Panoramic format film camera?!

[andyedward]

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I sometimes feel the need for a panoramic camera when shooting street. The 3:2 aspect ratio from my MP is great for most situations, but Linhofs 3:1 ratio Technorama 617s lll would be more suitable for some subjects. I know its a bit of a brick, would require a tripod, ad infinitum, but damn it I want one!

 

Does anyone else feel the need for a panoramic camera, or indeed own one?

[honcho]

I have a Fuji GX617 with a full set of lenses and accessories. I use it professionally for landscape photography. It is my most-used film camera.

 

I also have a Cambo Wide 470XL that I use almost exclusively with a 6x12 rfh. (Eminently suited to hand-held street photography!).

 

6x17 would be far too wide and too slow for street photography 95% of the time, but.....

 

....imagine a panorama of Trafalgar Square on a Saturday in summer, for example. Ultimate street!

 

Unless you are using a 250 or 300mm telephoto, a 617 camera is perfectly hand holdable with fast film in good light. Remember you will need a centre nd grad for 90mm and wider lenses, which will cost you at least a stop and a great wad of cash if you need to buy one (you probably won't even find one for a Fuji). Having used most, I prefer the Fuji GX617 ergonomics over Linhof. There are cheaper and more nasty Chinese Gaoersi and Da-Yi contraptions around, Widepan (no longer made) are about the best of those.

 

Some will mention the Hasselblad Xpan, another camera I have used extensively, but you will be paying about the same second hand and there is just no comparison at all with Xpan against 6x17 for pure image quality.

[Bill Allsopp]

I sometimes dream...

if you want to become inspired (or just plain in awe) have a look at the work of David Osborn David Osborn Photographer - Corporate Art.

[250swb]

I made my own 6x12 using a Holga 120 Pan body and a Schneider 90mm Angulon on a Copal shutter, called a 'Holgagon'. My next project is to use the new Lomo Belair 6x12 folding camera as an multi format interchangable lens 6x12, 6x9, and 6x6 camera. I won't be using the Lomo lenses, but the Belair is said to be getting a glass lens options later in the year, so it could be one for you to look out for.

 

Steve

[sshakari]

I have used the XPan with both the 45mm and 90mm lenses for street photography. The lenses are f/4 so ISO will be important for quick focusing. A bit on the expensive side and a truly unique camera.

[pico]

I sometimes feel the need for a panoramic camera when shooting street. The 3:2 aspect ratio from my MP is great for most situations, but Linhofs 3:1 ratio Technorama 617s lll would be more suitable for some subjects. I know its a bit of a brick, would require a tripod, ad infinitum, but damn it I want one!

 

Does anyone else feel the need for a panoramic camera, or indeed own one?

 

I use a few large, wide cameras but only up to 1:2, not 1:3 which is technically panoramic.

 

Horseman 6x12 with 35mm Grandagon or Linhof Super Technika with 6x12 back.

 

Remember, the 617 cameras require an enlarger with a 7" (or 6.7") film carrier which is a bit of a pain.

[honcho]

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6x12 is a useful format for A4 page layouts, but a 6x17 Velvia transparency on a lightbox just has to be seen to be appreciated. I did a series of talks for Epson (I have been an Epson ProPortrait Beta tester) in 2011 and was using the 9890 with print output on varied media up to 3x9 (feet!) from my scans. To really get the best from 6x17 format, you are going to want to make big prints either from good quality Flextight or drum scans and resultant big files or in the darkroom via a big enlarger onto big paper.

 

617 is a hungry beast to feed, so ask yourself what you want to achieve with it. You will get 4 exposures on a 120 rollfilm and that is the starting point. As an example, a roll of Velvia will cost between £8-10 to include processing, black and white and C41 negative film about £3.50-4 per roll plus processing. Large prints are costly in materials (ink and paper or paper and chemistry, depending on your route) and the hardware needed to make those prints is expensive with large footprints. If you are selling your work, all well and good and panoramic images do sell, if you don't sell your work then you might want to think carefully about the costs involved. A used Fuji or Linhof with a 90mm lens is going to set you back in excess of £2k.

 

A cheaper alternative would be to use a smaller format and crop to taste; ie Fuji 6x9, which is a more versatile format than buying an Xpan as you will have more 'real estate' for far less outlay or go for a 6x12 back on 5x4". If all you want to do is photograph in the street and scan for the web, an old Xpan or swing lens camera such as a Noblex or Horizon, one of the toy cameras from Holga or a Belair and a flatbed scanner would be an option with much cheaper running costs after your outlay, with the advantage of good quality print potential from your desktop inkjet. If commercial interests aren't your primary concern, then you can have some fun with a fairly modest outlay.

 

You aren't going to get the same quality output as David Osborn, you'll need to review your pp habits and invest in a Seitz 6x17 to do that. Talk to David. He might let you try his.... for a fee.

[Sailronin]

I had a Hasselblad Xpan with the 30, 45 and 90mm lenses. Wonderful kit and I regret selling the setup. Many photos are on my smugmug website, especially in the Amsterdam (first two rows) and Turkey (last two rows) galleries.

 

Two weeks ago I bought a Horseman sw612 and 45mm Rodenstock to fill the gap. So far I've not had any good scans to post, but still working on learning the camera.

[Keith (M)]

There is a nice-sounding FUJI GW690 11 plus accessories at around GBP300 for sale here. (no connection, saw the ad and have been slightly tempted. Get thee behind me Satan...)

 

A crop of the 6x9 neg should give a reasonable panorama - and it's a rangefinder too!

[philipus]

Jeff Bridges uses the rather odd Widelux which doesn't really mean much. But it is an unusual camera that he's taken rather interesting photos with.

[thrid]

I have an Xpan with the 4/45 and 4/90. I don't use it very often, but when I do there is no substitute. Truly a great camera.

[Guest JMF]

I have an Xpan with the 4/45 and 4/90. I don't use it very often, but when I do there is no substitute. Truly a great camera.

 

+1 ! And don't forget the Horizon 202...

[adan]

Just for completeness - Mamiya made/makes adapters to shoot 35mm film in their 120 rangefinders (Mamiya 6MF/7) in panoramic format:

 

35mm Panoramic Adapter for Mamiya 7 | Mamiya | 6x7 Systems:7II Accessories

 

Basically the same format as the XPan (24 x 65mm) for the Mamiya 7, 24 x 54mm on the Mamiya 6.

 

On the downside - much larger device for the same image, no equivalent to the XPan 30mm lens. (Mamiya 7 lenses go to 43mm, Mamiya 6 lenses to 50mm)

 

On the upside - no need for a vignetting filter (since the lenses are designed to cover the format without much vignetting) , and since the pano framing is indicated by tick marks in the regular 120 viewfinder, one can just shoot 120 film and crop for the "visualized" panoramic image without even needing the 35mm adapter parts.

[peter_n]

I have a Fotoman 617 with a Schneider-Kreuznach 110mm lens and I'm not using it enough. If you want to see great work in this format check out Chaos by Josef Koudelka ISBN 978-0714845944.

[topoxforddoc]

I like my XPAN too. But it just doesn’t get as many outings as my Ms (film or M9).

[Messsucherkamera]

I have an Xpan with the 4/45 and 4/90. I don't use it very often, but when I do there is no substitute. Truly a great camera.

 

+1 on that. The XPAN is unique among film cameras. I'm very glad that I decided to hang on to mine, even though it doesn't get a lot of use.

 

My XPAN is used mainly for color landscapes with the 45mm lens seeing the most use, followed by the 30mm. I hardly ever usr the 90mm but it's there if I need it.

 

The Fuji made lenses are outstanding - very sharp and contrasty with great color saturation and color fidelity.

 

I always liked the Fuji GX617 camera but never did invest in one. The XPAN is highly portable, much like carrying an M and three lenses. I would have to think that the GX617, for all its strengths, would be like carrying around a 5x7 view camera kit.

 

The XPAN produces beautiful prints of fairly good size but if you want to make wall size prints, the 617 format is the way to go.

[thomasw_]

For hand-held panoramic it is hard to beat the image quality and convenience of the mamiya 7 lenses (especially the 43mm f/4,5) and its 135 format adapter. Another option would be to use a Mamiya 7 with 120/220 roll film and just crop. But when I want panoramic on 135, I use the adapter on my mamiya 7.

[honcho]

The only reason to recommend the 35mm adapter on a Mamiya 7 is when there is no option but to use 35mm film. It was supplied as standard for a while with the M7(ii).

 

The M7's are best used as wide angle cameras. The longer lenses can be inaccurate when zone focussing, but the 43 & 50mm are amongst the best lenses ever made for mf.

 

At one time I had both, but if I had to choose between Xpan or M7(ii) for 'panoramic' on 35mm film, it would be the Xpan. It's more convenient and the lenses are ok.