What's new
Medium Format Forum

Register a free account now!

If you are registered, you get access to the members only section, can participate in the buy & sell second hand forum and last but not least you can reserve your preferred username before someone else takes it.

Using X-Pan lenses with other cameras?

S

SaintX

New Member
Hi,

since I switched from analog to digital cameras, I rarely use my X-Pan any more. Recently, I read several articles describing the brilliant image quality of Leica or Zeiss lenses when used with DSLRs via adapters. So I asked myself whether the lenses of my X-Pan can be used with my Canon DSLR. I didn't find any usful information in a google search.

So - is it possible to attach X-Pan lenses to other cameras? Do the X-Pan lenses use a propretiary bajonet system? Are there any adapters to connect them to other systems?

Thanks - and a happy New Year!
SaintX
 
The Xpan bajonet is proprietary. Maybe an adapter exists, assuming the bajonet-to-film distance allows creating one.

As for the image quality... hmm, the Xpan lenses were designed by Fuji for the large image circle the pano format requires. Essentially they are MF lenses in disguise.

Making a blind guess here: I expect that the best of Zeiss or Leica 35mm glass outperform the Xpan lenses on a DSLR. Of course you are using the sweet/central spot of the Xpan lenses but still..

Wilko
 
As the Xpan lens are very close to the film, it's impossible to use with any camera witch has a mirror. Not possible either wth a Leica M. If you tried like me it's possible but it becomes a macro lens.
There is another way to use it with 3/4 adaptator and then you foccus wth digtal sceen.
I'm surprised that there was no creazy one to adapt the xpan lens on a cfv. But you will need a shutter and without liveview, it wil be only for "fun".
 
Hi, I'm glad I've found you. Been using Hassis on and off since 1975. More about this later.

I have a question: my impression was, that the X-pan body has more thickness than a Leica M body. Could I be wrong?

Who could help me with the info about
the exact flange to film plane distances
of an Xpan
and
of an M?

It would be great if you could add a link.

Thank you,
Simon Peter
 
What do you have in mind?
There are no adapters to fit Xpan lenses on M bodies or VV.

It is possible to convert a Nikon 28 mm lens to use as WA with the Xpan.
The Nikon lens nearly fills the pano frame from the Xpan.
 
Howdy Mod!

Thank you for the attention and the speedy answer. It doesn't fit my question yet, if I may say so.
To your question, because this might get us to the answer of mine:

(does someone maybe have the figures? Just the plain figures? Or simply a ruler and the time and good intention of measuring the distance from the outside of the flange to the film plane of an Xpan? With an open shutter of cause and without a film in.

If there would be no space between an Xpan lens and a (digital) M camera body, so that I can focus an Xpan lens on an M all the way to infinity, then I would take the male Xpan bayonet off the Xpan lens and put a male (=lens) Leica lens bayonet on the Xpan lens to get to:
using an Xpan lens on a digiM.

Not touching the Xpan lens and having an adaptor made to go between the Xpan lens and M body would be ideal.

Your help is very much appreciated, polypal!
I think I answered your question and I'm looking forward to read an answer to mine and start from there. I'll keep you guys posted about the progress and the results.

Cheers,
Simon-Peter
 
Adapting an Xpan lens for use with an M series body requires a certain amount of machining provided this conversion is possible.

You need information about the distance from the last element of the lenses used in both cameras to the film plane.

Xpan lenses are very, very good but so are Leica lenses.
Why go through all this trouble when you have a large selection of Leica lenses to choose from?
 
Thank you very much for your sensible answer, polypan.
such an adaptor hasn't been manufactured when the Xpan was en vogue, then why have one custom (re-)made now? Because there was no M9 back then and the Xpan 30+45 are, with their small max. diaphragm, built for immage quallity without compromise.

So I'm still very interested in the dimensions in milimeters to see what the difference is.

Another problem: If the diameter of the Xpan lens bayonet is bigger than the diameter of the Leica M body opening, then the Xpan lens bayonet would need to come off.

Maybe you could determine the dimensions of the Xpan body in and around the flange, the vertical dimension being essential.

Good hearing from you!
 
Hi Wilko,

I'm not concerned about mechanical vignetting, since 24X36 is smaller than the Xpan format.
But could you please tell me, what your caliper tells you about the flange to fim distance on your Xpan?
As you have seen also, it is not in the wikipedia.org under "lens mount". Only Hasselblad there being the 6X6 (isn't 56X56?), but easily measurable on the camera in your hand.
Because wikipedia you and I could (re-)edit. And unfortunatelly not only us. A link there had a virus.

Best regards,
Simon Peter
 
Based on an approximate measurement between the bajonet surface and the -0- symbol on the body it appears to be roughly 34mm
 
Hi Wilko,

Unlikely a big step for mankind, but you sure helped me. :) That's a fact.
Thank you very much and have a good week-end!

Good light,
Simon Peter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top