RE: Xpan 30mm lens

["M. Denis Hill" <denis@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

What I should have "done in the first place" was bought an XPan, but they did not exist when I bought my Fuji G617, Art Panorama, Noblex 150U, Widelux 1500, and Roundshot Super 220 VR. I get at least as many viable shots with the XPan as I did with those, more rapidly, with less weight and film cost, more accurate image composition, and with better film selection. I've sold prints up to 6' long from XPan negs. That satisfied my requirements. I do use a Noblex 135U in preference to the 30mm for the XPan. That's a personal choice I'd never try to force on another photographer.

The 30 second limit of the XPan was a serious impediment to my shooting only once: during a lightning storm (not worried about reciprocity). But I don't think I could have dealt with the changing weather with a larger camera.

If you get a camera that is not right for you, at least you've learned from the experience. If you shy away from a camera because it is, in the opinion of experts, not sufficiently macho, you've been cheated of an opportunity to learn.

M. Denis Hill
Area 360 Communications
http://www.area360.com
360.678.8351

-----Original Message-----
From: simon nathan [mailto:simonwide@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 3:28 PM
To: panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Xpan 30mm lens

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO USE A TRIPOD THEN YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CAMERA THAT WOULD PROVIDE A LARGER IMAGE (NEG, TRANNIE). THE XPAN AIN'T MUCH BUT IT IS AN EXPENSIVE  START-UP CAMERA FROM WHICH YOU CAN LEARN WHAT YOU WILL DO NEXT, OR SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AS FOR 30SEC MAX EXPOSURE TIME, THE  F5.6 MAX  IS ASKING FOR IT WITH RECIPROCITY PROBLEMS. SIMON NATHAN

"Xiong, Zonghou" wrote:

Hi,

I'm considering the Xpan 30mm lens but my mind has always been clouded by
the 30 sec limit of the body and the f/5.6 opening of the lens plus centre
filtering.  This may work out for landscape but for night scenes it may
be handicapped.  Has anybody experiences any inconveniences with this lens
in the real world?

Zonghou Xiong