I mentioned a while back the desire maybe get a 6x17 technical view camera that can use 120 roll film. I had no need - but it you look at a great many of my published works (and critque tips) you can see that I am a big fan of the 16:9 and wide formats in general. I like the cinematic quality/aesthetic to them.

Due to issues of scanning and what not, etc, etc, etc, I have been looking at the XPAN again. I really want to shoot wide format and IR and I can do that with either the 6x17 view camera or the XPAN. The cost is the same. The use patterns different.

So any thoughts out there on it and samples?

I will NOT be shooting landscapes. Maybe urban landscapes - but I want to shoot people and do so with ever crazier perspectives too....

Not sure if you've been out of Australia for long enough not to know who Andrew Günsberg is, but he's got 80-odd Xpan shots in his photostream on flickr. Some landscapes, urban landscapes and street in there.

Too long... Someone else mentioned him to me as well as the dude the check out. I will look over his stuff now.

Hi Richard. I use Horseman/Komamura LX-C 4x5" with 6x9 and 6x12 backs, is the best off for what you want because all the movements tilt/shift etc nice for city landscapes. But for 6x17 only a dedicated wide camera, and i don´t know any with movements, if you find, tell me :-)

Then forget about the XPan. It's like saying, "I want a Leica M7 and will NOT use it for street photography." It's best used for landscapes or anything else that needs a wide panoramic format. If you use it for other subjects, you'll run into two issues: the lenses are slow and vertical panoramic shots look weird. It is hard to find a subject requiring such a format and most photos will look like a crop too narrow. I also found the XPan's rangefinder very difficult to focus in vertical format, but that was probably the fault of my particular camera.
Of course you can use it in normal 24*36 format but you can do that with any other camera. Besides, the price of the wide-angle XPan lens is so forbidding that you will probably be limited to the 45/4. It's a brilliant lens but it sucks to have an expensive camera limited to one or maybe two lenses.
But if you have too much money, go for it. The XPan is a wonderful tool and great fun to use. I had one and had to sell it when I was broke, and regret it to this day.

Don't have too much money.. ;-) The other idea is the Mamiya 7 with the panorama insert with 135 film loaded....

As to a 6x17 with tilt and shift... :-)

http://www.shen-hao.com/PTB617picen.html

Richard, with a 6x7 mamiya you can shoot in 6x7 and crop it to 6x7 wide with no problem, scanned file is huuuugggeee :)
In high resolution scanning you easy have a 14000 pixels wide file or more
If you want 6x17 viewfinder, just put a mask on the normal one

If the XPan or similar type of format camera was available with a digital back I would without hesitation buy one. I often see the need for a wide landscape format in the locations I visit but find taking multiple images and stitching a real pain and having limitations.
Anybody know of such a camera?

JP

http://www.roundshot.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/d438/d925/f934.cfm

@JP

There are some technical cameras that allow attaching a medium format back.. but the cost of those things is crazy (20-30-40-50K).... film is much easier on the pocket and will look better anyhow.

That Aussie dude has some cool street shots and urban shots with the xpan and the 30mm lens.... just like what I am thinking about. However the 30mm lens is 3K. That puts it at 4K - which then makes the Mamiya 7 a more sensible option.

Again, I can shoot 20mm and crop - but the thing with the panny's is you get the angle and coverage without the need to be right on top o your subject. Don't get me wrong, I like wide angles - but I like the POV of the 28mm on 135 - just wish it was a tad wider in image coverage (FOV)- no change to POV.

The other option is to stitch or do triptychs like I did here:


The above is exactly the same as 2 x 35mm frames... I like the width... and this is a nice FOV with an 85MM POV.

This guy uses XPan.
http://www.krivic.com/

I'm getting a Gaoersi 6x17 in about a week from now.

I'm thinking about investing in a Holga 120 WPC (wide angle pinhole). At least I won't be looking for additional lenses for it :)

Actually good idea.. the market here has very basic pin hole cameras made - that are basically two metal sheets - very tough - but designed to just shoot pin hole on film... I should look into... long exposures on the street could look cool too... lots of motion blur and ghosting...

@ Lars

Which one did you order? Did you get the model with removable back? if not - how to plan to focus?

Don't really know much about the Gaoersi. But, yes, it comes with a focus screen. And a calibrated focusing gear system. Found it on the secondhand market.

hi,

http://wandererjourney.blogspot.com/search/label/Xpan
above link is sample of XPan that I know.
The next question is, will you scan or print the negative?

Depends, stump. In my case now, most of time i scan it after developing

hi Rui,
in your case, then you have to have a scanner which is able to scan the whole negative and you have to do it manually by selecting the frame you want to scan

regards

Yes, i use a Epson V700. I use medium format 6x4,5 6x7 and large format 4x5" .

The V700 have special film suports for medium and large format. I can scan 4 frames of 6x7 at one time and 8 of 6x4,5 at one time.

I think V700 can scan a lot of 35mm frames at one time, but i don´t use 35mm film at many years.

I've used the Gaoersi a bit now, but never had time to develop. Nice and easy to work with. You can use the viewfinder, but I doubt it is very accurate, so will depend on practice.
Take away the back and install focus screen for accurate work.
Focus gear is surprisingly well made. Feels like very high class mechanics.
Then, the camera is adjustible between 6x12, 6x15 and 6x17. Practical I guess, but I have used only in 6x17 mode.
Hopefully I'll find time for some developing soon.

If you want to go cheap and still stay in the panoramic world, then go for a Horizon 202.
http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/horizon_202_panoramic_camera.htm
You can acquire a new one for about 300$. This is a real panoramic camera and not crop (such as Xpan).

There is also a medium format camera available,
http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/panoramic-camera-horizon-205.htm
but the its price makes it less attractive.

I use the Horizon 202 in many situations and I can tell you that it is a superb camera. If you want to see some of my work please have a look here, here, here and here.

Recently, I purchased an Xpan with the normal lens as well, therefore I should be able to compare them quite soon. Until then, good luck with your choice.

Please check this resource for more panoramic examples.