On Tuesday, Intrepid Camera launched its latest Kickstarter project: a 150mm f6.3 lens for large format cameras as well as an electronic shutter.
This is big news in the large format community. When you buy a new large format camera, you still have to find various secondhand pieces of equipment to complete the kit. Specifically, you need to buy a vintage large format lens since there are no new large format lenses on the market.
It’s an intimidating process for new large format shooters, and Intrepid is aiming to relieve some of that stress by creating their own lens and shutter. You’ll be able to buy an fully complete, brand new, large format kit in one place.
Intrepid Camera has been in the large format and darkroom printing business for the last ten years, designing and producing large format cameras and enlargers. Adding a large format lens and shutter to their lineup is a very exciting move and a huge win for the film community.
The New Intrepid Large Format Lens
The lens will be a 150mm f6.3 lens with a compact and lightweight Cooke triplet design. The aperture is equivalent to f1.8 on 35mm. The lens also has enough image circle for tilt/shift movement.
Here’s what Intrepid has to say about the new lens:
If you know a little about lens design, you’ll know that the Cooke triplet corrects for the main optical aberrations; above f11, there’s excellent sharpness throughout the image, or a nice bokeh when used wide open at f6.3. It renders colors beautifully, making it an excellent all-rounder and a great addition to anyone’s kit.
It is priced on the Kickstarter at £189 ($251.96).
The Intrepid Large Format Electronic Shutter
The new Intrepid I-0 Shutter is compatible with all Copal 0 size lenses with shutter speeds from ∞ to 1/125th. You’ll be able to dial in your target aperture and ISO to get live EV readings. Intrepid describes it as a super smart cable release with a screen.
A few of the other key features are:
- 3.5mm jack, making it compatible with modern flash equipment
- Shutter-open warnings to prevent you from wasting film
- Fast charging via USB-C as well as extra battery life with changeable batteries
- Bright control screen
- Weatherproof aluminum body
It is priced on the Kickstarter at £289 ($384.86), or you can buy the lens and the shutter for £429 ($571.30).
Intrepid’s Kickstarter Campaign
The Intrepid Camera Lens and Shutter Project Kickstarter launched on Tuesday and will run through October 24th. They are aiming to raise £35,000, and all the money will go towards producing the lens and shutter and having a stable and viable tool for the future of large format photography.
A little more about the project from Intrepid:
This project is Intrepid Camera planting a flag. If it is successful, then this is just the first in a line of shutters and lenses. We are super excited about this new venture and where it could go. Technology has moved on so much since the shutters and lenses we all use were first designed, and whilst they are beautiful pieces of engineering, isn’t it really exciting to think about what else they could do if they were designed today?
You can find the project on Kickstarter here.
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