I'm looking for info about choices in panoramic cameras. Preferably, I'd like digital, but non-digital will work with scanning, of course.

My project is photographing gardens.

Poking around the forums, I'm beginning to think that a Hasselblad XPan might be the right choice. I can rent one to try out and perhaps continue to rent as needed, an advantage. (I love the 7X17 format, but that is definitely out for sooooooo many reasons)

I want a flat-plane camera. I do not want to go the 4X5 or larger with panoramic backs route.

Recommendations and pointers will be greatly appreciated. Also info on special technical issues I should be aware of such as center filters, processing issues, scanning problems (though a lab will do it), and so forth.

Chris

You are aware that these have been discontinued by Hasselblad... don't know about long term availability in rental houses, though.

Mike.

Nope, I wasn't aware of this.

While they have been discontinued there are lot of them out there. There are 8 Xpans and 1 Fuji X2 on ebay at the moment along with a couple of dozen lenses.

They're cool cameras that were well built and popular.

Thanks - I had intended to mention that option but got sidetracked...

Mike.

Is a software solution acceptable? Then you can shoot with any camera and stitch the shots together later. Garden subjects should be very forgiving at the seams, though the current software is able to handle architectural lines just fine.

This is probably out of your price range (or not?) but check out this camera.

http://www.roundshot.ch

Thay have some really neat digital panoramic cameras. Stuff we all like to drool over but pretty much can't afford.