288/365 Hasselblad XPan

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So if anyone has ever talked to me about cameras before odds are they might know that one of the cameras I've always wanted for the longest time has been a Hasselblad XPan (or any rectilinear panoramic camera for that matter). And if you saw yesterdays photo and read my random blurb you probably know that I managed to pick one up a couple days ago! So yay, more cameras to my collection.

 

Also just some info about the XPan for those that don't really know about it. The XPan (Also known as the Fuji TX-1) is a panoramic rangefinder with interchangeable lenses, though you can select whether it will take a standard frame (24x36mm) or a panoramic shot (24x65mm). The thing that makes this XPan so special is the fact that it is indeed a proper working rangefinder camera, and by that I mean you can actually focus through the viewfinder like a normal rangefinder with it. Unlike other panoramic cameras where the focus is either fixed, done through zone focusing, or having to focus through ground glass. That makes the XPan the easiest panoramic camera to really handle. plus to make things better it even has a built in meter as well. Now the XPan system only has three lenses, the 45mm F4 which was the standard lens it came it, a 90mm F4 and a 30mm F5.6 they also make a second version the XPan II but those are quite hard to find, which also makes it quite expensive as well compared to the original version. Either way to me this is one of the most unique rangefinders out there and its something I've always wanted, as you can probably guess by the number of panoramas I shoot.

 

So since this is getting long a quick wrap up for this shoot. I actually shoot this outside as you can guess. There is something missing form this shot though, I actually did originally wanted to have some film canisters around the camera for this shot but I forgot my bag of film when I left and it was to late to go back and pick them up. Originally I was hoping for the sun to peak out just for a bit for this shot but it never happened so I just faked it with a flash. Then I used the sheets of white foam core to light up the camera itself, also yea I brought out my white foam core up here to shoot this. So yea for now this is what got for the XPan, maybe later I'll try again with another idea.

 

Strobist info

Nikon SB-800 camera right, behind the camera bare with a full CTO gel zoomed in at 105mm firing at 1/8th power

Nikon SB-800 camera left bare shooting through a sheet of 20x30 white foam core at 1/16 power

Done