Intrepid 4x5 Review - Falling in Love With Large Format Film
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- My first images using the Intrepid 4x5 MK4 large format film camera. This is not a paid review. Yes, they sent me the camera, but I chose to do this video.
Check them out here: intrepidcamera.co.uk
►*DISCLAIMER*
Some of the links below are affiliate links, where I earn a small commission if you click on the link and purchase an item. The money I earn helps me make this type of content consistently.
OTHER GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO(*these are affiliate links):
Sekonic L-558R Light Meter: ebay.us/QIFXF0
Fujinon 135mm f5.6 Lens: ebay.us/RlMfUv
Kodak Ektar 100: bhpho.to/2F2saZx
My '35mm Film Photography Course' on Skillshare (FREE with this link): skl.sh/2JrGhFs
Videos on this channel are filmed using the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K: bhpho.to/2SWPBqO
And the Fuji X-T4: bhpho.to/3n91yYk
My go-to for music (FREE Trial with this link): bit.ly/35aQELa
►GEAR(*these are affiliate links):
My go-to medium format camera: ebay.us/GaK9Kp
My FAVOURITE medium format lens: ebay.us/m5PTvK
My favourite 35mm film camera: ebay.us/82WyVI
My favourite 35mm film lens: ebay.us/u0V817
The BEST medium format travel camera: ebay.us/FVcfWk
The film scanner that I use for my work: ebay.us/RwKM4c
Best entry-level film scanner: ebay.us/Qp3ZEz
The film camera that started it all for me: ebay.us/qewXkD
My go-to light meter: ebay.us/QIFXF0
My favourite film stock: ebay.us/orbudp
My favourite 645 medium format film camera: ebay.us/ydY4HK
Awesome strap for large cameras: ebay.us/pY8mV2
Rope style strap for smaller cameras (cheap but great!): amzn.to/33hrRDO
Camera I use to film my videos: bhpho.to/3gY9yak
Camera that I use for vlogging: bhpho.to/3n91yYk
The gear I use for TH-cam: bit.ly/3j5vd1L
My favourite film cameras: bit.ly/3hm6MN6
Essential film photography accessories: bit.ly/34o3Uvt
→Instagram: bit.ly/2GuYV21
→Website: kmcdougall.com
→Podcast:
..................................
DISCLAIMER
Some of the links above are affiliate links, where I earn a small commission if you click on the link and purchase an item. The money I earn helps me make this type of content consistently.
Me: *Clicking on this video* My Wallet: *Starts breathing heavily*
😂
The low price tag alone is a message that goes beyond photography: Here is a company that cares about the things they do, and they want to make photography accessible.
I bought an intrepid 4x5 mk4 last year to literally take one landscape photo. A year later, it is my favorite format and favorite camera. Im not associated with intrepid in any way, but they have given me excellent customer service on the one issue I did have. The big ground glass is addicting. I now wonder what I did without movements. Even home scans yield larger more detailed files than my Nikon D800. Develop it yourself and it's a feeling like none other. I also have Fuji lenses (125mm and 210mm) and they are indeed cheap and very good.
Movements are essential. I just started using horseman vh ('m not going into 4x5, because of costs, well, for now) and I also wonder how can I lived without it. Additionally having "regular" and "macro" camera in one package is very nice :)
what lens do you use with your D800 to scan?
@@sabi57 I don't scan with the D800. I have an epson 4870 to scan.
I enjoyed the photos, instruction and review of the Intrepid. I have a Lindhof Kardan super color and an intrepid Mk3 (with new mk4 base). I really enjoy both cameras. I love the portability of the Intrepid. I enjoy not having to worry about whether my bellows have pin-hole links as they are new on the intrepid. I love the movements and the feel of the intrepid and I loved dealing with the company via email in the U.K. If you want to get into 4x5, I would advise buying a new intrepid over a used speed or crown graphic. You will have a new camera with new parts and actual support. They sell lens boards if you want new. They even sell an adapter kit to turn your intrepid into an enlarger. This is the way to start your large format journey. I believe the review here was just enough to give you a feel for the camera. That is what you need rather than a lot of details about knobs, etc. Thanks!
The vibe of this video is sooo satisfying
It may be obvious to most, but this is the only place I could find how to properly have the film holder in the camera. I see at 5:05 it goes *between the ground glass and the camera. thank you.
i can feel by vibe of this video that You are really happy with this camera :)
I have had a Benderview 4x5 I made from a kit many years ago. Now that I am retired I plan to use it lots more. My Yashicamat 6x6 was the start of a long slow road to bigger and bigger negatives.
Been waiting for this one to come out and it's super cool to see you're enjoying it so much Kyle! I found the same thing with my intrepid. Cool to see some various colour film examples, need to get my hands on some! Stay well 😊
Thanks Murray! Glad you enjoyed it.
I've always been intrigued by large format photography but, after 30 years of doing photography, I've never taken the plunge. Thanks for making this great video!
Thanks Terry. Give it a shot. I'm sure you'd enjoy!
Your video is so amazing and inspirational. Takes me back to my college days in the darkroom 🎞 📷. Thank you so much for sharing!!! 💯🙂🙏🏽
Yup, many years back I used to lug around a Linholf monorail camera, but the problem for me was finding the best composition as you can’t really experiment with multiple setups, pretty much has to be right the first time, or maybe maybe the second. A Hasselblad fits me better. But… the use of a smart phone to experiment with viewpoint, composition, focal length, etc. before the setup is the way to go. It shows here I think, as unlike the images shown in too many other large format youtubes, these are actually really good pictures. Thank you!
Beautiful video, Kyle! I could feel your happiness, gotta say I got emotional from what you said about feeling satisfaction that you haven't felt in a long time with that amazing photo
That's awesome. Thanks, Pedro!
Large format is my favorite format. I owe a lot to Intrepid for providing a great option! I still have my MK2 and while my main 4x5 is a Chamonix 45F2 now, I am trying to come up with excuses to buy the Intrepid 8x10 ;) Really great review and BEAUTIFUL photographs!
Thanks so much, Tim! Yep, I love what Intrepid is doing. Always nice to see new options in the film world.
The only downfall is it says it takes 6-8 weeks for them to make the camera? That’s the one thing holding me back
I am so excited you posted this! I have had my eye on this camera forever!
These photos are insane! Probably one of your better images in my opinion. Awesome work Kyle
Thanks so much, Martin.
Very impressive,excellent shots and cool camera!!
Wow 6:58 is wonderful man! Great video as always.
Thanks, Trevor! :)
Now I know what I want for Christmas 🎄
DEFINITELY want a camera with detents for 0's on all movements.
I love the cars shot at 4:40 ) Great review!
Thank you.
Also budget for a decent tripod, and that means one that isn’t too lightweight.
Analog film will be a Fenix bird, and last forever as our history in stone.
Awesome shots 👏👏👏
Ektar you're saying? Oho, wait till you've run some good ol' Porta through these bad boys.
Got some portra 160 on the way. 🙂
I am missing 4x5 shooting so much ah tempting
Pretty sure I heard your voice on an ad the other day. Do you do voice work?
Nope. Can’t say I have.
@@KyleMcDougall I think a robot cloned your voice. Can't remember the ad. I'll take note if I hear it again.
Damn robots.
What camera do you use for shooting the video? Video is so clean
Also the photo is amazing ofcourse
Thank you. Blackmagic Pocket 4k.
I just started using a 4x5 Ondu pinhole camera. It was the least expensive way I found to get into large format. I’ve only shot B&W film and develop it myself. Wondering where you send your 4x5 color film to be developed.
I had mine developed here in Toronto at Toronto Image Works.
Ehy man! Wonderful documentary! Just a quick question, had you ever had issues showing up with your (pretty big) setup with people? I mean, private proprieties, angry people, etc?
Thanks!!
Not yet. But, I'm always just up front with what I'm doing, and polite.
Hi, may I ask, do you process your own film or who processes for you? I am just getting back into large format. Thanks
I don't process my own. For these images, I used Toronto Image Works.
How do you feel about the aspect ratio of 4x5? I could see you enjoying more 5x7.
It's actually becoming my favourite aspect ratio.
hey kyle what film grain do you use for video??
I'm using FilmConvert.
Which light meter is that?
Sekonic L-558R
The old yellow house is just up the 400
4x5は中途半端だ
どうせなら8x10
I feel like I’m watching a Netflix series on analog photography. Production value on these is through the roof! I also love the photo at 6:58, along with all the others lol. Cant wait to see more of your 4x5 work Kyle!
🤛 Thanks man. Having fun shooting with it!
yes, this video was some of the best of his.
@Brae Hunziker Yours as well, brother! Both of these channels have quickly become my favourite
*composes image*
“this could be good”
“it could also be really boring”
I felt that
Me too! It’s good to hear what we all think. 😂
Now I realize that 35mm film was just a gateway drug
Yeah, it was...
Once you go medium format only the sky (and the wallet) is the limit. Ilford just introduced Ultra Large Format preorder, how does 24" x 20" negatives sound?
View Camera's are obsolete these days. So much you can do with a full frame and then in post. No need at all for that old clunker. Just a waste of time. To experience it go for it. To use it for a job...forget about it.
Skip Rope Boooo 👎👎👎
@@RewDowns You obviously have never worked a view camera for a living!
Worried about wasting film....
Meanwhile, I worked at a studio that used to burn through ~400 sheets of 8x10 FujiChrome 100D per day, just doing copy work.
(I didn't work there at the time but I spent 2 months just reorganizing all their negatives).
Always been intrigued by intrepid cameras due to the price. But those images so clean. Beautiful captures.
Thanks Madison!
Intrepid reviews are either "my camera fell apart like Legos" or "this is a well built camera for the price". The level of quality control in their products seems to be really random and for the price of the cameras that makes me really uneasy
Swings. tilts and rise. That is all a view camera is about. A good rail. A good pod and there you go. Man I had Arca's, Derdorffs you name it. Used to love having to do multiple pops to achieve f 22-45 with strobes in the studio. Reciprocity calculations for long exposures with Tungsten film. Damn the digital age has made it so everyone is a photographer. So they think.
Nice Job on the video. Show the peeps how the swings and tilts effect depth of field and perspective. This was the big thing we used view camera's for was product photography...yada yada
I love my Intrepids - yes I said Intrepids I bought the 8x10 and the 4x5!!!! Great video - yet again! Thank you.
Yeah, the 8x10 looks nice! I thought film was expensive for 4x5 though...
Kyle McDougall - I’ve been shooting LF for 15 years - there’s no comparison - I love seeing the reaction from my clients - it’s like they’re truly seeing themselves for the first time.
@@marloncrutchfield1625 I've had a Busch Pressman Model D for 30 years. In Columbia College, 1994-96, I had the good fortune to shoot lovely classmates for studio projects. I apologized for being too broke to pay them, but all they ever wanted was a set of prints. One was my aunt's friend's daughter, who I shot in her mom's dark-panelled bedroom w/one window in it. In one, you can see the window & trees outside reflected in her left eyeball. When she saw the prints, she said, "I had no idea I could look like that in a picture."
My first training was with the 8x10 Deardorf in the military. Then used 4x5 press till discharge and then a Calumet 4x5 for college. Then I discovered the perfect combination, a 5x7 Intrepid!!! Now I have a 6x17 roll back for it. 5x7 GET HOOKED!!
I absolutely love that shot with the phone booth. I think it’s my favorite that you’ve done. Makes me want to get one of these cameras and I agree it’s so awesome that a company is making these NEW film cameras. I’ve been saying it for awhile now I would love to see more companies making newer film cameras.
Agreed, man. And thank you!
Intrepid. Great people and they build a great camera. Your first experience was much better than mine 😂 hoping to have mine for many years to come. Loved that first image of the gas station. Composition definitely worked.
Also where did you send your film out for developing?
Thanks man! What happened to yours? Operator error? 😁 Or gear? I had mine developed here in Toronto at a local lab.
Kyle McDougall definitely operator error. Haha Film loading problems. But luckily I learned and haven’t messed up since.
Ah yes... been there!
Will always shoot digital as it suits my experimental style - but addicted to large format film videos on YT
Digital can’t touch it. Take that gas station shot: Look at the spatial “sound stage”. The entire image is in focus, but look at the spatial separation with the foreground weed! You could walk into the scene! 8x10 blows 4x5 away in this regard BTW. Joel Meyorwitz’ “Cape Light” is a classic in this regard.
Big format film is a hassle. No doubt. But you can’t match it anywhere. $400 blows away a $10000 digital rig. Not even close.
I'm putting together an Intrepid camera setup and spending around $800 all together. I underestimated how many little accessories id need!
oh man i want one so bad. I built my own 4x5 plate camera for wet plate collodion, but its not very good.... maybe ill save up for an intrepid.
I used a 4x5 Linhof Technikardan for a quarter of a century, it went all over Europe with me, never let me down, paid all my bills and gave me lots of front covers too.
“I like the composition, this could be good... but it could also just be really boring”
-thought every photographer ever. 😅
I love it! thought you captured the experience of figuring out 4x5 and using the Intrepid well! The whole rushing with 1000 thoughts going through your mind is right on point. 👏🏼
Haha, thanks man! Yeah, I figured I’m not the only one with a million indecision’s. All part of the fun!
I've been eyeing the 4x5 format/intrepid camera now for so long, but watching Kyle's joy and excitement has made me finally pull the trigger 😭
Man I love this video Kyle! Your passion for it resonates!
Thank you, Mark!
good to see you beginning at this, and confidently too, but yes it is harder with intrepid, as there is no detents, so it is harder to zero things.
For what its worth: I have been shooting large format since buying a Speed Graphic in 1972. In recent years, a 5x7 Canham has been my go-to camera. I acquired a 4x5 Intrepid Mark IV a few weeks ago and am sharing your experience with setting it up. It takes twice as long to set up as any large format camera of my past due to the lack of detents that assure alignment, and my confidence in using the camera suffers accordingly. If you find a solution, please share! At the moment, it has a high probability of going on eBay. and a return to the Canham/Kodak Commercial View/Graflex cameras that are so much faster to set up.
A fine-line marker and a square took care of the swing alignment. Never understood people saying they miss detents. The first thing I do is pull a 6-inch level from my pocket and check vertical on my standards. Takes me 10 seconds and I can move on. Sets up faster (for me) than my Toyo 45A. Also half the weight! 👍 But I understand everyone has a process they are comfortable with. Keep shooting!
@@scottconklin3241 Why is it not provided with the lines if they are necessary? I'm puzzled.
In the past, I have tested a quality "machinist's level" (not a cheap plastic one) against the standards on my Canham 5x7 and Kodak All-Metal Commercial View 8x10 and find it isn't accurate enough, although if you habitually stop down to f/22-90, any alignment error in focus would disappear; I often shoot wide open or one stop down. Plus an additional item to pack along, dig out, use then re-store (or lose!). Seems like a design flaw to me not to have detents... just saying ... they aren't rocket science to add to the suports and would subtract weight. Your images are wonderful, by the way!
Russell I agree detents are easy to do. As far as the level, I use it for verticals; I agree would not be accurate enough for squaring the swing and focal plane. The lines solve that, and are easy to do, but those could be scribed easily at the factory; not sure why they don’t. Bottom line (for me) is the fun of customizing a $300 dollar camera. I prefer minimal equipment as that’s part of my enjoyment of LF. My Sinar is super versatile, but not near as fun!
@@scottconklin3241 hahah, in total agreement, my Sinar F+ is gathering dust - but in favour of a 4x5 RB Graflex... nice to dispense with the tripod!!! Keep hsooting, amigo.
thanks for the insight kyle! what you didn't mention is a proper tripod to go along with it, speaking of which, what tripod were you using as I see it`s not the typical Gitzo was it? :) thanks!
Cheers Max. I'm using a set of CF Benro legs and a Markins Q10 head.
How did you find shooting a Crown Graphic? I’ve been thinking about playing with one.
I only used the Crown Graphic for a short period of time, so hard to say how much I liked it. I was (and still am) fairly new to 4x5.
I use a Toyo 4x5 monorail. (Yeah I know supposed to be a studio camera right? ) And I also use the fujinon 135mm f 5.6 W lens. This lens is %#^&* gorgeous! Ive used the Schneider 58 and 90 and the fujinons are as good if not better. I also have a Fujinon 180mm A. Buy Fujinon large format lenses with your eyes closed man. They rock!
Yep, big fan of the Fuji lenses as well!
Ah gotta try it one day!
We are a group of film lovers in New York City. Check out our videos for nyc photo walks and more!
Great video, as usual! Love the "Bell" shot! Love my Intrepid 8x10 Mk2. One suggestion for ensuring the front swing is zeroed out: place the front standard into each of the holes, aligned the it with the base using a triangle, then draw a pencil line along the front base side of the standard. I did this on my 8x10 and it really helps in the field.
Thanks, Alan. Great advice!
Love it and love my intrepid. 4x5 is so addicting. Thinking about grabbing the 8x10 around the Holidays
Definitely addicting!
I restarted to shoot photos with my 4x5 after wathcing several your videos. I now realized how shooting a photo is fun with my classic camera comapred with my Sony A3.
Glad you found some inspiration here.
Have the latest intrepid 4x5 & unfortunately nothing but issues w it. Front standard was cut wrong & had to be replaced; light leaks between film holder & back standard. Love that others’ cameras work well... but my advice is to look at other brands.
Sorry to hear that you had issues with it.
Great photo tour ..beautiful photos..thanks
Thank you.
Great video. That shot of the black car was so nice, same with the night shot
Thanks, Joseph.
Hey Kyle! Just found your channel it's great. Love the video! Was the Bell phonebooth up on hwy 11? oro area? Cheers dude!
Thanks, Michael. And yes, you got it, up near Kilworthy. Funny how many people recognize this location. It's so random!
I took my first 4x5 shot with a Crown in 1982. Still have the negatives! So cool to still see people enjoying the process. Developing film is like opening Christmas presents. Good job.
TriX-46. Do you do your own developing? If so, what chemicals do you use?
I don't, no.
I can't for the life of me find that abandoned gas station near Trout Creek. Any chance you'd be willing to share the location?
The one in this video is actually over near Minden. Between Norland and Minden.
That was rad. Love the old gas station image. Oooooo
Wow! Some great images!
4x5 looks like a ton of fun. Definitely want to try it out sometime in the future!
Great review! The large format negatives have so much detail and make it very tempting to try
This is awesome Kyle! Great video and the negative for the image must be a beautiful one worth staring at for hours 😍
Thanks, Sam. Yeah, the negatives are something special!
1:17 My man included Bach in this episode, first time I’ve seen a channel do something so beautiful 😢
I brought this camera during lockdown and now I can't stop using it ! Your review and video is super good. Also the telephone cabin photograph is amazing, can I ask you about the settings you used? Did you calculated some reprocity failure also? I have a Kodak ektar box ready to use and would like to shoot some photos at night. Thank you and good work Kyle
Thank you Mariano. I don't know the exact settings, but I did use a reciprocity calculator app on my phone for that image.
@@KyleMcDougall great, can I ask wich app are you using? thanks
You just opened a whole new world for me. Now I’m keen to try it out for myself! Also, I love how passionate you sound. Photography is amazing.
I appreciate that, Zac.
Be proud! The production quality of your videos (and images) are nothing less than excellent! Highly appreciated! I always learn something and it's a delight to watch.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
Great video. Watching your video has inspired me to get into large format photography. Could you recommend a video on TH-cam that can teach one ALL about large format photography?
Glad you enjoyed. Check out Ben Horne on TH-cam for large format content.
@@KyleMcDougall thank you kindly
You have a creative eye for art.
perfect timing for this review, I've really been looking into the intrepid 4x5 and think im gonna pull the trigger on one soon. awesome photos as usual! thanks for the review
Thanks Lewis.
beautiful camera and beautiful images.
Me: Watching Kyle review a camera
My wallet: “uh oh!”
Sorry! :)
Welcome to the dark side :)
That’s an amazing price! Kyle, would you use this to crop to panoramic, say, compared to a dedicated panoramic camera
I love large format it's amazing, yes you can get into it cheap and then it EATS ALL YOUR MONEY with film and developing costs, or else develop the film yourself at which point it EATS ALL YOUR TIME and them scan it yourself and it EATS ALL YOUR DISK SPACE..... it's a beautiful monster. And the intrepid is amazing for the price, pretty sure they do them with different bellows colours too. Lovely pictures, thank you.
Well Kyle, love the Bell Phone booth shot. That one will live on. So Ive watched you fall in love with all sorts of formats ie fuji aps-c, 6x7 645 mini Pentax roll film, (110?) 35mm etc. What’s left ? How about wetplate ? seems like it would be a natural evolution to your curious and inquisitive mind. As always your reviews rock and the production values of the youtube channel remains unrivalled. Looking forward to more. Allbest :)
600 Dollars for a new large format Camera? That had to be a very crappy lens. You loose a lot of quality of the large format.
It seems there exists a inner urge of many film photographers to buy cameras with a larger format. 6x4,5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9, 9x12, 13x18, 18x24 and so on. 35mm film is not good enough any more. Why? I don't know? Everything has to be bigger, larger in our lives.
Perhaps driven through inner emptiness, narcism, addiction, representation need i don't know, you name it. Spending our last money on things, that we don't need?
It should be considered. Larger film formats does't make us better photographers. Often in the contrary. Larger formats are more difficult to handle especially large format. Because of that the results are in many cases modest.
It seems that large format cameras makes photos looking empty or emotionless. I have seen it so much on other channels. I think, the lack of depth of field of large format ruins many shots? It appears the hole photo fall apart. Nothing to hold on for the viewer. Neither in the foreground nor in the background. Almost everything is out of focus. But not in a nice way especially for portraits.
Large format needs for sure many years of practice to come along with. And huge amounts of wasted film to get there. Therefore Large format should be chosen carefully for artistic purposes with meaningfulness and rather less for trivial every day shots.
You can shoot 50 photos of 35 mm film instead of one large format shot 18x24. And only three shots 4x5 corresponds to a full roll of 35 mm film with 36 shots. The stakes are high for each one shot. Either the large format shot blew us away or the shot was unworthy to take.
By the way, blew us away is very difficult to achieve in large format.
What it is with 4X5 or larger cameras, is their longevity. You spend the money once, and it stays there till the camera or more likely the shutter breaks. None of this inbuilt obsolescence of the Digital dangle fangle BS. The all singing , all dancing 36 MP camera of yesterday, is considered obsolete today because Mr Sony or Mrs Canon have brought out a 47 MP camera with two dozen face detect modes, Birds in flight, Birds landing, Birds taking a shit, Birds copulating auto focus modes. Then you have the Fujis with their, wait for it, film emulation modes. Ah, the mirrorless, the answer to the ever bulkier and heavy DSLR and their lenses that resembled a telescope at times. Then what happened, they got bigger, bigger, lenses got huge, more and more expensive. Two dozen models each year, Z5, Z6, Z7 and so on till they ran out of letters of the alphabet. Ridiculous, if you asked me. You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried, could you?
Yeah I love the detail on the front end of the Monarch, real sharp. I love my speed graphic, and I'm thinking of picking up a Chamonix 5x8, not cheap but it might be a good investment for my retirement, where I can just kick back and just enjoy taking photos. Loved the video Kyle.
Thank you!
Love love your videos. I’ll take my Crown Graphic with a 135mm Schneider lens and shoot some B&W.
Love the payphone shot
I shoot a Chamonix F1 4x5 and thinking about adding an 8x10 to my kit. Really interesting in the build quality of these Intrepid cameras.
OK I love the gas station image. I want to know if you found it that way or did you put the front nozzles that way for the photo? I don't have a problem setting things up just the way you want if you can. But shooting the way you found it is also good.
These videos are so well put together. Super informative, great cinematic B roll and brilliant images to boot. Keep it up!
Thank you, Tom.
I heard someone commenting on this camera on a podcast so was interested to see what you think. However what does tilting or moving the lens up or down do? Thanks
The movements on a LF camera change the plane of focus or the perspective. There are many of them depending on what you want to do.
@@KyleMcDougall I must look into this. Thanks Kyle.
Amazing video, beautiful brand new camera. Can't wait to start shooting large format. I have two fully serviced german 9x12 cameras from 30' and 20' with holders. I also have 9x12 enlarger from 30' waiting to be restored, it'll be something! It's the same like cubic inch, more is better!
Nice!
Enjoy the world of 4x5!
How do you scan the frames?
Thank you. I'm using an Epson 4990.
@@KyleMcDougall There is an interesting thing about older Epson scanners where they built to fit up to 4x5 size, the later models cut the size of to 35mm to 120 unless you got the more expensive models!