Hasselblad XPan
What is it like to be iconic? What is it like to have your brand name equate to the highest quality cameras in the world? And finally, what's it like to then change all that you're known for; to introduce something that's so much of a departure from your previous work, that your new camera needs its own category? The vast majority of camera makers, of course, never have to worry about these questions. Hasselblad, however, can answer that question pretty easily. After almost five decades of creating the most iconic, beloved, and sought after medium format camera in the world, Hasselblad changed course entirely, in 1998, with the release of the Xpan.
The Hasselblad Xpan brought together fifty years of camera building knowledge and ultra-wide 65mm images on standard 35mm film. Although panoramic images date back to the beginning of photography, by the end of the twentieth century, there were very few high-end cameras on the market. Together with Fuji, Hasselblad created a camera that was capable of creating images unattainable by any other camera. With the ability to switch between a standard 24x36mm or a 24x65mm negative size, in combination with its interchangeable lenses, the Xpan (and its related camera the Fujifilm TX-1) gave photographers a rangefinder camera that will triumph in just about any shooting situation. Hasselblad released three lenses to go with the new camera: a 30mm f/5.6, a 45mm f/4, and a 90mm f/4. Using these in the panoramic mode nearly halved their focal length, transforming them into a 17mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses, respectively.
Electronically, Hasselblad gave the Xpan automatic film loading and advancing, but aperture priority metering directly off the film plane. To help ensure the best exposures, Hasselblad included center-weighted neutral density filters with their lenses to help even out the light fall-off on the corners of the film caused by the flat, panoramic film plane.
Hasselblad and Fuji managed to fit all of these incredible and desirable feature into a camera not much bigger than a Leica M4. Even with a lens added to the body, this kit weighs in at around two pounds. Suffice it to say, not having room in a camera bag is not a good excuse for passing up this camera.
In the end, if Bob Dylan can go electric and McDonalds can sell salads, there is no reason why Hasselblad can't produce a 35mm camera - and really no reason for photographers not to track down one of these beautiful cameras.
ar/sd
Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc
- sales@bluemooncamera.com
- (503) 978-0333
- (503) 978-0370
-
8417 North Lombard Street
Portland, OR 97203
All rights reserved ©2024, Blue Moon Camera and Machine llc