Intrepid 4x5 MK4 Camera Review

Love this camera, great camera if you are looking to get into large format photography
intrepidcamera.co.uk/
www.largeformatphotography.in...
www.nickcarverphotography.com/
A leap back into photography after a few years out, this time with a difference
Before I lost my passion it was all about the mega pixels and sensor size, and I became all consumed with getting "the shot", instead of enjoying the location, the walk, the company, this time however its different, its about the adventure and going back to the beginning, relearning film in 35mm, 120mm medium format and 4x5 large format.
If you enjoy the great outdoors, then this is the channel for you, I offer free walk guides to suit most, photo/walk guide coffee table zines, limited addition photography prints, and photo books
Each print is limited to 50, and will be numbered and signed.
The Gear
Olympus OM-2nOlympus Zuiko MC 50mmOlympus Zuiko S 35-70mmVivitar OM MC 75-205mm
Intrepid 4x5 large format with the Fuji 90mm, 135mm and 250mm Lenses
IDay 6x17 back for the intrepid
Mamiya C3 120mm Film Camera with 55mm Lens
Pentax 645n medium format camera
Plustek opticfilm 8200 ai for 35mm film scanning
Epson 700v scanner with Silverfast AI software
Manfrotto Tripod
DJI OM4 Gimble
iPhone 13 Pro
Apps - Outdoors GPS
Light Meter Free
Marks Viewfinder
DJI Mino
www.filmgrains.co.uk
[e-mail]

[@adamm4926]

You just helped me pull the trigger on a mk5 thanks for the video. Excellent video.

[@JamesSmith-wy7zk]

Great helpful video. Now I understand all the components I will need for this system. Thanks! I just moved up to medium format with a Mamiya RB67 and starting to develop my black and white film. Once I get confident with that system, I will move up to the Intrepid 4x5 as well. All the best. Jim from Georgia

[@andyemmett9930]

Thanks Jim, really appreciate it, hope you enjoy the RB, never owned one but I believe it’s a great camera with some really good glass, I have the C3 6x6 which I love, I think it’s good to run both systems so you have choice of medium format and LF and the intrepid is a great place to start 👍😁

[@markbrown1609]

good show chap, is that the newest mk4 intrepid model

[@andyemmett9930]

Thanks Mark, appreciate the comment, it’s the model before, not sure what version they are on at the moment, but I definitely don’t have the latest, I will be getting the newest version next year 👍

[@monkeysausageclub]

Nice one Andy, I have been eyeing up one of these for a while. Have you had any issues getting the lenses from Japan? Import duty and the like.

[@andyemmett9930]

Definitely worth while getting one, as long as you have the patience 🤭 touch wood, I’ve not had any issues, I go for Mint lenses, and read the description well, I avoid any lens that has any damage apart from dust as that’s hard to avoid and it’s never effected my shots, again it will say if it has any effect on the performance of the lens, and unfortunately I’ve always ended up having to pay import duties it will change but the last time I bought a lens for about £300, I paid around £80 for import duty, also check the lens Copal and get the correct lens board, if you are going with Intrepid then they sell them, if not eBay have loads … hope that makes sense and let me know how you get on

[@andyvan5692]

great review, and recomendation (nick carver), I love his video's, but be wary, the one on Peel apart film (polaroid) is quite funny, and (spoiler alert!) at the end he does swear a bit, due to an amateur mistake he made, but all funny none the less.

[@andyemmett9930]

Thanks Andy.. I remember watching that one and laughing my way through it, certainly an expensive day out for him, I’ve actually looked at New55 film myself, but not sure after watching that video whether or not I’m up for the associated pain 🤭

[@andyvan5692]

​@@andyemmett9930 yes, and esp at $15 a shot!!.......Priceless a great selection, but seriously another good recomendation is the Mat Marrash channel, otherwise known as "LFF" or large format friday, very informative, and excelent content, of over 4 seasons now, as at 2023 weather technique, developing, or just an ASMR look at gear, and what some can afford; a well done effort.

[@andyemmett9930]

I will check that channel out, always looking for other channels talking about Large Format, I did actually look for New55 yesterday, but it seems like it’s sold out everywhere and not being made anymore which is a huge shame

[@andyvan5692]

@@andyemmett9930 Yes, especially with all those old style polaroid holders still out there, and only instax films for instax plastic cameras available, due to Fuji phasing out the polaroid films, so bad luck for all those LF and Bronica/Hasselblad/Mamiya MF shooters out there, who have these, and NO stock to put into them, a real shame. Also looking at how "new55" and "One instant" where made, they ALL where ONLY re-cut rolls of older polariod leftovers !! , NO one has bothered doing it, like polaroid did, from scratch, so NO new stock, just 'off cuts', such a shame no one has the funding for such an enterprise anymore.

[@andyemmett9930]

I guess it’s an expensive process and probably not quite enough demand out there, I was looking at the lomo instax wide back for my 4x5 for a bit of fun, but nowhere near the uniqueness of peel apart film, fingers crossed someone will restart production 🤞

[@AustenGoldsmithPhotography]

Good review. I have exactly the same camera . It got me started but it took me no time to find the camera rather irritating, I was planning on buying a chamonix but now that the pound has plummeted the price has become too high . I might look at a chroma as a more solid replacement

[@andyemmett9930]

It is a good camera to get started with, but it’s definitely not a user friendly as some of the top end 4x5’s I was looking at a Michelangelo 4×5 or a Shen-Hao, would also like a dedicated 6x17 as it works on the Intrepid but always feels like it’s not quite right…. But like you said it’s not worth buying at the moment

[@AustenGoldsmithPhotography]

@@andyemmett9930 things suddenly accelerated, I purchased the chamonix last night

[@andyemmett9930]

😂😂😂 we have all been there 🤭, it’s a beautiful looking camera, I would have struggled to hold out on buying that also, would love to see what you manage to get with it… are you on Insta or VERO?

[@Riverrockphotos]

@@AustenGoldsmithPhotography Nice.

[@Riverrockphotos]

Where on earth are you getting Fuji lens that are cheaper than other ones?

[@andyemmett9930]

Hours of trawling eBay 😂 I know they have gone up in price with the weak pound 🙄 not been lens shopping in a while although I do want to add a 180mm to the collection as I think it’s to be a jump to go from 135mm to 250mm

[@Riverrockphotos]

@@andyemmett9930 Awesome. I just bought my first large format camera. LIke you digtal just ruined it for me. So now I shoot mostly 6x6, 35mm, and now 4x5 after I get the rest of the stuff I need.

[@andyemmett9930]

Welcome to the world of pain….. I mean large format, for all its frustrations I do love it, keep my up to date on how you get on with 4x5 once you are set up, what camera make did you go for in the end?

[@synlfo7828]

good job mate. I am looking forward to going back home to the uk to visit family. Will be taking the 4x5. Subbed

[@andyemmett9930]

Thanks, hope you get some good shots, what 4x5 camera do you have?

[@califmike2003]

Do you know what type of screw head there using on this camera ? trying to add a fresnel lens and cant figure what type of screw head there using ?

[@andyemmett9930]

If I understood the question right, apologies if not, I got my Fresnel lens from Intrepid for not very much and I used a PH0 precision screwdriver to remove the screws holding the ground glass in place

[@califmike2003]

Yes but the screws themselves on the camera what type of screws are they do they require a Phillips screwdriver a flat head screwdriver a torque screwdriver the head of the screw what type of fitting is it? Thank you for your reply Andy.

[@andyemmett9930]

Not sure on the actual screw type, but it’s a Phillips screwdriver size PH0

[@lensman5762]

@@califmike2003 He has already told you that he used a PH0 screw driver. PH stands for Phillips,