Cinematographer Casey Cavanaugh of GxAce has published a video detailing the creation of his own Hasselblad XPan, a DIY camera he calls the GX-Pan. "I always wanted an XPan, the anamorphic dream," Cavanaugh narrates in his video. "But it has always been out of my reach, so I built my own."
Recent Videos
The DIY GX-Pan features a custom machined adapter design to mount an anamorphic lens onto a Hasselblad 500cm camera. "What makes this better than an XPan, in my opinion, is that it gives a true anamorphic widescreen image," Cavanaugh explains. Viewers are given both technical details and brief looks at the creation process.
Anamorphic lenses produce cool images, and I'm glad that Hasselblad lent the video blogger a $32,000 100MP digital version body version of his $400 film body to play with. I'm not a big fan of anyone who describes anything as "very unique", though, and this video blogger did so many times. Unique means one of a kind. Something can't be very unique.
The bokeh swirl is nice...maybe doesn't look as clean as a modern anamorphic cinema lens, but I guess there is at least one unique and possibly positive thing about this setup. As for myself, for an XPAN look I just put an SMC 45/4 on my Pentax 67 and crop down to 1:3. The frame width and FoV are effectively the same as an XPAN with its 45/4. Sure, it's got 'regular' bokeh, but that is more in line with the namesake product. Only get 10 frames, but also don't have to stretch the scan in an image editor.
I really wish affordable anamorphic lenses were more readily available. Now the photography market is shifting more towards including videography, it could happen.
In the 70's I used to shoot Super 8 Anamorphic film by adapting a KOWA Prominar 16H onto my Nikon R8 movie camera. The super 8 frame being in 4:3 ratio, and the 2X anamorphic squeeze and stretch on projection gave the full 1:2.66. PANAVISION ration was standardized to 1:2.35 and remains so today. That was in the mid 70's before consumer video let alone HD in 16:9. For stills, I shot 6x17cm on 120 film using a 90mm Nikkor lens on an ART PANORAMA body. To shoot anamorphic on film, scan and apply a software correction to stretch the image, to me is counter-intuitive. Why not simply shoot two framses, scan and stitch? That way at least you are not restricted to the limitations of focal lenght due to vignetting. There is considerable loss of definition, and to mount a projection lens in front of a sharp Sonar optic makes no sense. Still, having done that on Super 8 film, I can appreciate the romance of film, and the satisfaction of having "rolled your own". https://500px.com/sergegolikov
Hello! Except for the actual results (as per the samples shwown) and personal preference - for me, preferring a cleaner look, the diy setup is way too swirly to ever float my boat. If however that is what you are after, it is a different story.
It's definitely a unique and creative approach but limited to have others do the same thing. It requires machining and experience to get the adapter right, plus the two independent focus systems seems like a struggle to handle. So definitely a plus point for creativity but a big minus for helping others with this approach since it can't be reproduced easily.
Mirrorless cameras actually offer unlimited possibilities on all kinds of mods. Speaking of anamorphic, now a true anamorphic lens (not an anamorphic adaptor) can be easily adopted, as most of them come in the industry-standard PL-mount.
Application in still photography is pretty limited, but video is a completely different story :)
Better solely because he's taking photos? I shot fifty different room interiors this week and that doesn't win me a pat on the back.
He doesn't seem to have any objective or style to these photos. It just looks like he's playing around shooting boring random things.
Now if you look at what Bill Brandt did when he adapted a wide lens from some kind of 110 degree Kodak police (postal?) camera, you'll see how a tool combined with a creative approach results in some unique imagery of nudes.
Let's see if over time he produces any interesting body of work with this.
If you look at his youtube page, he does videos about testing cameras. I'd like to see him develop as a photographer by incorporating his methodology into a body of work that DPReview could report on.
A device without images to support it is not very valid to me. So I am expressing an opinion, and if others like the images, they can express theirs. Lots of people have put various lenses in front of their camera lens.
Cropping in post is not always the best way, since you often cannot visualize the shot while shooting. So @DPREVIEW PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ask your contacts at camera manufacturers if they can implement different preview aspect ratios in the EVF. This should be a very easy thing todo, but only MF cameras like the X1D and GFX currently allow a wide range of preview aspect ratios. Sony even has an aspect ratio preview mode, BUT IT ONLY WORKS IN VIDEO MODE. Why is such an easy feature not implemented in every camera, with at least 10-20 aspect ratios if not free user choice?
@hfolkertsma .. then you will have to train your imagination and pre-visualization skills. if that doesn't work for you, well, just buy the right tool and be happy.
...OR Gruber, we could just compose and shoot in the EVF with whatever aspect ratio we like? I don’t understand the problem here and why you’re being so fussy about it. Seriously, what’s there to argue against this? I don’t need to train my pre visualisation skills, I don’t need to draw lines on my screen protector with a sharpie, I have done that enough and we have an EVF that gives us more possibilities to compose right in the camera during shooting when it’s most crucial. Just like how you can evaluate exposure in an EVF, evaluating aspect ratios shouldn’t be something we would be needing to discuss about but instead it should just be there.
we are approaching this from two different sides. you see something nice and shiny and want it now. i see just another random feature that convolutes the menues. next to photography i build computer controlled camera systems, so i have to deal with shiny-shiny requests by customers all the time.
yes, my µ43 cams can already shoot 4 different aspect ratios, and yes they miss the feature of showing crop-lines as an overlay to the full image AND recording it. yes, another feature creep.
i want manufactureres not to add Just-Another-Feature™ but to give up their stupid yes-no-maybe game and build a solid base firmware where the user can build their own feature-set if they want to go beyond the most general and primitive default settings.
but hey, everyone needs to have some dreams, right?
Nice always wanted one but by the time I had the funds in 2003 digital was in full swing and got Canon D30 instead. I don't normally look at others peoples works for inspiration but one of my faves that got me into shooting urban architecture was Horst Hamman who used a Xpan http://www.artnet.com/artists/horst-hamann/ His site is not working as I don't have flash but the official site http://www.horsthamann.com/
The LowePro PhotoSport Outdoor is a camera pack for photographers who also need a well-designed daypack for hiking and other outdoor use. If that sounds like you, the PhotoSport Outdoor may be a great choice, but as with any hybrid product, there are a few tradeoffs.
The Sony a7C II refreshes the compact full-frame with a 33MP sensor, the addition of a front control dial, a dedicated 'AI' processor, 10-bit 4K/60p video and more. It's a definite improvement, but it helps if you value its compact form.
Why is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack so widely used? A snazzy design? Exceptional utility? A combination of both? After testing one, it's clear why this bag deserves every accolade it's received.
The new Wacom One 12 pen display, now in its second generation, offers photographers an affordable option to the mouse or trackpad, making processing images easy and efficient by editing directly on the screen.
For photographers who need advanced photo editing options, Pixelmator Pro for macOS offers layer-based editing, machine learning-powered adjustment and selection tools, and features such as Denoise and Super Resolution. It's also affordable.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
At last, people who don’t want to pay a premium for Apple’s Pro models can capture high-resolution 24MP and 48MP photos using the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens or the ability to capture Raw images worth the savings for photographers?
Kodak's Super 8 Camera is a hybrid of old and new: it shoots movies using Super 8 motion picture film but incorporates digital elements like a flip-out LCD screen and audio capture. Eight years after we first saw the camera at CES 2016, Kodak is finally bringing it to market.
In this supplement to his recently completed 10-part series on landscape photography, photographer Erez Marom explores how the compositional skills developed for capturing landscapes can be extended to other areas of photography.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
Sony, the Associated Press and 'Photo Mechanic' maker Camera Bits have run a month-long field-test to evaluate capture authentication and a subsequent workflow.
A color-accurate monitor is an essential piece of the digital creator's toolkit. In this guide, we'll go over everything you need to know about how color calibration actually works so you can understand the process and improve your workflow.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
It's that time of year again: When people get up way too early to rush out to big box stores and climb over each other to buy $99 TVs. We've saved you the trip, highlighting the best photo-related deals that can be ordered from the comfort of your own home.
The LowePro PhotoSport Outdoor is a camera pack for photographers who also need a well-designed daypack for hiking and other outdoor use. If that sounds like you, the PhotoSport Outdoor may be a great choice, but as with any hybrid product, there are a few tradeoffs.
Sigma's latest 70-200mm F2.8 offering promises to blend solid build, reasonably light weight and impressive image quality into a relatively affordable package. See how it stacks up in our initial impressions.
The Sony a9 III is heralded as a revolutionary camera, but is all the hype warranted? DPReview's Richard Butler and Dale Baskin break down what's actually new and worth paying attention to.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
DJI's Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro are two of the most popular drones on the market, but there are important differences between the two. In this article, we'll help figure out which of these two popular drones is right for you.
The Sony a7C II refreshes the compact full-frame with a 33MP sensor, the addition of a front control dial, a dedicated 'AI' processor, 10-bit 4K/60p video and more. It's a definite improvement, but it helps if you value its compact form.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
The iPhone 15 Pro allows users to capture 48MP photos in HEIF or JPEG format in addition to Raw files, while new lens coatings claim to cut down lens flare. How do the cameras in Apple's latest flagship look in everyday circumstances? Check out our gallery to find out.
Global shutters, that can read all their pixels at exactly the same moment have been the valued by videographers for some time, but this approach has benefits for photographers, too.
We had an opportunity to shoot a pre-production a9 III camera with global shutter following Sony's announcement this week. This gallery includes images captured with the new 300mm F2.8 GM OSS telephoto lens and some high-speed flash photos.
The Sony a9 III is a ground-breaking full-frame mirrorless camera that brings global shutter to deliver unforeseen high-speed capture, flash sync and capabilities not seen before. We delve a little further into the a9III to find out what makes it tick.
The "Big Four" Fashion Weeks – New York, London, Milan and Paris - have wrapped for 2023 but it's never too early to start planning for next season. If shooting Fashion Week is on your bucket list, read on. We'll tell you what opportunities are available for photographers and provide some tips to get you started.
Sony has announced the a9 III: the first full-frame camera to use a global shutter sensor. This gives it the ability to shoot at up to 120 fps with flash sync up to 1/80,000 sec and zero rolling shutter.
What’s the best camera for around $1500? These midrange cameras should have capable autofocus systems, lots of direct controls and the latest sensors offering great image quality. We recommend our favorite options.
First developed in the mid-1800s, salt prints may be considered an obscure 'alternative' photographic process. But all the more reason to make your own. Here's how.
Around $1000 is increasingly becoming the entry point for modern interchangeable lens cameras. We look at what you can get for your money, and which we think is best.
Canon has announced a new RF 24-105mm F2.8 zoom lens, extending the range for fast mid-range zooms from 70mm to 105mm. Its hybrid design also means it includes a feature not seen on an RF lens before: a manual aperture ring.
Comments