Unique high quality camera with superior lenses for 35mm panoramics

Bad location of tripod socket. Also, I prefer 1/3EV step intervals instead of 1/2 for exposure compensation.

When the Hasselblad XPan appeared 5 years ago, it found ready acceptance by advanced amateurs and quite a few pros (check out the work of Jim Brandenburg, Nick Meers, Neil Leifer, et al, for example). In its reincarnation as the XPanII, Hasselblad/Fuji have addressed most of the shortcomings that plagued the original. It's easier than before to switch between panorama and regular 35mm format. The shutter speed now appears in the viewfinder where it should have been in the first place. Gone is the ISO dial on the front of the camera, its function now assigned to the larger LCD display on the camera back. Here is also where multiple exposures (up to 9) are set, as well as auto bracketing. The new model also provides Bulb exposure up to 9 minutes. The XPanII, believe it or not, accepts a threaded mechanical cable release (no, really, it does!) The 45mm lens,which I purchased with its center filter,is very sharp, providing impressive transparencies with Provia 100. The other 2 lenses, the 90mm and the high-priced 30mm wide angle, have both received high marks in magazine reviews. I look forward to adding them to the system in the near future. I'd love to see this camera as an SLR--don't want much, do I?

Customer Service

Too new to say on the XPan, but I've owned several Hasselblad 500 C/M's, plus the new H1 and I can state that the company deservedly has an excellent reputation for service.

Similar Products Used:

Fuji GX-617