Before I buy an Xpan, Gaoersi or fotoman?

Sportera

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I realize that these are completely different beasts, but would like to hear of some experiences.

How do these cameras focus? do they focus at all?

What would I need to print from a 6x17 neg?

I am 99 percent settled on the Xpan but came accross these cameras. The Xpan would be easier and free me from the tripod, can the same be said about the 6x17's

Thanks
Sam
 

David A. Goldfarb

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6x17 = 5x7" enlarger! (or contact printing or non-traditional methods)
 

JLP

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Unrelated to your question Sam, congratulation on your book release. Will be buying it very soon.



jan
 
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Sportera

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Pinholemaster said:
6x17 = 8x10 enlarger

You could get a Mamiya 7 with a 35-mm panoramic insert to do the same as an X-pan.

I have no experience with any of your mentioned cameras. Why not put a few in your hands to see how they work so you don't have to ask us.
Click to expand...


Is that really called for?
 
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Sportera

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Pinholemaster said:
6x17 = 8x10 enlarger

You could get a Mamiya 7 with a 35-mm panoramic insert to do the same as an X-pan.

I have no experience with any of your mentioned cameras. Why not put a few in your hands to see how they work so you don't have to ask us.
Click to expand...

Ok Mark Ill bite, where do you suggest I find any of these three cameras in New Orleans or its surrounding areas for that matter.

If I could test the don't you think I would. I can not so ask those who have.

Sam
 

fotoman

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Two different beasts indeed. I've used the Xpan (great camera), and the M7 with Pano Adapter (another great camera). Both more than adequate depending on the final image size you intend. I am Fotoman, so I keep abreast of all our competitors. The Gaoersi offering is... less expensive. A 5x7 enlarger will be required for traditional prints... a dedicated film scanner or drum scans will be required for high quality digital prints larger than A3 or so. Enough from me... Giorgio Trucco has recently published a review of our current 617 MkII camera (Dead Link Removed) which may help in your decision.
 
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Sportera

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Thanks for the link, it provided answers to alot of my questions. I don't have the space now to upgrade enlargers and it seems the camera is a bit slower to work with than I thought. Also it seems, while than can be handheld, its best to tripod mount the 6x17

I am trying to get off the tripod, while still keeping image quality high.

For now an Xpan is in my future

Thanks again
 

David H. Bebbington

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Pinholemaster said:
I have no experience with any of your mentioned cameras. Why not put a few in your hands to see how they work so you don't have to ask us.
Click to expand...

Do you really find surprising that someone tries to gather information via APUG before buying a camera? I don't - and I find your comment totally unhelpful and unworthy of this forum!
 

Nicole

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Sam, I can't speak for all three of those cameras's but... I love the XPan - I'm considering swapping my M6 for one. I have a few image taken with the XPan on my website. One of them is the car wreck.
 

fotoman

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Sam... do enjoy the Xpan (I certainly did). It is indeed much faster to use than any 617, as is the M7. I only sold mine due to the limited amount of lenses available... never bought the 90mm and I couldn't justify the expense of the 30mm. Were I to re-purchase one or the other, I would opt for the M7 purely for the ability to also shoot 6x7 and the wider range of superb lenses.

As far as getting off the tripod... after viewing your galleries (lovely BTW) I'm not so sure that you'll get very far off, even with the Xpan, other than for mid-day shooting.
 

TheFlyingCamera

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Another tidbit of food for thought - unless you like dodging your corners or burning your image centers, you'll want the center filter for the 45, and you'll NEED the center filter for the 30. The downside of the center filter is that it takes at least another stop off, maybe a stop and a half. Which is a major pain when you're shooting handheld with anything less than a 400 speed film, especially if you're working at other than full sunlight. A monopod does work with the Xpan though, and makes for a viable support option that still keeps you portable and mobile, and gives you another whole shutter speed, maybe two, to work with.

Also, a quirk of the viewfinder - the brightlines are not terribly precise - when using the 45, the actual full field of the viewfinder is about 99% accurate. Apparently the thinking of the brightlines was that they would show the image area as printed when using a commercial minilab to print the negs. This of course only worked in Japan, as no commercial minilabs here in the US ever seemed to get the XPan carriers (Remember that the Xpan is ACTUALLY a Fuji TX-1/Fuji TX-2 in black paint. Keep an eye out on Ebay for a Fuji TX-1 if you want the format, but want to save some $$$).
 

keeds

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(sorry to renew an old thread)

sportera, how have you got on with the xpan? not much with it in your gallery. I've just plumped for a gaoersi (for which the wife will kill me this time) and was just wondering...
 
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