Intrepid enlarger from any 4x5 camera

klownshed · Sep 5, 2018

I’ve just seen this which might be of interest to some.

https://intrepidcamera.co.uk/blog/introducing-the-intrepid-enlarger

They are making a little light box that attaches to any 5x4 camera to convert it into an enlarger.

Seems like a pretty neat little device which could be great for those of you with 5x4 cameras but no space for a 5x4 enlarger.

jim10219 · Sep 5, 2018

Excellent! I gave up on trying to make one myself and couldn't ever find a 4x5 Graflarger at a decent price and in good shape. Plus I was afraid of what would happen if I needed to replace the bulb. So I eventually settled on collecting regular enlargers, because they were so damn cheap! Recently, I've been selling them (because they seem to be going up in price here locally), and I need the space. This could be an option to free up even more space and allow me to sell of the rest of my enlargers! Or maybe not. I'll have to think about it.

In any case, I glad to see the return of this novel idea, and the digitization aspect is clever marketing! I'm sure they'll sell a bunch!

Alan9940 · Sep 5, 2018

I'm thrilled that Intrepid has developed and released this product because it might get more folks involved with analog printing. The main issue here--and I ran into this with an 8x10 setup that I built myself--is maintaining precise alignment of the film plane, lens plane, and paper plane. It's not impossible, but certainly more effort is required than, say, a solid dedicated 4x5 enlarger. Anyway, I hope they sell a TON of 'em!

iakustov · Sep 6, 2018

If they come with 8x10 version, I'd definitely think about it..

locutus · Sep 6, 2018

Instant purchase

Cybertrash · Sep 6, 2018

Very interesting, but alignment seems like a difficult issue to tackle, especially if you're using a normal camera tripod.

Mainecoonmaniac · Sep 6, 2018

I think if they created a wall-mounted camera support system, it would make things easier. Also if I were to use my camera as an enlarger, I'd invest in an enlarger lens because they have a flatter field.

klownshed · Sep 7, 2018

There will probably be plenty of potential For DIY mounting solutions. If you already have an enlarger that goes up to medium format, say, you should be able to rig up something to allow the intrepid to attach to your existing column without too much hassle.

But I think it would kind of defeat the purpose of the Intrepid to over complicate it and supply mounting solutions which take up loads of space (both in use and for storing). Using your tripod is a great solution to storage as you use the same kit you take the photos with to make prints. Very clever, simple idea. Obviously there will be compromises but hopefully it won’t be too tricky to use it to make great prints.

locutus · Sep 7, 2018

Attaching a half inch screw threaded mount to my 35mm enlarger column should be simple enough, then i could just reuse that.

Now i would need to do the math on what the max enlargement size is with a 135mm lens at max height. If it allows for 8x10" prints it would work for me as a simple RC home printing setup for give-away prints.

Mainecoonmaniac · Sep 7, 2018

Here's a store-bought solution. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...l0ou0fHLNavQS0AWWQdE1_l0VwaAvxjEALw_wcB&smp=y

locutus · Sep 23, 2018

I did a quick experiment yesterday with my Shenhao mounted on a Durst 35mm enlarger column with 90mm and 180mm taking lenses.

As a makeshift test light/image source i placed my phone in the film plane.

With the 90mm enlargements exceeding my easel are possible, its wide image throw is almost impractical as projecting a 11x14 brings the camera low on the column.
With the 180mm enlargements a bit smaller then 7x9.5 are possible.

I don't have a 135mm lens at hand, but it seems to me that it would be a sweet spot for doing 8x10/11x14 prints, maybe using the 90mm for the occasion i want to print bigger.

One thing that struck me is that i didn't expect enlarging using the 90mm to be very sharp, but looking at the projected 11x14 image with the lens open at f/8 under the grain magnifier you could see the phone's subpixel structures absolutely perfect.

The conclusion seems that for me the Intrepid enlarger head might be a workable solution, now i just need a Nova print processor too.....

locutus · Sep 29, 2018

Further experiment on the concept.....

Built a set of film holders and lightsource from sheet plastic that fits in a graflock back and grafted the resulting contraption of doom on a 35mm enlarger column....

Printed with a 180mm 5.6 Fujinon at f/11 on 7x9.5 paper......... holy perkele am i surprised the result was perfectly servicable first time around.....

Mick Fagan · Sep 29, 2018

Looks like a very good result.

Is the lens centred?

Mick.

Eric Rose · Sep 29, 2018

Very cool! In the 70's I used a Minolta 50mm lens off my SRT101 as an enlarging lens until I could afford a Schneider EL.

The Minolta lens worked like a charm.

locutus · Sep 30, 2018

Mick Fagan said:
Is the lens centred?

Actually, its not centered on purpose.

I'm using a tiny bit of rise and shift to position the projected image on the easel, I imagine with a enlarger lens thats not possible but with a taking lens you have enough image circle to do so.

Also printed a diagonal test strip from a 9.5x12 size projected using a Schneider 90mm f/8, printing at f/16 and it too looked good.

I will have a Nikon 135 5.6 enlarger lens in the mail next week, so more experiments then :-D

Ai Print · Sep 30, 2018

Aside from heavy duty, won’t budge in the wind work, I bought a Sinar P2 specifically to use as a horizontal mural enlarger and DSLR scanning rig.

Once I figured out that I can get 45x56” prints from my wall mounted LPL4550 I tabled the idea and just use it for the scanning rig ( awesome ) and heavy shooter.

The idea behind the P2 was custom alignments in every print session, bet it would have been perfect for that as it is for scanning.

locutus · Sep 30, 2018

One thing that will be interesting to see, is how powerful of a lightsource Intrepid will use.

I'm using a 1100 Lumen lightsource and exposure time at f/16 is 2 minutes, on a not terribly dense negative.

Mick Fagan · Sep 30, 2018

Locutus, thanks for that, it didn't look centred, I was wondering why.

It is quite funny how things go in cycles. My grandfather, born in the late 1800's, used a view camera in the 30's and 40's to take pictures and also to enlarge using the camera and single lens he had. When I came along he was mainly using a TLR and contact printing the negatives in a printing frame. However, if one of the negatives was a good one, then he enlarged using his old view camera in the bathroom with the camera at one end of the bath and a pin board (cork I think) over the other end on the wall where he pinned the paper. I cannot really remember the paper size, but it was a Kodak Postcard stock. Prints were shared around while some were mailed to various members of the family.

Mick.

Intrepid enlarger from any 4x5 camera

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