort of long term user report on the XPan 😉 . The only problem I have noticed with the XPan is that the black paint flakes off easily, but this is only a cosmetic issue that does not bother me. Version II by report offers some improvement on the paint issue and the non black Fuji TX-1 should avoid it altogether?

 

[mani]

Thanks Jim

Everything else I've read about the camera seems to support this view - and the actual unit I'm considering appears to be in near-mint condition cosmetically at least - but the negative report on the page above makes me wonder a little... Naturally there can be variations in build-quality from one camera to another, but that guy seemed to have had every problem going...

 

[Pablito]

I too can vouch for reliability. Have had mine (verson 1) for 10 years or so, bought it new. Never a problem other than the paint scratching off easily as Jim says above.

 

[mani]

Okay - thanks guys. I'll know in a couple of weeks if the camera is for me - I'll be sure to check back and let you know how it goes!