Photography of Simon Galbally - f8Vision

Technical

The perfect panoramic companion - Hasselblad XPan II

What you will find in this article:
- Hasselblad XPan II photos,
- Medium format photography equipment review,
- panoramic photography,
- Hasselblad XPan II camera review,
- Hasselblad XPan 45mm and 90mm lens reviews,
- Hasselblad / Fuji lenses,
- Hasselblad XPan accessories.


Hasselblad XPan II - my generally preferred panoramic imaging choice. It has become the ideal panoramic companion to both my Leica M 135 format system and my Hasselblad 6x6 medium format system. Using near enough to 2 135 frames (1.8x), this is truly a medium format panoramic image camera.

Here I provide a full user review of this outstanding camera system, from my initial impressions to having used it extensively.

Some background:

As a keen experienced amateur photographer, I’ve been fortunate enough to acquire a variety of camera systems and formats as I progressively gained a better understanding of what I like to shoot and how I see what I am seeing. This has given me an appreciation of how different formats and systems provide the optimal tools to enable me to best capture the things that attract my eye – different horses for different courses.

For a couple of years I've been asked why I haven't used Hasselblad’s XPan in both my MF and 135 format shooting. I must confess that I used to dismiss the suggestion because of an overly prejudicial aversion to this system’s apparent slower speed lenses. This was simply because I'd never taken the time to really look at what the XPan was and what it offers - I never really understood where this wonderful system fits or even what it really was.

Here I should comment that the various formats and systems I use have specific attributes that compliment my personal technique and how I see the images I am attempting to make. I use:
• 135 format AF (EOS 1vHS) for convenience when automation and long focal lengths are essential (family occasions, events such as air shows);
• 135 format range finder (Leica M7) for most of my photography giving me convenience, superlative optics and creative imaging;
• 6x6 MF (Hasselblad 501CM/503CM) system as my most used system for all general photography where quality images benefit from film space and prints benefit from large negatives. There is also a certain look that is achieved by the square frame, 120 film and Zeiss optics;
• 4x5 LF (Linhof Technika V) system as my preferred landscape shooting system enabling magnificent resolution of lots of detail on 6x9, 6x12 and 4x5 transparencies.

My discovery of the XPan was not about me seeking yet another camera or objectively seeking to fill any real hole in my photography. It was more about realising a niche in my shooting could be better served by a different format between 135 and 6x6 formats - wide angle photography.

So, I borrowed a well worn V1 XPan with the 45mm lens. I soon discovered how to address the real gap between my Leica-M and Hasselblad 6x6 shooting as well as how to shoot wide angle images that actually appeal to my eyes.



How I see what I see:

In 6x6 MF I generally prefer to see things "close" - my "normal" lens has become the 120mm Makro-Planar. My widest angle lens is the wonderful but not so wide Hasselblad/Carl Zeiss CF 50mm FLE (about 28mm equivalent angle of view in 135 format). I find anything wider too wide for my 6x6 composition style.

Generally, my widest angle shooting is done 6x12 LF using 72/75mm lenses (about 24mm equivalent angle of view in 135 format) - wide angle panoramic photography. This format is where I can indulge in both the finest image details and play with the plane of focus and achieve panoramic results that closer match the way I see such wide angle images, and capture huge detail on huge film frames.

My Leica M7 is my day-to-day shooter when convenience overrides other considerations. In 35mm the widest angle of view I prefer is 24mm and I acquired Leica’s wonderful 24mm Elmarit-M ASPH. Why? I simply don’t like the 135 format perspective any wider than 24mm all that much; I also feel the 135 format frame is not big enough to do justice to the detail.

The XPan’s attraction:

But, here was my MF/135 dilemma: recently I realised that all my 24mm images in 135 format shots end up cropped to panoramas (leaving me with too small a piece of film for quality large prints); in MF I'm not able to achieve the wider angle of view (I don't like the Hassy 40mm lens' distortion; I find the 38mm Biogon SWC’s diagonal too wide thus not appealing to me in 6x6 images). That frustration and dilemma lead me to check out the XPan after a friend just put one in my hands and said: “go try it out”. As soon as I looked through the viewfinder set in panorama mode with the 45mm f4 lens (35mm equivalent angle of view to 25mm), my eyes were opened very wide!

That compelled me to borrow one from my favourite dealer. After 2 weeks of "playing" with the XPan I realised I'd fallen in love! I realised I'd not understood where this superbly made camera system really fits – what it really is. I've been learning more about "how I see what I see" – I discovered that I see anything wider than a 135 format 35mm AOV in a panorama. I was committed to a panorama imaging system that fit perfectly with both my 135 and MF format systems – the perfect compliment to both.

Having taken many rolls of film with my XPan II and the 45mm and 90mm lenses, I am satisfied it fits perfectly along-side my 501/503 6x6 kit and equally well along side my M7 kit. Furthermore it is the bridge linking my Leica-M and Hasselblad 6x6 systems - a horizontally cropped panorama the equivalent of 6x7 MF frames!

So, what about my aversion to slow lenses? I learned in the field by using the XPan that slow is not always slow – all things are relative! And because I shoot 6x6 MF I understand the relative "speed" of MF lenses and how f4 is "normal" and f2.8 is "fast".

I realised the XPan is NOT a 135 format camera with panorama capabilities. It IS an MF panoramic camera using 135 format film offering the added convenience of conventional 135 format frames. This was fundamental to my discovery and my appreciation of the XPan’s capabilities.

It's also important to understand that if one is primarily seeking a 135 format rangefinder camera there are much more versatile options available from Leica, Voigtlander and even Contax even if none of their offerings include panorama capabilities.



99% of my XPan shooting is panorama. 70% of that is 45mm (effective 135 format equivalent of 25mm AOV - one of my favourite perspectives); 29% is 90mm panorama (50mm equivalent).

It is also worth mentioning here that every time I pick up the XPan II, I am reminded of how superbly made the camera and lenses are. In this regard the XPan II is a perfect fit with the Leica M and Hasselblad V series cameras and lenses. Such design and build quality has become quite rare today. Such build quality simply adds to the quality experience of working with these tools.

How will the XPan fit among the systems I use? When shooting 6x6 MF with my Hasselblad kit the XPan has a perfect place around my neck - a fast and convenient way to also capture the wider angle images I prefer as panoramas already as a horizontally cropped 6x7 image. A film frame size complimentary to and consistent with my 6x6 images taken during the shoot – horizontally cropping 6x6 images was not enough.

Of course, using the XPan as a compliment to my Hasselblad 6x6 kit reminded me that f4 XPan widest lens speed is not so slow even if the 45mm requires a 1 stop centre grad filter (effective f5.6). I shoot most 6x6 at f8 and f11 and sometimes f5.6 or even f16 - simply no issue here especially since 90% of such images are taken on a tripod. And even if it were an issue, the 400ASA films today have relatively fine grain.

Additionally, when shooting with my Leica-M kit, the XPan equally functions as an ideal compliment (certainly not a true substitute), how? With the XPan, my 24mm/25mm images are "pre-cropped" to my preferred panoramas and with their 1.8 x 135 film format frames, can be printed even larger than my full frame Leica-M images! Yes, f4 is a little limiting in normal hand-held rangefinder shooting, but the 45mm lens performance and lack of distortion makes f4 (effective f5.6 with, IMHO, the “must-have” centre graduated filter in panorama mode) a very desirable and useable option.

I should add here that every tranny frame I have shot with the XPan at any aperture is simply a joy to see; and under a loupe they always remind me of how outstanding this system is. Images are brilliantly sharp with beautiful tonality and excellent resolution of fine detail edge to edge.

Of course, if necessary, lens speed limitations can easily be overcome with today's great quality 400 asa films. But, again most of my wide angle shots in 135 format are also taken at f8 or f11 for depth of field, so I carry a compact and very light baby carbon fibre Gitzo tripod anyway. While the Leica 24mm at f2.8 is effectively 2 stops faster (not requiring a centre graduated filter), I would also be shooting with it at f8 or f11 for quality and DOF purposes in landscapes anyway.

On the other hand, at f4, the 90mm lens is, as both a 50mm panorama or 90mm 135mm format lens a very usable lens and does not require a centre graduated filter because the 90mm lens has no visible light fall-off / vignetting.

As a second camera body I can use the XPan for 45mm and 90mm shooting in 135mm format for convenience and its similar functionality to the M7 makes that easy. But that is all very secondary.

When travel demands compact equipment, it's easy to carry both the M7 and XPan around my neck - opening up more photographic opportunities beyond conventional 135 format frames. Since I have had the XPan II, I return from trips with a set of panoramas I previously never took - all in addition to the set of 135 images I expected to have.

Performance:

How good is the XPan in the field as an MF camera in panorama mode (IMHO, its primary purpose)? In one word, excellent. No, not just good, it is excellent! No, not perfect (is there such a thing) because it does have an Achilles heel – more about that later.

I won't discuss here the lens' quantitative optical characteristics; but from an image results perspective I will say the images are of a very very high quality. The overall imaging characteristics are a mid-point between top end Japanese and premium German lenses - colour; definition of detail; low distortion, resistance to flare; sharpness and contrast and correction of aberrations etc.. They show no visible distortion - the 45mm in panorama equivalent of 25mm is wonderful with an excellent flat field of view. Fuji / Fujinon lenses are well known for superb imaging quality in large and medium format user circles as well as users of Hasselblad’s H1 system.

I'll ignore the obvious functional disadvantages of the V1 XPan since the current V2 version has corrected those. They were: the absence of a shutter speed reading in the viewfinder; harder to read LED information in the viewfinder; limited bulb time; no multiple exposure capability; lens hoods that tend to slip off easily; ISO dial on the front of the camera that can be quite easily knocked to an incorrect setting.

But, it is worth saying that none of the functional limitation of the V1 XPan, nor the Achilles heel of both the XPan and XPan II are deal breakers. If you don't have the budget for an XPan II (used or new), then an XPan I is still a wonderful camera to own. To not buy because of any of these limitations, is to completely miss the point. If budget limits you to a used V1 camera, then buy that. Even a rough looking example can be great value for money since these are built like a tank (one can even say they are built like a Leica!).

The camera body is superbly made - obviously robust and capable of taking heavy handed use/abuse for many many years. It's one of the best quality constructed cameras around today - nothing beats great quality metal! The rubberised front/rear hand grip is nicely tactile and comfortable. Even the film door is made of metal! The overall size and weight are comfortable and very well balanced enabling very steady shooting at slow shutter speeds. IMHO, physically, it's one of the best cameras I've held to my eye. 10/10.

The viewfinder/rangefinder is excellent. Some compare its brightness and rangefinder patch less favourably to Leica-M. Yes, it's different but IMHO just as good - easy to focus even in low light; excellent eye relief (better than Leica) and very comfortable for spectacle wearers; good solid and clear frame-lines (but maybe they are a bit sparse); very good optical characteristics. 8/10.



The viewfinder in the XPan II now has everything one needs to know in manual and AE shooting. It's sufficiently intuitive. Strangely though, when I shoot the XPan I in manual exposure mode with any camera, the absence of actual shutter speed numbers is not an issue; but in AE mode it is a pain simply because if the camera is setting the shutter speed - I want the camera to tell me what it is doing. The illuminated LCD display is always very easy to read. The arrows and other displays are intuitive. You understand it within 5 minutes. 8/10.

Overall functionality is a no-brainer. A sensible opening mechanism with a very welcome metal latch and hinge! Film is easy to load; very welcome design of having film fully wound out so that each exposure is kept in the light tight canister (but just keep that in mind if you're in a hurry to start shooting after finishing a roll, since "starting" up a new roll takes a few seconds as it winds out of the canister); sensibly the frame counter uses a count-down mode that self adjusts /determines the number of frames as you switch between panorama and normal modes - so clever.

The most frequently used function, the shutter, is superb in every respect – probably the nicest I have ever used. The release button is silky smooth to fire - just perfect! It is easy to hold in the right position for AE lock, which I do a lot. The shutter sounds more like a quality classic cloth blind than a Japanese metal horizontal shutter; a good 1/125 sec standard shutter flash sync speed. The film advance is relatively quiet and super smooth – more like a beautiful German mechanical camera.

Other settings like ISO override, auto-bracketing, exposure compensation and multi-exposure are conveniently selected using the rear LCD (with a very nifty self adjusting illumination based on the degree of darkness) panel – easy to find and select without resorting to overkill and complexity. Not much more to say - all in all functionality is to a very high standard. 9/10.

The downside – nothing is ever perfect:

It is worth keeping in mind that the XPan is a "high-end" specialist camera. It is also built to a very high standard - accordingly it is a relatively expensive purchase, even though it is very good value for money. So I make my comments about deficiencies having regard for this camera's market positioning and price relatively to other cameras in a similar price category.

The only deficiencies (which surprised me and in fact, occasionally annoy me as they are, IMHO just unnecessary omissions) are:
1. The absence of TTL flash. Even Leica addressed that many years ago in the M6TTL! Since Hasselblad has TTL flash on its 503 cameras, surely they could have used it on the XPan?
2. The silly little micro button to rewind the film mid roll (nearly requires a pin head to trigger it!);
3. The light meter is very basic - too basic for such a product. The absence of at least a spot meter function if not a multi-spot meter (as in Olympus’ wonderful OM4), while not an earth-shattering omission, this would have been a great enhancement since the camera has electronic circuitry built in anyway;
4. Less importantly, the relocation of the exposure compensation dial from the top of the camera (V1) to the LCD screen on the back (XPan II) was not an optimal move.

Of course the omission of TTL flash is not a big issue since such a camera is likely to see most use in available light. The omission of spot metering is likewise not a big issue since most shooters’ critical exposure readings will be taken with a hand held meter. It’s just that this excellent camera had a chance of being a great camera. Surely the additional electronics would not have been too much of a problem to the designers.

But, in regard to its features, it's the TTL centre-weighted metering that concerns me most. My 3 test rolls indicated a consistent 1 to 1.5 stop overexposure. Some shots with golden afternoon light behind me while using Fuji Superia 200 ISO film had the golden hue bleached out of them. However, the backlit shots (consistently enough) were reliably well exposed - logically due to that bit of over exposure. Maybe the well beaten version I trialled needs a meter calibration job. If my camera is the same I'll just set it up with a 1 stop correction and see how I go.

I have not used the third lens that makes up this system – the f5.6 30mm (17mm equivalent angle of view in 135 format). I’ve handled one and seen images made with it, which were superb showing a remarkably flat field of view for an ultra-wide lens! Some complain about the 30mm lens' apparently high price - but such an ultra-wide angle lens of high optical quality is very expensive to design and make. Just look at what other super-wides in MF cost! Anyway, I think the 45 and 90 will do me fine (well, until I catch a full dose of the XPan bug!)

The upside – where Hasselblad and Fuji’s collaboration really shines:
The lenses produce fantastic results and are very nice to use. Beautifully made and I think (while Hasselblad/Fuji must have expected some criticism) f4 was an understandable design trade-off between physical size and specification. Clearly f2.8 or faster lenses would have been quite huge/heavy and detract from the rangefinder camera concept.

Focusing is superbly smooth with just the right amount of focus “throw” from close focus to infinity; aperture dial click stops are great if not a little too smooth; grip is nearly perfect; lens hood bayonet fit (since the V1) with the locking feature is great (I always get frustrated with my Hassy 6x6 lenses that have that over-used bayonet mount for filters as well as hoods - the hoods slip off easily and the filters often undo when you remove the lens cap - they went bayonet mount mad when these were originally designed) and fortunately on the XPan they stuck with conventional thread design for filters. The lens hood and lens front enable two filters to be fitted and the hood used at the same time (something Leica could learn from) thus accommodating another filter on top of the centre graduated ND filter with the 45mm lens.



The most compelling attributes of these fine lenses became blindingly obvious after shooting a few rolls of positive film in varying conditions. They are: strong resistance to flare – in some cases shooting directly into a setting sun will at most produce a golden star from both the 45mm and 90mm lenses; extremely consistent performance from axis to the outer field – with their obviously very high resolving power bot lenses have very consistently good fine detail all the way out to the edges even when used wide open. By one stop or so down no more improvement is needed. Aberrations like astigmatism and coma are noticeably absent. Out of focus is gradual and attractive while image structure remains strong at the most out of focus areas.

I was a little disappointed that the lens barrel DOF markings as they leave out a few F stops and feel that more effort should have been made to design them in – there is the room, it just needed some clever thinking.

Despite the body’s lovely appearance and charcoal paint finish, I've read comments that body paint was subject to "flaking" on earlier V1 cameras. Of course I can't comment on that – it’s a long term use issue. I hope that's been addressed in V2.
The biggest question will be: "how committed to XPan is Hasselblad?" Many comment on the lack of lenses in the system. However, when you think about it carefully, there is little need for many more in such a niche product. Yes at least one "fast" (say an f2) lens in a middle of the road focal length would be great - would help the XPan be a truly "stand-alone" camera/system. But for me, I'm delighted to have it fill a "complimentary" role.

On their own, both the 45mm (including the seemingly astronomically expensive ND centre graduated filter) and 90mm lenses are excellent value for money, as is the XPan II itself.

Overall I found the lenses to be excellent – 8.5/10

The well beaten / battered XPan I that I borrowed has lots of paint missing but funnily enough still looks "nice" - but nothing like a nicely worn black Leica-M. The charcoal colour sets its own "look".

I plan to grab Hasselblad’s ever-ready case as I really like these on any rangefinder cameras – they add a nice feel and comfort factor, although the rubber right hand grip on the front and back do a very good job.

The feature of mid-roll format change from normal 135 format to panorama format is great (if not a must have) and adds to its simplicity of use. It’s very silent and smooth with the change taking place in an instant.

The way the viewfinder changes when changing the format is good even if the frame-lines show a bit less than the final image (less is better than showing more!). The long top frame-line helps one to be reasonably sure the horizon is straight. If in doubt you can mount the excellent combined horizontal and vertical spirit level on the hot shoe, especially when shooting with a tripod.

Some users get a surprise to find that the range finder patch appears off centre when shooting with the 90mm lens in panorama mode. It’s no issue.

Although the tripod mount is placed at the far left of the body (enabling a deeper screw fitting), it’s nice that Hasselblad includes a standard Hasselblad system quick release foot, which is compatible with V series release mounts.

Overall I think the features are very good. 8/10.

Some other considerations:

Some prospective users get worried about ease of getting prints made from the panorama negatives and positives. This is not a serious issue. All Fuji Frontier labs have 6x7 masks and any idiot can make a cardboard fill-in mask for the XPan panorama to hold that neg in a 6x7 holder. My local lab did it in 10 minutes. We can do the same at home with a flat-bed scanner. 11” x 30” prints are magnificent and are quite readily produced by competent labs.

I doubt that the XPan is an "ideal" stand-alone system, although some comment that they use it as a light travel kit very happily, which obviously would be an excellent choice especially with today's great 400 ISO film choices. But, IMHO its greatest attribute is as a complimentary system to 35mm and MF systems.

In the field experience – the proof is in the pudding:

Since my own XPan II, 45mm and 90mm lenses arrived I’ve spent most of my time out finding opportunities to shoot with it – Ilford B&W, Provia F, Portra films. My experimentation and testing of this system has highlighted how very important it is to think of it as an MF camera using 135 film format and having the capability / convenience of shooting conventional 135 format frames. This understanding enables more realistic expectations and appreciation of it than if one thinks of the XPan as a 135 format camera with near double frame / panorama capability. It also helps to avoid unrealistic expectations of traditional 35mm rangefinder camera features and performance.

This importantly allows one to better understand the optics since the lenses are MF lenses by definition - they throw an image circle similar to a 6x7 lens. Then one better understands how significant this camera's other attributes really are.



For example, one really silly comment often made about the XPan is that the lenses are "so slow". In use, they simply are not. At f4 (45 and 90mm) and f5.6 (30mm) these are no slower that most MF lenses in conventional 6x4.5; 6x6; 6x7 formats. Even with the required use of centre graduated filters on the 45 and 30mm lenses they are at worst 1 stop slower (in pan mode) than mainstream MF lenses - but that is not "so slow". Gee at f4 maximum aperture, even Leica's wonderful Tri-Elmar remains popular.

In designing any unique camera bringing a range of shooting benefits not ever offered before, there must be some trade-offs. Natural laws of physics still apply!

My XPan II arrived in packaging befitting a premium product accompanied by one of the best user manuals I have seen - a high standard of plain English instructions that linked features to function and outcomes very well. None of the Japanese reliance on diagrams and few words; but no overly wordy confusing stuff either. Well done Hasselblad/Fuji. However, just like on Hasselblad's web site and in the brochure material, the detailed camera specs do not spell out the AE mode operating specs. I mentioned earlier that this camera has an Achilles heel - I'll come to that soon.

The lens tubes are a brilliant and a very useful design - the way the base cap comes apart and doubles as a rear lens cap as well as a tube cap is clever. The neck strap is sufficiently useful (we throw most away and buy better designed after-market straps, but I will keep this one). The lens barrels' finish is top drawer.

Mounting the lenses to the body reassures you of the all-metal quality and fit every bit as good as Leica-M. So from first glance one gets the feeling of value for money and a life-long purchase.

Some illogical people complain about the camera's weight. The fact is that robust construction of a camera with a 24x65mm image won't be light or compact, and nor should it be. This camera with either the 45mm or 90mm lenses mounted is very nicely balanced and easy to hold still at relatively slow shutter speeds.

The camera and lenses' finish are superb! Clearly the highest quality materials are used. The camera is something to be proud of in the same way Leica-M and Hasselblad V cameras have earned their lasting reputation. Well done Hasselblad for maintaining your legacy!

The 45 and 90mm lenses are a dream to use. Their effective focal lengths in pan mode are 25mm and 50mm respectively making both well suited for pan shooting. But, users need to take care to remember that in pan mode these are NOT 25 and 50mm lenses - they only take on that angle of view and retain the focal length attributes of 45mm and 90mm lenses such as their effective DOF.

Both are very high quality lenses in use. In pan format they produce very very sharp images with no discernable distortion. Under a loupe, trannies show little performance shift from axis to the extreme edges - on the same focus plane sharpness is retained while fine details are resolved extremely well. Out of focus areas show no sign of astigmatism and are very attractive to the eye. Colour rendition is more "German" than Japanese which is very pleasing. The lenses show Fujinon's excellent legacy as a maker of fine LF lenses.

The 90mm lens in panorama mode provides a very attractive 50mm angle of view and compliments the 45mm panorama angle of view. Potential buyers are well advised to purchase both together.

Both lenses are excellent value for money by any measure in a similar way that Cosina/Voigtlander M and screw mount lenses are. However the Hasselblad/Fuji lenses are not only of very high optical quality, they are beautifully made and feel as solid as the famed Leica-M lenses (except, I should say, for the all brass silver Leica-M versions which are sensationally "solid" in feel).

That brings me to the seemingly "pricey" 30mm XPan lens. The accessory viewfinder is brilliantly engineered and designed and together with the mandatory centre-grad filter are included in the price. I've read many comments suggesting the 30mm is "over-priced" or "outrageously expensive" - simply because the other lenses are comparatively cheap!

Well, I for one cannot afford this lens - new or used. Its 17mm equivalent angle of view in 135 format is too wide for my liking anyway. But, I will say that such comments are illogical if not stupid. In optics you get what you pay for and designing and building such a lens is unquestionably expensive. Its price is at the low end of most Leica-M new standard 135 format lenses and no Leica-M lens has this image circle size nor angle of view. As far as premium quality lenses goes this 30mm is fair value for money. It must be a great compliment to the 45 and 90mm lenses, but I don't shoot that wide anyway. Images I have seen are superb.

The Achilles heel - Even the best camera systems have limitations:

So, what is this camera's Achilles heel? The AE exposure meter’s limitations.

It is unnecessarily limited. Its range is EV4 to EV19 and what this translates to in everyday exposure setting terms is not specifically highlighted. I make an issue of this because it is at odds with the manual mode and because in this day of electronics and in this camera that is fully electronic, it is an annoyance. Of course, it does not prevent or overly restrict shooting performance and it can be lived with.

But imagine my surprise when I was shooting in low light in manual mode and was able to manually select shutter speeds as slow as 8 seconds before I'd need to use a hand-meter and the bulb setting. But, in AE mode (with 400ASA film) as I was framing a subject the meter (at f4) was reading from 1/8 sec down and as it reached 1/2 sec the "too low" warning flashed in the viewfinder. After much fussing about I called the Australian Hasselblad distributor who had NO IDEA about the AE specifications. After much hunting on the Web I got the EV4 figure (the user manual only makes reference in the text to a maximum time of 4 seconds and does not provide data in the specifications section) and yes with 400 asa film and at f4, that means the meter is at its lowest light capability (with 25 ISO film I could have shot at a speed of 4 seconds). IMHO, in any language that is unnecessarily restricted.

Add the AE exposure range to the lack of TTL flash metering and any sort of spot metering, this camera’s exposure meter strictly rudimentary.

Conclusion:

So while there is no perfect camera, the XPan II is one hell of a good camera. I'm loving every minute with mine. Of course this is not a traditional "street" rangefinder camera a la Leica-M, simply because it's not designed to be. But all the same, one can quite quickly learn to pre-focus the 45mm lens in 135 format mode and fire away with good results.

So, to repeat myself, if you're considering an XPan, think of it as an MF camera with 135 format convenience; think of it as primarily a camera giving MF type panorama images, without the bulk and inconvenience of a 6x12 or 6x17 (OK, albeit with less film real estate) but still capable of producing superb images on a large area of film enabling top quality huge prints. The XPan (V1 or V2) is not really a replacement or substitute camera; it compliments both 135 format and MF equipment for those seeking high quality panoramic images and convenience in one superbly built camera.

So, if you work like I do, or are looking for a "buddy" camera to sit along-side your MF SLR system or any other 135 format camera, take a serious look at this great camera.

Clearly the Hasselblad and Fuji partnership paid off! Now my very much adored Hasselblad 6x6 kit can look forward to a much admired baby brother.

In-use update - May 2006:

I've been using as many opportunities as I can find to take the XPan II kit our for a "play" before I head off to do some very serious shooting. My objective has been to get much more familiar with its capabilities and limitations so that I can do it justice and get the most out of it.

So, I've attached a few images that may be less likely use of a panorama camera - more creation of opportunities to use it and apply the panoramic format (horizontal and vertical)in "different" ways.

Some further observations about this wonderful instrument.

1. Quality - the more I use it the more I am convinced that it is both a top quality piece of engineering as well as a top quality finished product. It’s great to hold, comfortable, solid with a desirable amount of weight that makes it easier to hold well.

2. Shutter mechanism - is superbly quiet, responsive and smooth..... smooth as silk and although electronic and with motorised film advance, very comparable to my Leica M7.

3. Rear LCD control panel - is easy to use and very convenient - a very worthwhile component.

4. The superb 45mm lens definitely needs the ND centre grad filter (for negative as well as positive films) - no buts about it. Hasselblad should just bite the bullet, accept its vignetting in panorama mode and include the filter with the lens and bump up the price a bit.

My advice to buyers is don't fuss about, just get the filter with the lens and accept that the whole lens costs that bit more - still a competitive lens cost anyway.

5. The soft leather ever ready case is really worth having if you plan on using the camera hand held - just makes it more comfortable. The only thing that lets this lovely case down is the "cheap and nasty" plastic tripod mount screw fitting that attaches the bottom half to the body - why not a metal one?

6. This is not a "hand held" low light camera (obviously with f4 lenses), but even with some of the excellent 1600ASA films about today - the exposure range of the in-camera meter is just not wide enough, requiring a hand-held meter and on-tripod shooting for very low light. That's fine for me because that's how I'd shoot early morning and late afternoon / night scenes. Other 135 format range-finders like Leicas remain the optimal tool for hand-held low light shooting. But, that's not what the XPan’s about.

7. With an average steady hand, sharp exposures of 1/15sec are quite achievable since the camera is so nicely balanced.

I remain very pleased with this superb instrument. But, I do want to get to use the 90mm in panorama mode more and if I win the Lotto, I’ll try out the 30mm lens, which is regarded as a magnificent optical performer – maybe just to wide for my eyes at an effective 17mm lens AOV in panorama mode, the only mode in which I use this marvellous instrument!

Update: July 2006

Sadly a few months ago Hasselblad announced production of the XPan will cease this year due mainly to the international manufacturer's "green" component agreement coming into effect this year.

The company announced that a move to 100% "green" materials would require a redesign of the camera / components and the decline in film camera sales makes this cost prohibitive.

Who knows, maybe in a few years we will see a "digi-XPan" hit the streets!?

Update: July 2007
It is about 1 year since the XPan II stocks ran out, so it should not be too surprising that many Internet forums are littered with people desperately seeking any model XPan they can get their hands on.

Additionally, many serious photographers are lamenting earlier decisions to part with their XPans.

It is a shame, but many greats are best discovered posthumously! What a shame that the XPan's great attributes are discussed more now that it has left this world than ever before.

This is reflected in used prices - that is, if you can find one for sale. Some sellers have reported achieving sale prices beyond their purchase price!

It also seems that XPan owners have overcome concerns about being able to produce higher resolution scans of their panoramic frames at home with recently released high quality flat-bed scanners from Canon and Epson (the V700 / V750 in particular).

We can only hope that Hasselblad and Fuji "reinvent" the XPan one day soon.

You will find many XPan images in my "Panoramic Images" gallery as well as occasional examples in my other galleries.


Photos and text copyright of f8Vision