MutexTech Xpan-style Pano film back

Hi Photriosians,

Have any of you used this “xpan-style” 135w film back?
I haven’t found any actual user reviews of it….only advertising from the vendor.

I see that it is a 3D printed, all-manual back that is a more affordable alternative to an Xpan or spending roughly $1000 for a 135W film back for my Bronica ETRSi. But, given that it is entirely made of plastic, I wonder about the durability of it…how light tight it is…etc. Any user experience that is not affiliated with the seller/manufacturer would be much appreciated.

For context: I like the idea of having a “pano” back that I can simply attach to my Bronica whenever I feel like it. I know that some folks will crop their 6x4.5 negatives down to the panoramic perspective but I would rather be able to just develop exactly what I compose through the VF mask. Plus, shooting pano on a 36-exposure roll of 35mm film gives more negatives per roll than cropping a roll of 120 film does.

Thanks!
-J

Not sure if it is ready yet. Need more info.

I dunno. Just went through much of the ordering process, got no cautions that the device wasn't going to ship soon.

For the Hassy users, a Mr. Zhang in China could modify an A12 back to "VPan" P27 or P24 for pano ratio.

There is something you can try for free. I did it on my Bronica SQ when I had it. I made a panoramic mask and taped it to the film back in front of the film gate. Made another one for the VF screen.

I'm assuming the ETR works the same way as the SQ. You load a 120 film, advance to frame 1 then toggle the multi-exposure switch. Take the first picture. Then cock the shutter and manually advance the film via the winder on the film back. That's where it gets a bit iffy; you need to advance one half-frame, that is eyeball the advance when it is half-way between the 1 and 2 on the counter. For the third photo, the winder will stop correctly at 2. And so on...

For an ETR, the mask would be ~21x56mm. You would get 24 panos on a roll of 120. But you can remove and replace the mask via the dark slide to alternate between 645 and pano.

When I did it, the spacing was wonky. But it worked and it was free.

subtlelikeatrex said:

For context: I like the idea of having a “pano” back that I can simply attach to my Bronica whenever I feel like it.

Click to expand...

Yeah, makes sense. I've done sprocket-hole pano's in medium format backs on occasion, but this custom back looks more convenient. I also like the fact that you can actually mask the sprocket holes because this is probably good news for film flatness.