For under $1500 usd, you can buy a Pentax 67 with 90mm lens and 35mm 24x65 adaptor spools and shoot 24x65 images on 35mm film AND also have a 6x7 120 film shooting camera. For less than $1000 USD more you can buy the 45/55/135M/200mm Pentax lenses. The HB XPan is stupid expensive for what it is.
Totally fair point about the cost: it is very high. If your goal is to capture panoramic images on film then there are definitely cheaper ways than an Xpan. I would actually love to try out the Pentax 67 with a 24x65 adaptor spool. I have seen some images captured with this combo and I love that the image spills over onto the spool part of the film. I think it looks great. I will say that size of the Xpan is a lot smaller than the Pentax67. I also really value being able to frame the panorama image accurately which is more difficult with the Pentax. Maybe I can get a Pentax 67 in the future and try it out. Thanks for the comment.
@@thephotographytoolkit The Pentax 67 is only 5 pounds, so a real lightweight... Seriously, though, the framing on the 67 for the pano crop is very accurate, I made a mask out of black foam and slipped it in the viewfinder, but I also just bought some 1/64th of an inch black striping tape and I'm going to put some frame lines in the viewfinder for 24x65 and square which are two formats I like to shoot. When I do that, no need to shoot 35mm film, I'll just shoot on 120, composed for 24x65 or 1:1 and crop in the darkroom or in the computer. And then I'll have an X-pan convertible to Hasselblad square Pentaxblad 67. 🙂
@@EdwardMartinsPhotography I definitely want to try the Pentax 67 as a panoramic camera. I would need to use the black tape to help me with accurate framing like you mentioned. What lens on the Pentax would give you the closest FOV to the 30mm lens on the Xpan? I understand that the Pentax 67 is only 5 pounds while the Xpan is just over 2 pounds but the Xpan is a lot smaller to carry around which can make a difference. By the way, I am just finishing up a video which I will post this week where I compare the Xpan to the Fujifilm GFX 50r when capturing panoramic images. It was a lot of fun. I will share the link if you are interested. Thanks again for the comment.
@@thephotographytoolkit The widest rectilinear lens for the 67 system is the 45mm, and I used that for the 24x65 shots I've done and it was great. Though I'm Not sure how that compares to the Xpan as I've never shot one. If I were shooting a lot of panos for clients the GFX 100 S II would probably be the way to go. I bet the 50R did just great as well.
@@EdwardMartinsPhotography I do love a wide angle lens! I am going to keep an eye out for a reasonably priced Pentax 67. I have the GF 23mm lens and enjoy it with the GFX 50r.
😊 I think one of the coolest things about the OnePlus 12's XPan mode is how the picture starts as a negative and then 'develops' into an image. I have to say that I really love the 65:24 aspect ratio. Thanks for the comment.
I understand that they are starting to fail, but it's the amazing unique camera. Clearly, range finders are rangefinders for the good and the bad. Thanks for sharing.
I couldn't agree with you more Jaime! Such a unique camera and one that I love. The Xpan helps me look at the world differently and is a beautiful piece of art in itself.
If you buy a good one it won't fail on your watch. The people who complain are the people who can only afford an old worn version on a budget. Also, get the TX-1 which the Hasselblad version is literally a WRAPPED version. You'll save yourself enough money to buy the extra lens.
I understand that Xpans have different levels of wear and some are better taken care of than others. I also understand that not everyone can afford the more mint versions of the Xpans. I have a friend who is a licensed Hasselblad camera repair man and he said that one of the problems with the Xpans is the winding system in the bottom of the camera. They are made out of plastic gear components because they are quieter and lighter. But plastic can degrade over time and it is more likely to break and it is extremely difficult to get parts because they don't make them anymore. I do love the Xpan and I hope it lasts forever.
Great video! Do you mind if I ask how much you paid for this XPAN? I'm constantly looking at them on Ebay (that seems to be the only place to find one) so I was just wondering if you had a similar experience. Thanks!
Thanks so much! I live in Singapore and I bought my Xpan locally. They come up for sale here once in a while along with the Fujifilm TX-1 and TX-2. I was lucky enough to get the Xpan with all three lenses from someone who really took care of his gear. I've got a friend who repairs high end cameras who said that one of the things that happens with Xpans is dust can get into the winding mechanism in the bottom of the camera. The winding system was made with some plastic gears which helped to made it quieter but the plastic gears can break. It is basically impossible to get parts as you need to get them from another Xpan so you need to be careful when buying online. You need to put a roll of film through them every once in a while or sometimes that mechanism might give you trouble. I paid a little less than the going market rate which I know is insane. But it has been a dream camera since it was announced and I love using it. I also need to have a better scanning solution for the negatives as I don't have a flatbed scanner. I have been using a Nikon Coolscan 5000 for years and it doesn't deal well with panoramic negatives. With all of that being said, another option would be a digital version such as the Fujifilm GFX like I mentioned in my video. That might be more economical in the long run.
@@thephotographytoolkit I've just randomly come across your video again and I'm happy to say I own an XPAN now! Managed to find one in fantastic condition with the 90mm lens on Ebay. Just put my first roll through it and I am super happy. I want to get my own scanner and process all of my own negatives hopefully soon but for now I have a local store doing that for me. Thank you!
One thing I'd like to interject about the XPan winder gears - it is possible to reproduce these plastic gears with 3D printed parts now. Fitment is very much trial-and-error, but the process means that fabrication of new parts on an amateur/small business level is now within reach! For example, I was able to scan and 3d print a new eyepiece for a Contax G2, and even replace the bleeding LCD on it from a Chinese part supplier.
@@jonathans.9372 That's so awesome to hear. I know that especially with tinkerers in the camera hobby that utilize 3D printing technology and have general electronic/mechanical knowledge are so so helpful to the film community. I'm always trying to follow people on instagram in the hobby/business that are contributing to that.
No - there is no magnification. What you see through the viewfinder doesn't change but there is a framing overlay in the viewfinder that does change when you switch lenses. You can see the difference between a 45mm and a 90mm lens here: ruclips.net/video/_mu2kyTey5U/видео.html I hope that helps!
yes the viewfinder magnification changes when switching from 45mm to 90mm but not completely to cover the 90mm with the original 45mm frame. So additionally the 45mm frame is replaced by a bit smaller 90mm frame. Edit: your link to the X-Pan test shows clearly that the viewfinder field at 45mm is clearly wider than at 90mm (show at the right edge)
You use 2 CRV2 3 Volt batteries. See here: www.hasselblad.com/about/history/xpan/#:~:text=Weighing%20in%20at%20only%20950,on%20two%20CRV2%203V%20batteries.
Great question! There is a 0.55x crop factor when comparing the xpan to full frame. The 45mm lens is around 24mm-25mm (24.7mm to be exact). Jonas Dyhr Rask gives an explanation on his blog if you are interested: jonasraskphotography.com/2023/11/05/the-future-of-the-elusive-6524-format/
UPDATE! So I managed to get my hands on an adapter for Hasselblad xpan lenses to Nikon Z mount. I put the 30mm xpan lens on my full frame Nikon Z9 and put it on a tripod and took a picture. I took it off the tripod and replaced it with a Nikon D850 with a 24-70mm lens. I zoomed the lens until it was as close to the same framing as my first image and the 24-70mm lens was just past the 28mm mark. Based just on this, it looked like the 30mm lens was 30mm on a full frame camera. I made sure the Z9 was set to Full Frame (FX) and not crop sensor (DX)
X-Pan lenses have bad results on digital medium format specially the 45mm and 90mm (adapted on my X1D). The 30 is quite decent but still not as sharp as my original Hasselblad MF lenses.
Thanks for sharing Jean-Claude. I have an adapter for the my Fujifilm GFX 50R but I haven't done any direct comparisons with my GFX lenses. I am looking forward to it.
A very nice and informative video! Thanks!
Thanks so much!
For under $1500 usd, you can buy a Pentax 67 with 90mm lens and 35mm 24x65 adaptor spools and shoot 24x65 images on 35mm film AND also have a 6x7 120 film shooting camera. For less than $1000 USD more you can buy the 45/55/135M/200mm Pentax lenses. The HB XPan is stupid expensive for what it is.
Totally fair point about the cost: it is very high. If your goal is to capture panoramic images on film then there are definitely cheaper ways than an Xpan. I would actually love to try out the Pentax 67 with a 24x65 adaptor spool. I have seen some images captured with this combo and I love that the image spills over onto the spool part of the film. I think it looks great.
I will say that size of the Xpan is a lot smaller than the Pentax67. I also really value being able to frame the panorama image accurately which is more difficult with the Pentax.
Maybe I can get a Pentax 67 in the future and try it out. Thanks for the comment.
@@thephotographytoolkit The Pentax 67 is only 5 pounds, so a real lightweight... Seriously, though, the framing on the 67 for the pano crop is very accurate, I made a mask out of black foam and slipped it in the viewfinder, but I also just bought some 1/64th of an inch black striping tape and I'm going to put some frame lines in the viewfinder for 24x65 and square which are two formats I like to shoot. When I do that, no need to shoot 35mm film, I'll just shoot on 120, composed for 24x65 or 1:1 and crop in the darkroom or in the computer. And then I'll have an X-pan convertible to Hasselblad square Pentaxblad 67. 🙂
@@EdwardMartinsPhotography I definitely want to try the Pentax 67 as a panoramic camera. I would need to use the black tape to help me with accurate framing like you mentioned. What lens on the Pentax would give you the closest FOV to the 30mm lens on the Xpan? I understand that the Pentax 67 is only 5 pounds while the Xpan is just over 2 pounds but the Xpan is a lot smaller to carry around which can make a difference.
By the way, I am just finishing up a video which I will post this week where I compare the Xpan to the Fujifilm GFX 50r when capturing panoramic images. It was a lot of fun. I will share the link if you are interested.
Thanks again for the comment.
@@thephotographytoolkit The widest rectilinear lens for the 67 system is the 45mm, and I used that for the 24x65 shots I've done and it was great. Though I'm Not sure how that compares to the Xpan as I've never shot one. If I were shooting a lot of panos for clients the GFX 100 S II would probably be the way to go. I bet the 50R did just great as well.
@@EdwardMartinsPhotography I do love a wide angle lens! I am going to keep an eye out for a reasonably priced Pentax 67. I have the GF 23mm lens and enjoy it with the GFX 50r.
I come here to watch this because my OnePlus 12 has a X-Pan mode. 😊
😊 I think one of the coolest things about the OnePlus 12's XPan mode is how the picture starts as a negative and then 'develops' into an image. I have to say that I really love the 65:24 aspect ratio. Thanks for the comment.
I understand that they are starting to fail, but it's the amazing unique camera. Clearly, range finders are rangefinders for the good and the bad. Thanks for sharing.
I couldn't agree with you more Jaime! Such a unique camera and one that I love. The Xpan helps me look at the world differently and is a beautiful piece of art in itself.
If you buy a good one it won't fail on your watch. The people who complain are the people who can only afford an old worn version on a budget. Also, get the TX-1 which the Hasselblad version is literally a WRAPPED version. You'll save yourself enough money to buy the extra lens.
I understand that Xpans have different levels of wear and some are better taken care of than others. I also understand that not everyone can afford the more mint versions of the Xpans. I have a friend who is a licensed Hasselblad camera repair man and he said that one of the problems with the Xpans is the winding system in the bottom of the camera. They are made out of plastic gear components because they are quieter and lighter. But plastic can degrade over time and it is more likely to break and it is extremely difficult to get parts because they don't make them anymore. I do love the Xpan and I hope it lasts forever.
Great video! Do you mind if I ask how much you paid for this XPAN? I'm constantly looking at them on Ebay (that seems to be the only place to find one) so I was just wondering if you had a similar experience. Thanks!
Thanks so much! I live in Singapore and I bought my Xpan locally. They come up for sale here once in a while along with the Fujifilm TX-1 and TX-2. I was lucky enough to get the Xpan with all three lenses from someone who really took care of his gear. I've got a friend who repairs high end cameras who said that one of the things that happens with Xpans is dust can get into the winding mechanism in the bottom of the camera. The winding system was made with some plastic gears which helped to made it quieter but the plastic gears can break. It is basically impossible to get parts as you need to get them from another Xpan so you need to be careful when buying online. You need to put a roll of film through them every once in a while or sometimes that mechanism might give you trouble. I paid a little less than the going market rate which I know is insane. But it has been a dream camera since it was announced and I love using it. I also need to have a better scanning solution for the negatives as I don't have a flatbed scanner. I have been using a Nikon Coolscan 5000 for years and it doesn't deal well with panoramic negatives. With all of that being said, another option would be a digital version such as the Fujifilm GFX like I mentioned in my video. That might be more economical in the long run.
@@thephotographytoolkit I've just randomly come across your video again and I'm happy to say I own an XPAN now! Managed to find one in fantastic condition with the 90mm lens on Ebay. Just put my first roll through it and I am super happy. I want to get my own scanner and process all of my own negatives hopefully soon but for now I have a local store doing that for me. Thank you!
@@idk70six That is fantastic! Congratulations! I got a used Epson V700 scanner to scan my negatives. Welcome to the amazing world of the Xpan.
One thing I'd like to interject about the XPan winder gears - it is possible to reproduce these plastic gears with 3D printed parts now. Fitment is very much trial-and-error, but the process means that fabrication of new parts on an amateur/small business level is now within reach!
For example, I was able to scan and 3d print a new eyepiece for a Contax G2, and even replace the bleeding LCD on it from a Chinese part supplier.
@@jonathans.9372 That's so awesome to hear. I know that especially with tinkerers in the camera hobby that utilize 3D printing technology and have general electronic/mechanical knowledge are so so helpful to the film community. I'm always trying to follow people on instagram in the hobby/business that are contributing to that.
does the viewfinder itself change magnification for the 90mm lens compared to the 45mm?
No - there is no magnification. What you see through the viewfinder doesn't change but there is a framing overlay in the viewfinder that does change when you switch lenses. You can see the difference between a 45mm and a 90mm lens here: ruclips.net/video/_mu2kyTey5U/видео.html
I hope that helps!
yes the viewfinder magnification changes when switching from 45mm to 90mm but not completely to cover the 90mm with the original 45mm frame. So additionally the 45mm frame is replaced by a bit smaller 90mm frame.
Edit: your link to the X-Pan test shows clearly that the viewfinder field at 45mm is clearly wider than at 90mm (show at the right edge)
I just got an xpan but no manual so it came battery less so which battery do you use for this camera ??
You use 2 CRV2 3 Volt batteries. See here: www.hasselblad.com/about/history/xpan/#:~:text=Weighing%20in%20at%20only%20950,on%20two%20CRV2%203V%20batteries.
Thank you very much :-)
@@bublebuble2004 Happy to help!
Hello, so the 45mm on my Sony Fx3 would be a 25mm?!
Great question! There is a 0.55x crop factor when comparing the xpan to full frame. The 45mm lens is around 24mm-25mm (24.7mm to be exact). Jonas Dyhr Rask gives an explanation on his blog if you are interested: jonasraskphotography.com/2023/11/05/the-future-of-the-elusive-6524-format/
UPDATE! So I managed to get my hands on an adapter for Hasselblad xpan lenses to Nikon Z mount. I put the 30mm xpan lens on my full frame Nikon Z9 and put it on a tripod and took a picture. I took it off the tripod and replaced it with a Nikon D850 with a 24-70mm lens. I zoomed the lens until it was as close to the same framing as my first image and the 24-70mm lens was just past the 28mm mark. Based just on this, it looked like the 30mm lens was 30mm on a full frame camera. I made sure the Z9 was set to Full Frame (FX) and not crop sensor (DX)
@@thephotographytoolkit all right ! Thank you !
@@benben7425 Happy to help!
X-Pan lenses have bad results on digital medium format specially the 45mm and 90mm (adapted on my X1D). The 30 is quite decent but still not as sharp as my original Hasselblad MF lenses.
Thanks for sharing Jean-Claude. I have an adapter for the my Fujifilm GFX 50R but I haven't done any direct comparisons with my GFX lenses. I am looking forward to it.