Intrepid 4x5 Mk4 Black Edition - First Impressions and Introduction to LARGE Format Photography!

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Have you tried Large Format and how did it go?

[@lensman5762]

I got my first Large Format camera in 1982, a Toyo View, 4X5 Monorail. It came in a proper Aluminium case about 2 feet long and a foot high with built in compartment for just about anything. I had two lenses for it, a Schneider Symmar-S 150mm F5.6 and a beautiful 300mm F9 Rodenstock Geronar ( I still regret selling it for a song ), 4 Fidelity Astra film holders, a Polaroid back and a focusing cloth. All that fitted in the case. I was a lot younger then, and I used to haul the beast plus my original Benbo tripod all over the Peak District. Some of my best images to date were made using that camera. I used Tri X Pro 320 and Kodak Plus X Pro , a beautiful film that has been out of production for a long while, the developer was HC 110. I then switched to the original T Max 400. These days, I have a Wista Rosewood DX Filed, an MPP MKVII, and a Cambo 45 SF monorail ( doesn't get used a lot as it literally weights a ton ). Lenses are from 75mm F5.6 Linhof, to 210mm Rodenstock. All that I am short of is time, money and inspiration to do all that justice, and I have to try and fit the Hasselblad, Leica, Nikons and the Digital rubbish in between somewhere. No wonder the wife is always mad at me. I also have some crazy plans to 3D print a 5X7 camera.

[@RossJukesPhotography]

@@lensman5762 ha, I very nearly went down the mono-rail route, I’m so glad I didn’t. I can fit everything I need in one small backpack and travel really light. Great info though. I’ve recently picked up a Nikon 90mm f4.5 and it’s superb, though I’m still pretty new to large format but I’m completely hooked by it. Very interested in a 3D printed 5x7 - I hope that works out for you 👍

[@jonathanhotopf1823]

Been into Large format for a while now also got an Intrepid and the Minolta spot meter, great for the price. The Stearman SP445 is good for developing. Still making mistakes but find the process enjoyable.

[@markthompson3977]

I agree, the Stearman Press is a great developing tank, easy to load and quite economical on chemicals.

[@markthompson3977]

Really great video. I have just started with large format, with a Chroma camera, after shooting medium format and digital for many years. If you’re into black & white, Fomapan film is very good value and comes in packs of 50 sheets for about £35. I have found home scans on an Epson V750 flatbed to be very good.

[@andyvan5692]

one trick to help with the developing is to use a "light tight tank" and load it in a changing bag, a 'jacket' with sleaves, and a double zip where your waist would go, you put all the film holders/tank/bobin/LID of tank- very important one!! ; inside the bag, zip it up, and put your arms in the sleaves, in reverse ( arms in from the outside); transfer the film sheets to the tank bobbin ( like one for sewing, but has grooves to take the sheets so they don't scratch each other); then ALL processes can occur in room light! one tip, as well as these supplies, ADD a blank box of film (to practice loading), NOT just the developing tank, but the film holder as well; to get the technique of shooting drill down, without wasting sheets, due to mistakes while learning.

[@Mercsss111]

I’ve just taken the plunge and bought the same,looking forward to seeing your images and also any advice you can give.thankyou.

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Great! I hope you enjoy it! So far, the best advice I can give its take it slow, don’t rush anything and even consider writing a checklist! Lots of ways to mess up a shot but only one way to get it right! Good luck!

[@Jonathanwoods]

Great video, I think you got the level just right. Very much hope the intrepid works for you. Personally I've been shooting LF almost exclusively for about a decade now, having dropped digital all but completely. Started with a Shen Hao when they were cheap, and then changed to a second hand Ebony, which is an absolute treasure. Looking to build my own 11x14 soon as well... :D

[@b.brauner7500]

Great Video Ross, thank you. Regarding the drum scan: wouldnt it be overkill to drunscan each picture? Personally I would scan everything myself first and when I decide to use the picture for a print or similar, I’d go for the drum scan.

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Thanks for the feedback. I actually played around with a scan from my V600 (albeit cropped) and realised that it's a good way to see if it's worth getting a negative drum scanned so that's really good advice, cheers. However, I will also only be using the 4x5 for the ocasional shot (and probably as part of a series) so I think if the shot ends up being 'portfolio worthy' I may decide to get it drum scanned. Thanks for the advice though ;)

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

You might try a loupe with a completely dark barrel. Your loupe appears to be one that's generally used for reviewing negatives; it has a clear lower barrel, not a dark barrel. The fully dark barrel will allow you to see the image on the ground glass better. I have been shooting 4x5 for about seven years and have accumulated several 4x5s: a Nagaoka "Woody" field camera; a Sinar F1 monorail; a Horseman 45LS monorail; a Calumet monorail; and a Busch Pressman 45D, which is a press camera. I formerly owned a nice Cambo SC-R and a Linhof Color Kardan. I have gone fully large-format crazy and now have an 8x10 on order from Intrepid. I like the Stearman Press developing tank. I prefer dip-and-dunk in some ways, but it uses a lot more chemicals, and you have to do everything in complete darkness (up until the last minute or so of fixing). I've also used the Mod 54 insert for the Paterson tanks. Those work, but you have to be very careful with them, as the negatives will sometimes pop out. I learned to use the swizzle stick rotation method rather than inversion. I've also tried the B's reel, which will hold six sheets. But it's harder to load. Film Photography Project is selling a relatively new insert for the Paterson tank that will hold six sheets. But I rarely need to develop more than four sheets at a time. I have several lenses, but my favorites are two Fujinons--a 75mm SWD and a 180mm W. The 180mm Fujinon is especially fine: very sharp, and about equivalent to a 53mm lens on a 35mm or "full-frame" camera. I have a beautiful 135mm Nikkor-W, but that gets to be a bit wide. You might want to look into 180mm or even 210mm to to with your 130mm Schneider-Kreuznach. (I have three S-Ks, and they're all excellent lenses.) Shanghai GP3 works very well, and it's reasonably priced. You can find it on eBay. Good luck in large format!

[@ldstirling]

Why did you opt for the 3D printed "black" edition of the Intrepid 4x5 instead of the even cheaper laminated wood version? Additionally, I see your Minolta Spotmeter. Very good choice, I have one myself, and I think it's the best value spotmeter out there, aside from some phone apps if you don't want to carry a digital camera with you.

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Hi, I added the fresnel as I don’t have the best eye sight and also knew that I would be shooting at sunset/night so trying to make the ground glass as bright as possible! In truth, I went for the ‘black’ as I prefer the look of it and also liked the element of a ‘modern’ approach to its construction, so really just personal taste. Hope that helps :)

[@jamespinderphotoman]

Great video Ross! Looking to get one myself. What shutter release cable is that by the way?

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Thank you James. The cable is just a basic one from Amazon, I think it cost about £10 - though I have wrapped it in red heat shrink that electricians use as I have a few so I know the red one is for the 4x5!

[@jamespinderphotoman]

@@RossJukesPhotography Ah I noticed the red - looked a bit fancy! That's a good idea. Thanks Ross.

[@murraykriner9425]

I've used my Rochester 4 x 5 Primo on a few occasions. My camera is well over a hundred years old, so I'm very careful with its use and just where I take it, as it's little more than a single sheet Kodak Folding Camera from early 1900. Your fortunate in having services for scanning near you, as Central Ohio in the U.S. has nothing but subjects to shoot, and only mail order for all else. Was looking at a speed graphics to save wear and tear on the Primo, but someone mentioned the Intrepid had greater flexibility with only a marginal increase in cost. Large format only became of interests after shooting medium format with 120 roll films in vintage bellows, box, and folding varieties. Its more trouble since re-rolling onto 620, 116, and 127 spools is required. Wishing you well in your new career shooting large format.

[@lensman5762]

Good introduction to the camera. LOL, " Schneider makes good glass ". I guess there are a lot of people watching this video who would be buying from Intrepid for their first 4X5 outfit . The price point is just right, meaning you can build a 4X5 camera outfit for less than a £1000.00. No that is not too much, considering that one has to add the cost of a decent used lens ( Large Format used lenses are the only ones that one could afford ), a couple of film holders, a loupe, a focusing cloth, a decent cable release, developing tank and chemicals and the most important of all a proper light meter. A box of 25 sheets of HP5 + would cost about £45.00 or so. I will leave the printing side of it alone for now, but at the very least you'd need a scanner capable of handling a 4X5 neg. My advice would be to start with just one lens. A 135mm ~ 180mm ( 40mm~ 55mm, in 35mm terms ) range is a good start . If you have not worked with large format before, then spend any money you have on film and chemicals. Trust me you'd need it, and don't expect to just go out and shoot like Ansel Adams.

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Hi, thanks for the comment. Just out of interest, why would new 4x5 shooters need to invest in chemicals/scanner etc? There are still places that will develop and scan 4x5 so you could probably keep the set up under £600 until you know it’s for you? I would imagine the percentage of people who shoot 4x5 a few times and then never go back to it is quite high, due to the more technical nature of it - hence the intrepid and second hand glass etc being a good starting point 👍

[@lensman5762]

@@RossJukesPhotography One of most unique advantages of shooting 4X5 sheet film is the ability of the photographer to develop every sheet of film exactly as required. This will enable the photographer to extract maximum information from the negative. I do develop 120 colour at home too, but I can not really justify the cost of 4X5 colour film, so B&W it is. You can have it developed by a lab, but you have very little control over the procedure, and I hope you agree that it is not nearly as involving. The developing gear and the chemicals will set you back around the £160.00 mark but it is worth every penny of it. You could be right in saying that a lot of people will soon give up using 4X5. It is a hard discipline that requires absolute concentration and a slow deliberate way of looking at subjects of interest, something that is called Visualisation, but as you know, it is most rewarding when it all comes together. I guess a lot of people who have been fed on the diet of auto this, auto that , 250 focus point digital nonsense will find it difficult to get used to, but it is doable.

[@chevy2die]

Duuuuude your apartment or whatever this is, is siiiick!!

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Ha, cheers Andrew, unfortunately it is just a studio but it's very cool ;)

[@Dannnnnnnnnyy]

I appreciate the review, but why make a video before seeing any images you've made or really used it? Just something that could have pushed this video a little bit further. looking forward to your follow up video on it

[@psycomantis95]

Boss video mate

[@neilpiper9889]

In the UK it's a five by four A 5x4,... get it

[@chasethelight]

Hi Ross, I've been looking for a red cable release. You mentioned everything but that cable release! What make is that? Thanks!

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Hi, I couldn’t find one either so this is just a standard black cable release with red electrical gear shrink on it! Easy to make yourself! Hope this helps 😉

[@issiport5978]

Fresnel ground glass?

[@RossJukesPhotography]

???

[@issiport5978]

@@RossJukesPhotography hey! I wanted to know if the stock ground glass for the intrepid is a fresnel style ground glass. Thanks!

[@RossJukesPhotography]

@@issiport5978 ah, ok. It’s not fresnel style but it is relatively bright. However, I have added a fresnel (personal choice as my eye sight isn’t great) - it cost around $30 from eBay and has been great!

[@issiport5978]

@@RossJukesPhotography awesome! Thanks man. Camera looks great. I've been sceptical about the plywood versions but the 3D printed one is genius and looks awesome. Hope to see some photos from you soon

[@creepyloner1979]

"i'm going to spend this entire review showing off my posh studio instead of giving a proper look at the camera, then edit in a bunch of annoying little one or two second shots of the camera."

[@RossJukesPhotography]

Thanks,. Not a review, just my first impressions. Not my posh studio, rented space for recording the video. I agree about the annoying two second clips, didn’t have much time to do more. However, I’ll be doing a proper ‘review’ soon. Thanks for the feedback

[@eccentricsmithy2746]

Anything 3d printed is of the lowest quality. It breaks so easily.