Hasselblad XPan Review (35mm Panoramic Camera: Hasselblad Rangefinder)

Buying a Hasselblad XPan to compliment my Leica M6 and Hasselblad 501c. Below is my Hasselblad Xpan review sharing all the info you need on this amazing camera, lots of sample photos and the full YouTube video.

Discovering the Hasselblad Xpan

I read a lot and am always getting new ideas as to what I want to try next and what direction I want to go with my photography. I am the eternal optimist so often the grand ideas lead to disappointment in reality once I try a certain camera for a particular idea.

One early example was to use two Kiev 88 film cameras for wedding photography. I got the cameras but by that time my experience and knowledge had moved on and a new idea was brewing. Leica cameras were on the horizon!

Xpan camera = Best of both

The Hasselblad XPan camera is the happy middle ground between traditional 35mm cameras and 120 film. I flip flop from the high quality Hasselblad 501c medium format negative size to the speed and portability of my 35mm Leica M6. Neither are the perfect solution but both have their strengths. What we need is a camera that gives the speed of 35mm cameras yet bigger negatives.

Hasselblad + Leica = Xpan!

I love the Hasselblad 501c camera for built quality, lenses and its large negative size. I also love my new 35mm Leica M6 for the build quality, lenses, portability and light meter. What would happen if I could combine both cameras? Please let me introduce you to the Hasselblad XPan!

Buying a Hasselblad XPan camera

I had never considered buying a Hasselblad XPan camera before nor had ever had any interest towards them. The XPan came to me almost by accident in my reading for my next grand idea. Within a 48hr period of comparing many other cameras I had introduced myself to the XPan, learnt the major pros and cons, got up to speed on how the XPan photos look and then purchased one.

Hasselblad XPan or Mamiya 7?

I will be open and say I very nearly bought a Mamiya 7ii instead. The three things that stopped me getting the Mamiya 7 were the higher cost (with a wide lens), the similarities to my existing Fuji GF670 and the fact that I’m not a big 6×7 film format fan (yet). I love composing with 6×6 and feel 645 film is a big enough jump up from 35mm. I’m not sure I need 6×7.

Hasselblad Xpan 35mm rangefinder film camera

The Hasselblad XPan is a 35mm rangefinder camera like my Leicas but comes in a titanium – aluminium body.  The XPan has a built in light meter like the Leica M6 and like all Leica M cameras is a coupled rangefinder camera system with interchangeable lenses. The XPan has the solid (built like a tank) feel and build quality of a Hasselblad 500 series camera and the small form factor of a Leica. Leica M cameras are ‘limited’ by the maximum film negative size of 35mm (24x35mm). The Hasselblad XPan however has panoramic mode (24x65mm) and shoots two 35mm frames side by side to make a negative almost two times larger .

Hasselblad Xpan lenses

3 Hasselblad XPan lenses were made and all super compact:

• Xpan 30mm f5.6 lens (with central spot ND filter)
• Xpan 45mm f4 lens
• Xpan 90mm f4 lens

Xpan lens equivalent focal length

XPan camera lenses are not what they say on the side due to the larger film negative size. Similar to using a medium format Hasselblad 500 series camera where 80mm = ~50mm, the same is true for Hasselblad XPan lenses. The 45mm lens equates to roughly a 35mm lens on the Leica M6 yet with zero distortion at the edges as it is a 45mm lens.

Larger XPan negatives also result in a greater shallow depth of field so the 90mm f4 lens actually looks more like perhaps an f2 lens. You get beautifully graduated background and foreground separation.

Hasselblad Xpan lens calculator

Hasselblad claim the following equivalent focal lengths in 35mm camera terms although the 45mm feels even wider to me.

• Xpan 30mm = ~17mm
• Xpan 45mm = ~35mm
• Xpan 90mm = ~50mm

45mm lens Xpan sample photos

Centre filter for 45mm Xpan lens

The 45mm lens takes a 49mm centre spot ND filter to even the exposure across the frame. I didn’t have one but you can see in the Xpan photos below where it would have helped. If you get the 30mm Xpan lens I would definitely recommend the centre filter but they are not cheap.

Xpan crop mode

You can use the Hasselblad Xpan in the full panoramic format (24×65) or in crop mode which gives you standard 35mm negatives. Here are some example photos shot in Xpan crop mode. (I found this easier when photographing models).

90mm lens Xpan sample photos

Xpan lens bokeh

Despite Hasselblad Xpan lenses only having a maximum aperture of f4 you can still get some nice Xpan lens bokeh in the right conditions.

Hasselblad Xpan portraits

Is the Hasselblad Xpan good for portraits? As a model photographer I was keen to try using the Hasselblad Xpan for some of my model photoshoots even if it really isn’t the ideal too.

Xpan photos with flash

Can you use the Xpan with flash? Yes. The Hasselblad Xpan has a focal plane shutter not leaf shutter lenses like the Hasselblad 501c camera. This means you are limited to 1/125 maximum flash sync when taking Xpan photos with flash. This is still better than only 1/50 with the Leica M6. Unlike the older Hasselblad 500 series cameras, the Xpan has a hotshoe so it works with my Nikon fit Godox flash triggers for off camera flash.

Xpan camera for street photography

I love the Xpan panoramic format for street photography. I had it with me in New York when I was teaching one of my Leica workshops.

Hasselblad Xpan landscape photos

When people think of a Hasselblad Xpan, they likely think Xpan landscape photos. The 35mm panoramic view is amazing for landscapes, cityscapes and the like.

Hasselblad Xpan night photography

Hasselblad Xpan lenses are not ideal for night photos due to their maximum aperture of f4. With that said if you load up some Cinestill 800T movie film it can be very rewarding. New York City is perfect for this thanks to all the signs and lights illuminating the streets. Here are a few Xpan night photos. I love the halation from the 800T film (due to the remjet layer being removed from the Kodak Vision3 film).

Xpan 35mm camera – features

At first glance the Hasselblad XPan looks to be a very well designed camera with a PC sync port, a shutter release cable port, spirit level supplied as standard, the ability to switch between normal 35mm mode and P for panoramic mode mid roll, a basic LCD with battery life and exposures remaining all in a very neat and compact camera. The only negative I have seen is the paint flakes off the body easily.

Hasselblad or Fujifilm TX-1

The Hasselblad XPan was a joint venture and made in collaboration with Fujifilm. The Fuji TX-1 / TX-2 are the Fujifilm badged version. There was a similar collaborate to Zeiss and Fujifilm who co-made my Fuji GF670 camera.

Xpan I or Xpan II

The Hasselblad Xpan I was in production from 1998 to 2002. Hasselblad then released the Xpan II in 2003 with a few added features. Both camera basically do the same job so I was happy to buy the older Xpan I which tends to be slightly cheaper.

35mm panoramic photos

One of the biggest benefits of owning a Xpan is it making you see the world differently. Similar to shooting a 6×6 Hasselblad or a 4×5 large format camera, each film format makes you look for compositions to fit that frame. The Hasselblad Xpan is definitely not idea for my usual portraits but it is great fun for street photography, travel, landscapes of course and even weddings.

Hasselblad Xpan wedding

I did take the Hasselblad Xpan to multiple weddings. Here is one Xpan wedding example.

Hasselblad XPan 35mm in NYC (35mm Panoramic Camera)

Hasselblad XPan YouTube review

Hasselblad XPan alternative

If you are looking for a Xpan alternative to get those nice 35mm panoramic images consider the Mamiya 7 with the 35mm film adapter. Read this article for full info and more sample photos. (I had that setup too).

Related Posts

• Hasselblad XPan in NYC
• San Francisco including XPan photos