Smartflex: New 4x5" camera for handheld use - including new lens

[Angarian]

Just FYI:

Smartflex camera

Smartflex camera The Best 4x5 camera in the world!

smartflexcamera.com

(Discovered it today by chance, and was very surprised!)

 

[miha]

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I have more questions about this camera than the site answers fully.

 

[ntenny]

Interesting indeed. They say disappointingly little about the lens; 178/2.5 is an obviously suggestive set of numbers, but I didn’t find that they said anything about the lens design—it may be great, or it may be a soda bottle that just happens to have the right focal length.

I didn’t see a hint as to the price either. All in all, I have questions, but I’m not going to complain about someone developing a new LF camera. I hope it lives up to the possibilities.

-NT

 

[ic-racer]

Recreating all the limitations of the Speed Graphic era of photography. You will need bright sunlight or a powerful flash to hand- hold.

It does look interesting, I hope they do make it. Though I wonder if it is easier to use than a 4x5 rangefinder.

 

[Richard Man]

I talked to him briefly via email. They are aiming for a Kickstarter relatively soon. The lens is supposedly to be light weight comparing to the Aero Ektar, while maintaining a small size.

 

[warden]

Cool. I'll keep watching and wish them the best.

 

[Richard Man]

As a general comment, note that lens design from China have been making great progress. as evidence by all the new Leica compatible lenses. Some are exact copies of classic design, but some are newly designed. With the new computer software and fast machines, innovative prime lens designs are easier to attain nowadays.

 

[cmacd123]

f 2.5 is a fairly fast lens. Several stops faster then what a lot of sped graphic Cameras came out with.And the hearty Press photographers of the day generally hand held the Camera while dodging Chaos.

 

[blee1996]

This is indeed interesting, and they are clearly chasing after the cult of Speed Graphics with Aero Ektar 178/2.5 for wide open handheld portraits.

I hope it will be cost effective. Since the price of Aero Ektar has become more affordable lately.

 

[TheYoungPretender]

Considering how expensive the Graflex SLRs are if you want something with an interchangeable lens board and a graflok back, this seems like an interesting proposition. I wonder what kind of focal lengths would be usable.

 

[foveon_m]

very nice indeed, waiting for the price.

 

[Agulliver]

I've hand held an old quarter plate camera at f4.5 with 2ASA glass plates so I don't see any reason why this 4x5 couldn't also be handheld. The Graflex users of the 1940s managed it, in crowds, in disaster zones.

Interesting product if it comes to fruition. I'm not in the market for this, but I hope it succeeds.

 

[miha]

I haven't seen any information about the shutter.

 

[Film-Niko]

Thanks for sharing. Indeed very interesting and surprising. I wish them well, and I am curious to see the further development.

 

[Hunter_Compton]

I haven't seen any information about the shutter.

While the body of the camera looks new, the curtain aperture and tension plates look like straight up parts off a Graflex SLR. They use original knobs on those plates in one photo and then change them out for 3D printed knobs in the others.

I highly doubt that the original dimensions of those parts would be of suitable strength if they were 3D printed, which highly suggests they are re-using salvaged Graflex parts to make these.

Which is a shame because it would be great to have a new source of curtains and shutter parts for Graflex cameras.

 

[choiliefan]

Very promising.
Far as parts and availability of the old Graflex SLR's, much was lost when 20th Century Camera burned in 2023.
A tragic loss in so many ways.

 

[retina_restoration]

On the page about the lens, they state the aperture as both f2.0 and f2.5 in different places on the page. Which is it, I wonder??

 

[mollyc]

they are also working on an instax back and have fussed with the rollers to make them tighter vs fuji’s specs and they are getting clearer instax photos than used to seeing.

 

[Dan Fromm]

I haven't seen any information about the shutter.

The photos suggest that it has a roller blind shutter. Whether with multiple slits like a Graflex or with variable slit width isn't clear.

 

[Dan Fromm]

On the page about the lens, they state the aperture as both f2.0 and f2.5 in different places on the page. Which is it, I wonder??

The lens is engraved 2.5 on the trim ring and on the aperture scale, the text says 2.5.

 

[Film-Niko]

they are also working on an instax back and have fussed with the rollers to make them tighter vs fuji’s specs and they are getting clearer instax photos than used to seeing.

That's really a very good additional move.
Instax film can give excellent quality in combination with a good camera and lens, as developments like the Mint InstantKon RF 70 and SF 70, the Lomo Graflock back, or instax backs for medium format cameras like the Zinstax from Haan Chen have demonstrated.

 

[retina_restoration]

The lens is engraved 2.5 on the trim ring and on the aperture scale, the text says 2.5.

Yep. And yet further down the page it says:
"It boasts an F2 aperture, which is unheard of in large format photography. The bokeh effect is equivalent to a 50mm F0.55 lens on a full-frame camera, providing you with stunning and impressive imagery."

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

umm I guess since there no movements, image circle doesn't need to be that big, therefore they probably can afford a bigger aperture. Also, I suppose 2kg for the body alone. To be honest, premise seems too good.

Wish them luck and if/when reach production is affordable. I would welcome one of them if within my pocket limits.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Whoa just saw the Instagram video. No way in hell it is practical as handheld

 

[TheYoungPretender]

Here are some longer videos of the camera from the chinese site BiliBili

SMARTFLEX 3445-哔哩哔哩_bilibili

bilibili是国内知名的视频弹幕网站，这里有及时的动漫新番，活跃的ACG氛围，有创意的Up主。大家可以在这里找到许多欢乐。

search.bilibili.com

some varying results but a very cool project