Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/07/22

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: [Leica] Hasselblad XPAN
From: Paul Chefurka <pchefurk@ca.newbridge.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 13:12:18 -0400

Jim Brick wrote:
> 
> This indeed could be a great camera.

Do you really think so?  I'm having a hard time figuring
out who the intended market is.  Not Leica users, the
lenses are too slow.  What sort of professional needs
a panoramic camera like that, when a Hasselblad SWC
will do at least as good a job?  Is this a panoramic
camera that also happens to shoot regular 35mm negs,
or a 35mm camera that has an honest panorama mode?

To me, this camera combines the worst of both worlds -
the flexibility  of an RF 35 is compromised by the
slow lenses, and the negative size advantage of MF
is restricted by the 24mm height restriction.  IMO,
the camera ends up being neither fish nor fowl.

A system consisting of a Leica M and a SWC would do
everything this camera is apparently capable of and
a lot more besides.

It will be interesting to see how they market it.

Paul Chefurka