Xpan vs. Widelux

[whitecat]

Can anyone comment on the quality of these 2 cameras? What Xpan lens is equivalent to the Widelux lens? Is the 30mm lens really that hot? How about picture quality? Did anyone hear of mailers for this format. There is one for sale on Ebay now with SPC Photo?
Thanks
gg

 

[Pablito]

These are completely different cameras: Xpan is non-moving (but interchangeable) lens and Widelux is non-interchangeable swing lens. The images they make are fundamentally different; you should look at both and choose the one that appeals to you most. Xpan is more flexixble as you can switch between wide and normal 35mm anywhere in the roll. Also newer and more reliable. Widelux is mechanical non-metered camera and more finicky. Xpan has relatively flat field lens, Widelux distorts like crazy, like any swing lens camera. Unless you have the Widelux perfectly horizontal, the horizon will be curved. Etc, etc....

 

[Finder]

Actually, the Xpan distorts and the Widelux does not. But the Xpan "looks" natural.

As Pablito says, they are very different beasts. I have a Widelux and a Horseman SW612. I have found the flat field cameras like the Xpan and Horseman are more versatile. Naturally you have a vignetting problem with those cameras, but that can be cured by stopping down and using a center filter.

As far as lenses, the Widelux has a 26mm lens, but with a curved film plane giving a diagonal field of view of 140+ degrees. The Xpan 30mm has about a 90 degree FOV. The Xpan suffers from the wide-angle effect - round objects at the edge of the field being "stretched" away from the optical axis. The Widelux does not have this problem. But the Xpan has three interchaneable lenses.

The Widelux drum needs to move consistantly or banding will result. The F8 model is supposed to be the best in this regard. Also, you need to set aperture and shutter speeds BEFORE winding on or you can break the camera. Never force the shutter speeds. The Xpan is worry free.

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

Also, you need to set aperture and shutter speeds BEFORE winding on or you can break the camera.

The operating tips on http://www.jeffbridges.com/Widelux.html advice to wind before selecting the shutter speed. The setting of the aperture should work independently of the winding state.

If you like to see a lot of beautiful pictures taken with a Widelux, I'd recommend: http://www.jeffbridges.com/moguls_cover.html

 

[Ben Blacket]

I bought a Noblex 135 as a much cheaper alternative to the Xpan 30mm.

 

[Pablito]

Actually, the Xpan distorts and the Widelux does not. But the Xpan "looks" natural.

yes, that's true. all in the eye of the beholder.

 

[anglophone1]

I bought a Noblex 135 as a much cheaper alternative to the Xpan 30mm.

I've been using a noblex 135 and an xpan for a couple of years for the same reason [Noblex= first , second and fifth pic at

[url]http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000BT7xRhQjsxc[/url]

The rest xpan with 45mm.

However as I only have the model with speeds down to 1/30 longer exposures take a lot of spins [no.5 above about 30 from memory].

I recently found an affordable [well USD 2000......] 30mm so that will replace the noblex in my kit [ much less to carry alongside 2 R D1s and lenses] , it's not quote the same "look" though .

Clive

 

[Range Loser]

Widepan

Widepan

I have an Xpan, which is an amazing camera, but I also have a Widepan 120 which is a swing lens camera. The quality from 120 film is great, but if you do landscapes as I do, the swing lens camera restricts you to having the horizon in the centre of the frame all the time unless you want big old curves, I find this a drawback.

Andy.

 

[raid]

I have a Graflex XLW with a 47mm lens for 120 film and I have a Horizon 202 with a swing lens for 35mm film. Both are very useful cameras.

Raid