Hasselblad
is now expanding its world of imaging by opening the door to a 35
mm film based dual format camera - the Hasselblad XPan. This new
camera concept can be seen as a bridge between the medium format
and the 35 mm format, and is a natural development of the Hasselblad
camera system, enabling it to cover an even broader spectrum of
photographic needs.
The Hasselblad XPan appeals to a wide variety of photographers involved
in advertising, architectural, nature photography and beyond. In
addition, its use in illustrative and art photography can be advantageous
as the full panorama format can provide an additional creative input
into image making.
The Hasselblad XPan incorporates a dual format facility providing
a full panorama 24x65 mm format as well as a conventional 24x36
mm format on the same film. This innovative camera offers all the
convenience and advantages of the 35 mm format, but provides the
option to rapidly switch to the full panorama format, without changing
film. It becomes, therefore, the first and only dual format camera
on the market that expands the format instead of masking it, ensuring
that every exposure utilizes the full area of the film. In addition,
the 65 mm width of the full panorama images is similar to the medium
format, ensuring that the Hasselblad XPan will always give you superb
image quality.
The Hasselblad XPan is a feature packed and highly professional
rangefinder type camera that combines the user-friendliness of modern
technology with Hasselblad quality. The camera body is compact and
ergonomically designed. It is a robust aluminum and titanium construction
partly clad with synthetic rubber and built to withstand many years
of hard work - a camera suitable for the true professional photographer
as well as for the discerning amateur.
The full panorama format is made possible by the large image circles
of the two interchangeable 4/45 mm and 4/90 mm lenses, which have
been specially designed for the Hasselblad XPan. These light and
extremely compact "medium format" lenses are characterized
by razor-sharp image quality and excellent coverage. Multicoating
of the glass elements ensures top quality results, exhibiting brilliant
contrast and full tonal scale. The focusing ring with its smooth
action ensures quick and accurate focusing, and the lenses are stylishly
finished in black, in tune with the rest of the camera.
Viewing and focusing are by way of a bright-frame viewfinder and
coupled rangefinder. Viewfinder information is adjusted automatically
according to the focal length of lens as well as an automatic parallax
adjustment for close shots. No accessories or manual adjustments
are necessary, so changing lenses is rapid and trouble free.
Film loading is automatic and convenient. After being inserted,
the film is automatically withdrawn from the cassette. The camera
has a DX code sensor with manual override for maximum control. As
the film is exposed, it is transported back into the cassette, frame-by-frame.
This valuable feature cleverly protects the exposed section of the
film, even if the camera is opened by accident.
The TTL exposure meter supplies a centre-weighted average reading
to provide an automatic aperture-priority facility with manual override.
The camera can be used in single or continuous exposure mode. In
continuous mode the frame rate is 3 frames/s with 24x36 format and
2 frames/s with 24x65 format. Using the camera in its auto-bracketing
mode provides three consecutive exposures in + 0.5 or ±1-
step differences.
The main LCD display, located on the camera back, presents all necessary
information including film speed, shutter speed and battery status.
Another LCD provides exposure counter information, with further
information being shown in the viewfinder.
The Hasselblad XPan camera was introduced at a Press Conference
in Frankfurt, Germany on 20th July 1998, and deliveries will commence
in September 1998.
- Rangefinder camera with 45 mm f/4 or 90 mm f/4 Hasselblad lenses
- Supports dual formats 24 x 36 and panorama format 24 x 65 mm
- Formats can be switched on the fly while photographing, no waste of film because the film is internally shifted to account for the new format
- Manual focus lenses
- Shutter speeds B, 8 sec to 1/1000
- Auto bracketing selectable by user
- Shooting up to 3 frames/sec.