I’m obsessed with this hidden Oppo and OnePlus camera feature – I wish more people knew about it

I always look forward to using the photography feature known as XPAN mode when I’m testing a flagship phone from Oppo or OnePlus.

This cinematic photography mode allows you to capture ultra-wide frames with a 65:24 aspect ratio, and it was inspired by the legendary Hasselblad XPAN camera from the late 1990s, which was well-known for its capacity to capture panoramic photos on regular 35mm film.

When the manufacturers’ collaboration with Hasselblad started in 2021, Oppo and OnePlus included XPAN mode to their flagship smartphones. However, for the longest time, it was concealed behind their individual camera apps. Accessing XPAN required going to the ‘More’ tab, which is why so few users of Oppo and OnePlus were aware of it.

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Oppo only permitted its users to add XPAN mode to their viewfinders with the Oppo Find X7 Ultra last year. Fortunately, OnePlus did the same this year with the OnePlus 13 series.

During a recent trip to Sweden, I resumed using Oppo’s newest flagship, the Find X8 Ultra, and I was reminded of why I adore XPAN mode. It gives the flagship experience a distinctive touch, and I suggest it to anyone who has a top-tier Oppo or OnePlus phone. Soon, you’ll understand why.

I love XPAN mode for the vibe it brings

As previously stated, you can record incredibly wide, cinematic frames with a 65:24 aspect ratio by using XPAN mode. Because it’s about the same size as two regular 35mm frames placed side by side, one subject can have more context in the frame with more of its surroundings.

I’m going to frame at least a few of the pictures I took on my trip to Sweden, even though the ratio may seem strange or excessively wide:

You can take XPAN pictures with all of the lenses on the Oppo Find X8 Ultra. The corresponding focal lengths of 15mm, 23mm, 70mm, and 135mm are thus available for you to choose from in both colorful and black-and-white modes.

The versatility that XPAN mode provides with various viewpoints is why I’m so enamored with it. It gives the kinds of pictures I enjoy taking—streets, lines and patterns, and human emotions—that extra touch of film.

I saw a cute couple sitting and taking in the scenery in the pictures above. In contrast to the 135mm image (6x), which appears to be a still from a movie, the 75mm (3x) photo more effectively captures their feelings. However, I truly embraced that cinematic feel when I processed the latter in Lightroom (see below).

I adore how the color science of Oppo and Hasselblad, which is only enhanced in Lightroom, is captured in these images.

The Find X8 Ultra’s gentle processing of the streetlight colors and the additional pop to the warmth in the building’s windows allowed me to capture the somber sunset vibe in the photo above the pair.

If you pay attention to the framing, you will undoubtedly get movie-like colors and frames around sunset.

I altered a couple XPAN photos in the example above, put four of them in a frame, and want to print this for one of my customized postcards.

The future of XPAN mode on Oppo and OnePlus phones

(Image credit: Future / Prakhar Khanna)

Hasselblad Natural Color Solution, Hasselblad Portrait Mode, Master Mode, and, of course, my favorite XPAN mode will all be available on future Oppo phones thanks to the company’s recent announcement that it has extended its collaboration with Hasselblad.

XPAN mode adds that extra cinematic flair to the types of photos I love shooting.

The 200MP periscope telephoto camera that Oppo is reportedly planning to include in its upcoming flagship phone could put these Hasselblad shooting settings to the test.

However, it is anticipated that OnePlus will abandon Hasselblad color tuning in favor of its internal image system for the OnePlus 15.

Nevertheless, I strongly advise you to shoot more pictures in XPAN mode if you currently own a OnePlus or Oppo phone. Anything that broadens my perspective on the world is something I adore, and XPAN does just that. It offers a fascinating new viewpoint that I otherwise would not have noticed.

Naturally, not every photograph in your collection will work well in XPAN mode, but if you enjoy taking street or landscape photos, this is the setting for you.