world travels...Xpan, Xpan2 or wait

[samdj1210]

Hi Guys,
Ok, I'm going away travelling for a year. I'm not going to take my Canon 350 and lens due to weight and being in open dorm hostels etc.

So i am thinking taking a cheap digital camera and my Bessa with 21mm 35mm and 50mm.

Now, the thing is, I'm toying the idea and getting a Xpan but I need some help. Should I buy a second hand Xpan or get a new Fuji TX-2 from Robert Whites (When they get them in, in the next few months) Is there any real upgrades in the XPAN-2/TX-2 that I really need that the Xpan doesn't have.

Thanks
Sam

[sf]

If you don't want to take something expensive since you'll be in hostels. . .how does an Xpan fit the bill?

If you really want one, they're built like tanks and you'd be fine with a used one. The upgrades are useful in the second generation models. For sure. But not vital.

and. . .how do you get away for a year? I want to know your secret. We all do.

[clarence]

Probably since the Xpan isn't a digital camera, and is therefore worth nothing in the eyes of thieves.

I don't really believe in this, actually. Opportunistic thieves will take a camera, LCD or no.

Clarence

[samdj1210]

If you don't want to take something expensive since you'll be in hostels. . .how does an Xpan fit the bill?
I guess its more the attention SLR create, I thought xpan being small and using film wouldn't appeal to the Average Jo.

and. . .how do you get away for a year? I want to know your secret. We all do I'm taking a career break.... well I've worked for 7 years so I think its time for a break LOL and chillout for a year or two.

[sf]

I guess its more the attention SLR create, I thought xpan being small and using film wouldn't appeal to the Average Jo.

I'm taking a career break.... well I've worked for 7 years so I think its time for a break LOL and chillout for a year or two.


hmm. yes, the xpan is smaller than an SLR in some ways - but it is more exotic looking.

[kbg32]

"I'm taking a career break.... well I've worked for 7 years so I think its time for a break LOL and chillout for a year or two."

7 years? Hmmmm, I'm lucky if I get a 7 minute chillout

[Parkes Owen]

As a user of the xpan 1, I highly recommend it as a travel camera. The extra features on the 2nd model would be useful but for the price difference I can live without them(more money for essentials like film and beer).

I think the resale value of the hasselblad would be better than the fuji because of the name. If you`re staying in hostels, keep your cameras(no matter how cheap or expensive) close to you at all times as I`ve "lost" a few items in certain countries!

Good luck!

[Jim Watts]

OUOTE: "Now, the thing is, I'm toying the idea and getting a Xpan but I need some help. Should I buy a second hand Xpan or get a new Fuji TX-2 from Robert Whites (When they get them in, in the next few months) Is there any real upgrades in the XPAN-2/TX-2 that I really need that the Xpan doesn't have".

Sam,
I think the secondhand route would be best especially if you want to save money and less loss should you be unfortunate enough to get it stolen on you trip. The original XPan's offer the best value, so it's not really worth the extra for the XPan II unless you can't live without the minor changes (shutter speed in finder, better able to use IR film).

The cameras are very durable (except for the black paint work - reputedly better on the II) and its easy to check the total number of exposures to see how much use any particular camera has had (hold in AEB button on switch on). I brought mine secondhand over 2 years ago in the U.K. for about 950 GBP from Jacobs and its seen quite a bit of use since without any problems. Now you can find decent examples of the original for about 800 GBP. The XPan II seems to run at about 1200 GBP secondhand (both dealer prices - presumably cheaper on E-Bay). I brought a 90mm lens for about £300. Unfortunately I can't find a 30mm lens at a price I'm prepared to pay.

Jim

[OscarGarrido]

As a user of the xpan 1, I highly recommend it as a travel camera. The extra features on the 2nd model would be useful but for the price difference I can live without them(more money for essentials like film and beer).

I think the resale value of the hasselblad would be better than the fuji because of the name. If you`re staying in hostels, keep your cameras(no matter how cheap or expensive) close to you at all times as I`ve "lost" a few items in certain countries!

Good luck!
Totally in agreement

[BlackCloud]

The Xpan II does have some useful additions to the original. However, none of the addiitons are worth the xtra cost in my opinion.

As for thieves, well, I find that everyone, & I mean EVERYONE who sees the Xpan stares at it, especially when you strap on the 30mm viewfinder.

The damn thing just looks expensive; and I suspect thieves are watching...

[samdj1210]

Thanks for all your advice. It was a really help. I think i'm going to try and find a second hand xpan off ebay. Unless someone on here is selling one LOL.

Thanks Again.
Sam

[GrahamWelland]

I would get a secondhand XPan - if you are going to be travelling then it'll get beaten up anyway and they are almost indestructible. As mentioned before, don't be surprised if you lose a little paint around the extremities of the camera.

I toyed with the idea of upgrading to the XPan II for reasons of the viewfinder display of exposure time (vs rear) and the menu driven ISO selection (which avoids accidently moving the front ISO dial), but ultimately I couldn't justify it.

One thing to remember about the the XPan is that it's a great travel system but there are times when you'll be reminded of the weight of the camera & lenses.

[Terence T]

Save yourself the extra $$ and don't bother with the center filter for the 45mm. I've not gotten any noticeable vignetting on mine without the use of the filter even though I have it.

A bit of creative application of gaffer tape on the name plates will make the xpan look rather nondescript.

[GrahamWelland]

Save yourself the extra $$ and don't bother with the center filter for the 45mm. I've not gotten any noticeable vignetting on mine without the use of the filter even though I have it.

A bit of creative application of gaffer tape on the name plates will make the xpan look rather nondescript.


Ditto for the centre filter. I spent $$$$ on one and even with slide film I've never needed to use it. For me, it was a complete waste of money really. YMMV.

Given that images are going to be scanned / printed it's very easy to correct any vignetting that might occur anyways. You'll also appreciate the fact that you're not losing the extra stop or so of light too.

[Lucien_vd@mac.c]

The Xpan is exactly the camera I'll will take for the kind of travel you are planning.

I'm always surprised by the number of subject which are working well (or better) in panoramic mode.

IMO, it's THE travel camera.

With it's 3 lenses and little compact camera like the Contax T2 (or the equivalent in Digital FUJI F10-11-or 30), you will be ready for 95% of the subjects.

Another possible backup will be a Leica M with 50/1,4.

I'm not ready anymore to travel with an SLR or DSLR only because of the remaining 5% for which will need a longer tele or tele-zoom.

[samdj1210]

On the Xpan can some one tell me how long the shutter can be left open for on <blub> . Do you need a special cable release or is that just for the XPAN2.

[GrahamWelland]

Original XPan takes a standard cable release and will expose up to 32 seconds on bulb. I recall that the new version supports up to 270 sec but not sure whether you need a special cable release for that one.

[Filmboy]

If you're on a budget when travelling then having a Mk II model would help as you can set it to rewind films mid-roll without the leader going back into the case, so you can change film according to situation but not waste any because you could always reload a partially used roll. Would also keep weight of used film in your bag down (slightly!) This was certainly a deciding factor for me, anyway.

[samdj1210]

If you're on a budget when travelling then having a Mk II model would help as you can set it to rewind films mid-roll without the leader going back into the case, so you can change film according to situation but not waste any because you could always reload a partially used roll. Would also keep weight of used film in your bag down (slightly!) This was certainly a deciding factor for me, anyway.

OOOO that is a good thing. I was wondering if the Xpan had that option. Trying to get hold of one at the moment is like chickens teeth.

[stephanj]

Original XPan takes a standard cable release and will expose up to 32 seconds on bulb. I recall that the new version supports up to 270 sec but not sure whether you need a special cable release for that one.

I've used a 1998 original Xpan that exposed up to 32 seconds and I briefly had in my possession a 2002 original Xpan which went up to 270 sec. Okay, to be precise it PROBABLY went up to 270 sec since I got bored holding the shutter release down. Based on this experience it seems that a change was made to the B setting before the arrival of the Xpan II.

[GrahamWelland]

I've used a 1998 original Xpan that exposed up to 32 seconds and I briefly had in my possession a 2002 original Xpan which went up to 270 sec. Okay, to be precise it PROBABLY went up to 270 sec since I got bored holding the shutter release down. Based on this experience it seems that a change was made to the B setting before the arrival of the Xpan II.

Yes, I think you're correct. I do remember seeing something about this fact ahead of the II version being available. In fact, the XPan II doubled the 30s & 270s to 540s which really probably enough for anyone.

[SHERPA]

Xpan2 and use fuji natura 1600

natura 1600 (http://fujifilm.jp/personal/film/color/35mm/)

Xpan2 and use fuji natura 1600 image (http://www.in-foto.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=217&forum=1&post_id=47127#forumpost47127)

[samdj1210]

Hi there,
I'm going to dig deep and get an Xpan 1 in the next couple of days. Just one more thing, Does anyone know what the upgrades are in the XPAN 2 to use IR film. I'm guessing IR film still works in the XPAN 1. I have some Kodak (HIE) I want to test out when i go to the Lake district in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks.
Very excited Sam

[Finder]

I'm guessing IR film still works in the XPAN 1.

Not if it uses an IR sensor for the film advance. That is what makes a lot of modern SLRs incompatible with IR film. I don't know about the Xpan, but I would check.

[sf]

Xpan has IR film advance. Serious issue in my opinion. Gotta have an IR free film advance with a panoramic camera. HIE is a natural for panos.

For world travel, really, I'd bring something medium format. That way, you can have the best of all worlds - and when you capture that once in a lifetime image, you'll have it in very big negative size. All the better for poster sized prints.

RF645 would be my first choice, Plaubel Makina 67 would be second, then the Mamiya 7 and 6. Really, the Xpan is very wide, and not smaller than my RF645 in terms of volume. I'd rather have a larger negative from which I CAN cut panos of any size I wish.

[Finder]

I would not take an Xpan as my only camera. The pano format has a "neat" factor that wears thin after a while. Pano cameras (of which I have two) are not that versatile. I would take a regular format over a pano format for a long trip.

I usually travel with a Mamiya 6MF and if I have space and energy, I add a 6x12 camera. The 6MF has the advantage of taking 35mm film (with the pano adapter), which can be used if you run out of medium-format film and can only get 35mm locally (the 50mm lens is really a requirement for the adapter). I perfer the 6x12 panos as they are more "cinemagraphic" rather than "panoramic." I find it is an easier format to use - a long 35mm frame.

If you have your heart set on the Xpan, take a bunch of pictures before you go to see how the format works. Not just a roll or two, but 10 or more rolls to see how the format grows on you - the first few rolls always look good because the format is so new. You may find you hit a rut very soon. That time will also see how it works as a "regular" 35mm camera.

[mw_uio]

In regards to your travels...and safety....

Do not point!! ie extending your hand out and having your index finger out at what ever you are looking at...that just says Tourists!! Do not do it.

Have the camera strap around your whole body, ie...strap from left to right or vice versa. Wear a jacket to conseal your camera when not shooting.
Are you in a hot climate zone?

If you feel something is up...ie something is not right....you are right....act on it.
Your first reaction is the best reaction

Your facil expressions are important. Show the public that you own the area and you know wear you are going when walking. Showing confidence is very important.

If you are on a bus. try and get a seat at the front.

Camera bags - get a old one. Do not travel with new flashy travel bags.
A used small size military style bag would be a good idea.
Never leave your camera bag un attended. Even if some says it will be okay.
NO. Keep your bag with you at all times.

If you book yourself in a hostal...if you get a private room, no issues

If you get a dorm room, sleep with your camera bag some way. I never trust anyone. Do no show your gear to anyone! No one needs to know.

These are just a few suggestions.

Be safe....

MW

Quito (UIO), Ecuador.