Project - Hasselblad XPan Body & Rear Lens Caps
Silent Thunder Ordnance
You may remember, around this time back in 2018, we built a replacement lens shade for the Hasselblad XPan. For those not already aware, Hasselblad are the makers of some of the finest film cameras ever made. The XPan is a discontinued panoramic 35mm film camera, which is to say it uses the archaic standard of 35mm film, however it takes non-standard exceptionally wide (panoramic) exposures with it. 35mm film cameras have overwhelmingly fallen by the wayside in favor of their digital counterparts. Take the Nikon F5, arguably the greatest 35mm SLR professional camera every built; in 1990 they were sold for 3,000$ each new. Now on Ebay such a legend can be had for a mere 300$. Unusual gems such as the Hasselblad XPan though are bucking this trend, and skyrocketing in price. Their accessories are too, as they’re being snapped up by collectors and users alike. So last year we made a replacement lens shade for a friend of the company, an otherwise expensive and somewhat fragile original component.
Well said friend of the company has been greatly enjoying his XPan and lens shade, so much so he returned asking for two more exotic and discontinued XPan components: body and rear lens caps.
To my knowledge, both of these components were never sold as separates either. The rear lens caps in particular came as part of an unusual bubble-style container in which the lenses themselves were sold. The rear lens cap had an odd external locking system, which attached it to the container bubble. It is common to see container bubbles, SANS REAR LENS CAP, available for sale on Ebay as well. Apparently these are another functional collector’s item in short supply.
Thus we once again set out to replicate the form and function of said caps, which I think was a solid success. The body cap has an alignment notch, and functions much as one would expect. The rear lens cap though is more of a triumph, fitting to, not just the lens, but the original container bubble.
More functional replicas of irreplaceable parts for camera obscura? Done!