24x65 'xpan' mod to 6x7 back

aoresteen · Nov 9, 2015

I'm considering modding a 6x7 120 roll back masking it to 24mm x 65mm Xpan format. This would yield 10 xpan negatives on on 120 film roll. While I could just crop a 6x7 negative in the enlarger, I'd prefer to mask it and then cut the negative to 35mm wide so it will fit in my xpan negative carrier. The target camera is my Cambo 23SF view with 47mm & 105mm lenses. I'd have SK Grimes do the work.

Has any one done this? I'm planning on using a Horseman back or a Mamiya RB 6x7 back. If I use a Mamiya back I can also use a Mamiya RB body with the 50mm & 90mm lenses.

I don't envision taking a lot of xpan photos; otherwise I'd just invest in an Xpan kit with the 45 & 90mm lenses.

Thanks!

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2015

Save the work and buy one of these WideLux Panon 120
Dead Link Removed

Tempe Camera Repair does excellent service on WideLux Panon cameras.
http://www.tempecamera.biz/REPAIR_DEPARTMENT_s/17.htm

Colin Corneau · Nov 10, 2015

The Widelux is indeed a wonderful camera - wonderfully sharp lens and a lot of fun. Two things, though:
• it's not quite 65mm wide, it's more like 58, if memory serves. Minor, but worth noting.
• A swing lens gives a different look than a straightforward 'regular' camera.

Definitely an option, though.

Sirius Glass · Nov 10, 2015

it's not quite 65mm wide, it's more like 58, if memory serves. Minor, but worth noting.
[/QUOTE]

The WideLux Panon 120 is approximate 60mm x 120mm.

John Koehrer · Nov 10, 2015

I'd think you could mask the back to 24X65 without a lot of difficulty. Because you're still using 120 film.
There's also a note on flicker using foam to hold a 35mm cassette in the feed chamber. I don't remember how/if they
rewound it or did it in a changing bag or DR.

Sirius Glass · Nov 10, 2015

The WideLux F7 has a 24mmx59mm on 35mm film. Between the WideLux Fx and the WideLux 120 you have two choices for a swing lens camera that covers 140° with parts and service available.

aoresteen · Nov 10, 2015

Thanks! If I buy any panorama camera it will be an Xpan kit. I'm set on the 24 x65mm format. Just need a way to make a few exposures in my Cambo 23SF.

Sirius Glass · Nov 10, 2015

So post a thread on needing motivation for using the Cambo 23SF and we will provide the necessary enabling.

europanorama · Feb 14, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
it's not quite 65mm wide, it's more like 58, if memory serves. Minor, but worth noting.

The WideLux Panon 120 is approximate 60mm x 120mm.[/QUOTE]
There is no widelux Panon 120 and its not 60x120mm approx.

europanorama · Feb 14, 2016

Its the Widelux 1500 with 50x123mmNoblex 150 120mm image-lenght.
one cannot be sure that one will get a working widelux. there were huge problem by the end of 80ties starting 90ties until panon made some major changings. unsharp image-parts and banding. thats why noblex and later widepan(widelux copy with longer exposure times) appeared.
i also heard of noblex-problems.
i would go for the cheap widepan which actually on ebay. and hope. at 1/250 like widelux 1500 there is a major problem when drum is starting: overexposure. producer confessed it but not us-importer firtst. thats why noblexes are adding an additional turn(first models). then they changed that by a short preturn before shutter is opened.
get a noblex from noblex canada. he has still some parts. shooting rotapan-camera is totally different from other photography. above all then a) camera has only a few(3) exposures b) has longer(50mm) lens and only 3 exposures. one will need ND-filters. noblex has magnetic mechanisme at least. and some cams have no focus. for 120(220) versions one must use closeup-lenses to increase DOF.
i also tried to add 35mm to kiev60. but forget it. at least for this sort of cam. spring-mechanisme(axis) will be destroyed and film is never flat.
i have a thread in kievreports delphiforums. also about film-flatness.
I was told using panorama insert for mamyia.

ic-racer · Feb 14, 2016

I'd see if the Rollekin 35mm adapter spools fit your 120 back.

SMBooth · Feb 14, 2016

Why waste your 120 film get some of these and used 135 film.
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David Brown · Feb 14, 2016

aoresteen said:
While I could just crop a 6x7 negative in the enlarger, I'd prefer to mask it and then cut the negative to 35mm wide so it will fit in my xpan negative carrier.

I had very similar thoughts. I own a swing lens camera, (and have the carrier) but you are correct that it is a different look. I played with a rental Xpan, but then realized that for the cost of the Xpan, and the limited use it would get - similar to what you have stated - I could just use the 50mm on my RB67, crop the negative and come very close to the 45mm on the Xpan. It was not worth the cost of the Xpan and lens to get that extra 5mm! As for wasting 120 film: a much smaller cost than investing in the Xpan.

Having said all that, why waste your time trying to modify a back when you plan on cutting the 120 film to fit the "xpan" carrier? What difference would it make if there was image on the parts you cut off? Just shoot with the crop in mind - maybe marking the viewfinder or ground glass - and crop away.

It's been done! No need to re-invent the wheel or go to unnecessary trouble.

europanorama · Feb 15, 2016

Size and weight also matters. So the xpan-path is a good one. RB67 is heavy.

coigach · Feb 15, 2016

Xpan is a lovely camera. I also shoot medium format (6x7 and 6x17 pano) but for portability, weight and, yes, sheer pleasure, the versatility of an Xpan is hard to beat. Image quality is great. It's such an enjoyable camera to use that I now use it much more than I thought I would. Maybe you'd get the bug too...?
I used a handheld xpan in making this series of photos:
http://gavinsmith.portfoliobox.me/croagh-patrick?image#0

David Brown · Feb 15, 2016

europanorama said:
Size and weight also matters. So the xpan-path is a good one. RB67 is heavy.

True. However, the OP wasn't considering using an actual Xpan, but a Cambo view camera. And in both my case and the OP, it was for limited use, and therefore did not justify the expense of investing in another camera system.

europanorama · Mar 11, 2016

SMBooth said:
Why waste your 120 film get some of these and used 135 film.
Dead Link Removed

dont ever use the plastic ones only the newer metallic one. plastic ones showed up residues in my kiev60. ok maybe because that cams mechanisme is really rejecting these. i would also not try metallice ones there. it will destroy the axis of spring-mechanisme (pressing film-cartridge) which is "perfectly" interfering that adapter. beside 35mm not being flat at all. expert is telling to use 35mm panorama-adapter by mamiya 7 instead. or 6?

Keith Pitman · Mar 12, 2016

There is an accessory for the Mamiya 7 that lets you use 35mm film and make 24x65 negatives. I sold my XPan and just use the Mamiya now. Might be less costly with either the Mamiya or XPan compared to having Grimes design and build your modification.

europanorama · Apr 29, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
Save the work and buy one of these WideLux Panon 120
Dead Link Removed

Tempe Camera Repair does excellent service on WideLux Panon cameras.
http://www.tempecamera.biz/REPAIR_DEPARTMENT_s/17.htm

I once tested Panon Panopic with Hexanon-lens. No-coating. Terrible images:
i once could use Noblex 150(first model) and compare with my widelux 1500. Althought the Widelux 50mm is very sharp. Noblex Doctor-lens has better coating. And with W1500 there is a physical sharpness/resolution problem when focussing below 5m. we could produce a working closeup lens.
maybe noblex is better thanks to small slit. their closeup-lenses(if model has no focussing like the 150) are sensational. Supersharp.
Dont forget: Rotating mechanisme is not made for very windy days. and earlier models do make a pre-rotation. W1500 has start-problems like widepan has with 1/250 sec. a short section(few mm) will be overexposed. We could improve on W1500 by setting back start point but its not yet perfect enough.
W1500 had to be rebuild since there were main constructions problems leading to banding and unsharp zones. This lead to Noblex and later Widepan 140 cameras(a copy of W1500 with 35mm option and longer exposure time. Plus later Horizon 205 PC/Pan 120(the same inside). The latter has 7mm shift(bigger than in Noblex). These pancams are delicate to handle. every step is important. and DOF is shallow with these 50 x120 rsp 50 x123mm-film-cameras with 50mm lenses.

24x65 'xpan' mod to 6x7 back

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