Hasselblad XPan (1998)

Name: Hasselblad XPan
Brand: Hasselblad

A dual-format 35mm panoramic rangefinder camera developed in partnership with Fuji, with both manual and automatic exposure control.

Overview

The Hasselblad XPan is a 35mm film panoramic rangefinder camera. Hasselblad and Fujifilm introduced it in 1998. In Japan it was the Fujifilm TX-1. It shoots two formats: standard 36x24mm and panoramic 24x65mm. The focal plane shutter runs from 1/1000 to 8 seconds, with a top flash sync speed of 1/125 second, and there's a built-in light meter. Interchangeable lenses include the 30mm f/5.6, 45mm f/4 and 90mm f/4. The 45mm was designed as a standard lens with compact size and high image quality. The body is titanium and aluminum, measures 166 x 82 x 51 mm and weighs 720 grams.

Specifications

Product type	35mm film panoramic rangefinder camera
Film format	35mm
Image formats	24mm x 65mm, 36mm x 24mm
Shutter type	focal plane shutter
Shutter speed range	1/1000 - 8 sec
Flash sync speed	1/125 maximum
Lenses	30mm f/5.6, 45mm f/4, 90mm f/4
Body material	titanium – aluminium body
Dimensions	166 x 82 x 51 mm
Weight	720g
Features	built in light meter
System	Hasselblad X-PAN

Design

The XPan has automatic exposure modes and a full manual override, so the photographer controls all the shooting parameters. The titanium and aluminum construction keeps it durable and light. The viewfinder is noted for clarity and usability.

Context

Fuji was Hasselblad's partner on the XPan, which came out in 1998 and brought panoramic capability to a 35mm rangefinder. It was also sold in Japan as the Fujifilm TX-1.

Market

The XPan is known to command high prices on the used market. Examples are listed between $4,000 and $8,000, and rare units have reached up to $42,000. Reported problems include viewfinder misalignment when switching lenses, battery failures, and the "8888 error." User discussions show continuing interest in its reliability and performance.