OnePlus with Hasselblad introduces XPan Mode on the OnePlus 9 Series

OnePlus has launched the new XPan Mode on its latest flagship smartphones, the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro. Co-developed with its strategic camera partner, Hasselblad, XPan Mode allows users to share compelling and creative visual stories by recreating the classic experience of the unique Hasselblad XPan camera in a smartphone.

XPan Mode on the Hasselblad Camera for Mobile has been designed to replicate the experience of using Hasselblad’s XPan camera, which provided the advantages of the 35mm format together with the ability to swiftly switch to full panorama format without having to change the film. With a unique field of view, photos taken with XPan Mode present new perspectives and modes of storytelling for users.

Hsiaohua Cheng, Head of Imaging at OnePlus, says, “Working with Hasselblad on XPan Mode has helped us recreate their legendary experience of viewing your photographs in a 65:24 format before shooting a wide, panoramic image in 30mm and 45mm. Using XPan Mode on the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro will let our users see the world around them through a unique lens, and we’re very excited to see how this format will be utilized by our users and photographers around the world.”

Bronius Rudnickas, Hasselblad Global Marketing Manager, comments, “Hasselblad XPan is a revolutionary product that created a new era of imaging. It not only had the advantage of 135 frames but offered the advantage of switching to a wide format mode without having to change film. It was one of the first products to feature a dual-frame 35mm film camera, disrupting the camera industry at the time. Now, with the joint efforts of R&D personnel from both brands, we have been able to bring this unique imaging style and the operating experience of Hasselblad XPan to more consumers.”

Some of the key features of the XPan Mode include:

Two focal lengths, restoring two classic lenses of Hasselblad XPan

With its two focal lengths of 30mm and 45mm, reminiscent of two classic lenses on the original Hasselblad XPan camera, enthusiasts will have the opportunity to shoot panoramic images with a preview straight from the viewfinder on the OnePlus camera app, bringing the unique perspective of the classic XPan camera to a more accessible medium. Unique details from the Hasselblad XPan camera were meticulously recreated on XPan Mode to provide users a true Hasselblad XPan experience.

Aspect ratio of 65:24, allowing for unique storytelling

Photos taken with XPan Mode have an aspect ratio of 65:24, the same as the original Hasselblad XPan camera. The images taken on XPan Mode are cropped from the 48MP main camera and 50MP ultra-wide camera instead of the default 12MP mode. The result is a high-resolution image over 20MP.  XPan images feature 7552 × 2798 resolution on 30mm and 7872 × 2916 resolution on 45mm.

Default color based on classic black and white film

OnePlus worked with Hasselblad on two film simulation profiles for XPan Mode, including a color mode and a unique black and white mode. XPan Mode on the OnePlus 9 Series opens in black and white, alluding to the tone and style of a classic black and white film used in XPan cameras. The black and white mode aids in storytelling with a different perspective - be it portraits, street photography, or architecture. The color mode has also been optimized with Hasselblad, giving it a rich and realistic color profile. Users can switch between color and black and white according to their preferences.

Paying homage to the ritual of film development

In XPan Mode, once the shutter is pressed, the frozen picture will first be presented as a negative film developing into the image to be saved on your phone. This is reminiscent of the traditional film camera and pays homage to the ritual of film development.