Sam Schmieg with the Hasselblad XPAN
When I first heard Hasselblad made a 35mm camera, I knew I had to try it out. But to be honest, the panorama freaked me out — how can you compose a sound image in such a large frame? The weeks I had it were reminiscent of when I first started shooting wide-angle on a 6x7: a new ratio made me reevaluate how to captivate with all the space you are given.
Needless to say, it’s an outstanding camera. And while it’s tough to show the detail online, this contrasts with how well the optics/system shine in printed form. The tank-like body, on-point metering, and ability to switch to standard 2:3 35mm without losing any roll space were much-appreciated features, making it a worthwhile daily shooter beyond the niche appeal.