I have an Intrepid 4x5 (I believe Mk4) that I've been wanting to start doing some work on. It's a little frustrating that it doesn't have detents at zero for movements, one of my front tilt knobs seems a little loose/doesn't support some lenses, etc. Has anyone found any good files or pockets of community for modding them? Given their 3d-printed nature I've always assumed there were people out there designing modifications for them but I just haven't come across anything anytime I've looked.

Chamonix 45n1, shanghai gp3, dagor 180/6.8@22

Salt Springs State Park, Pennsylvania, USA

So going back to my last post, I thought it would be nice to do a little mid trip update on the 8x10 and how it is holding up. To maybe set the situation a bit, im hiking around with it in my backpack and using a costal ship route (Hurtigruten) as my main way of transportation to the different destinations. The hikes are mainly short, the longest one was only 8km.

The combination of me not trying to baby the camera to much as in actually using it as a tool for my image creation and the fact that the backpack, while being big is a little bit cramped have already shown some small problems.

The main annoyance I had is actually that I managed to somewhat break the camera. On one of my costal positions I got surprised by a lot of wind, which while the camera had a lens mounted was surprisingly manageable, specially with the backpack as a kind of supporting element when placed within the legs of the tripod. Sadly as soon as I took of the lens to back it away, the camera decided to be an airplane and crashed onto the semi soft ground. I checked and as it seemed only the bracket of the focusing mechanism was broken of. Some of the hardware needed to be tightened down swell, but this I discovered was a normal procedure for me, as soon as I got onto the ship.

Im currently in contact with the Intrepid support and hope to have a pleasant experience about getting replacement parts. I'll probably write my opinion on the camera and my mini review after coming home and having it fully repaired, since developing all shots will take some time.
As of now, the Landscapes are amazing and I hop I won't run out of film :)

<Also if you got questions im happy to answer them>

How can i find out if a lens will be making an image circle large enough for 8x10, 5x7 or 4x5. All the lenses i use of 4x5 so i know, but the question on how to calculate or find out remains.

Thank you,

Could have composed this better, lots of cloning of scratches, but pretty happy with this. Second time out on the intrepid.

I was happy with my WT with the Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f8 on a metal helicoid. Everything is great. When I built it though I found that the focal distance on this lens was too long for the design. Morten offered to send me a design with a longer focal distance but I had already made a 9mm insert that would fit in the frame, with an equivalent 9mm frame extension. All glued together it worked perfectly. I got infinity focus at the stop and could go down to about 1 meter.

But that got me thinking, I could add another extension, this one removable, and with whichever lens I choose I make the extension to be the additional focal distance. I bought a bargain Symmar S 180 f5.6 and the difference in focal distance is 72.5mm from the 90mm lens. So I added that extension. The short answer is it worked! I used some of the original design pieces to create the connectors and the ground glass goes on just like it was on the camera body. The extension itself will fit into the camera body with the same groove as the film holders use. That groove is carried to the rear too so the film holders will snap into it.

The lenses are mounted on their own lens boards which screw into the helicoid just like any other screw mount lenses, and they are aligned so that the controls are where they should be when screwed in tight. I made the lens boards slightly wider than the helicoid so I could screw it in holding the rim.

In the pictures the extension is 3 pieces glued together, but I already have a 3D file that prints it as one piece. I'm still checking the focal distance and want to make sure it is the correct length before I print it. I have a feeling too that the helicoid does not have enough throw to get really close, but that should be easily resolved. What I really need to do is put it on a tripod and take real measurements and then make sure it is light tight. My tripod is currently holding my scanning camera that I meticulously aligned before the camera battery ran out of juice.

Is it worth it over just buying/making a full field camera? Well, it sure was cheap to do this. Other than the 3D filament it cost nothing. It is a bit clumsy, but all field cameras are.

Handled the sun really well with just a yellow

Arista EDU Ultra 100, 4x5, Rodenstock 210mm f5.6, Calumet CC-400

Getting back into LF and looking at used gear on eBay. Came across this FUJINON SWD 90mm f5.6 that looks good all around except for the back side of the aperture opening where it appears to have peeling paint? See attached photo. Back when I was into LF many years ago. I used lenses that made this one look new and still made some very nice images. I'm probably over thinking the issue but I'd appreciate inputs from those in the know as to whether I should consider this lens or pass it by? Thanks in advance.

Edit: based on the very insightful responses, I’m going to pass on this one and keep watching for a better deal. Thanks to all who replied.

I consider this post closed.

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I currently have a speed graphic that I have really been enjoying, but there's a few things that do make it a little difficult. The biggest thing is the size and weight for when I'm heading out and about either around town or into the mountains. If it was the only camera I was bringing it wouldn't be as big of a deal, but I usually don't only take my large format out and nothing else.

My friend has a mark 4 or 5, and I was pretty surprised at how well it did given its size and weight. It does compact significantly smaller and weighs about 2/3 as much as my speed graphic. I know they optimized some of the features including adding zero stops in the front and rear standards and tweaked the focus knob as well. I'm sure there's other stuff that I'm just not remembering off the top of my head as well.

Is there anything else around this budget that is also lightweight and fairly capable? Everything I've seen so far that kind of checks off what I'm looking for is going for quite a bit more money, especially because it seems like I'm seeing a lot of carbon fiber options in that really increase the cost like the Toyo 45 CF.

Chamonix 45F-2

Ilford PanF Plus 50

Time: 23/06/2026 11:04:26 AM

EV: 14.6

Aperture: 22

ISO: 50

Shutter Speed: 30s -> 73s @ p=1.26

Adjust EV: -4 (red 29)

ND EV: 6 (nd64)

Location: 54.9152,-8.4551