StenopeiKa 4x5 Michelangelo field camera: introduction (video)

[mammolo]

Mine is the brand-new carbon fiber and cypress wood version of this 4x5 field camera by this young Italian company. I have no financial interest in the company and I bought it with my own money. And, yes, at full price :-(

It is not an actual review because I have not been able to use it yet (a.k.a. Covid-induced logistical problems).



Enjoy

 

[John Earley]

Excellent! Thanks.

 

[alexanderjmarkow]

Thanks for sharing. I'm considering buying one of their field cameras and its great to see an in-depth video about it!

 

[jamgolf]

@mammolo thanks for the video.
Have you had a chance to use the camera? What are your thoughts?
What do you like or not like about Stenopeika Michelangelo?

 

[mammolo]

@mammolo thanks for the video.
Have you had a chance to use the camera? What are your thoughts?
What do you like or not like about Stenopeika Michelangelo?

Sorry for such a late reply but Covid-related issues (lockdowns etc, not health-related, thank God) prevented me from using the camera except for a couple of afternoons in studio and only with a Fujinon-T 400/8 with a bellows extension of 400mm.

So, far so good. No vibrations, both standards can be locked and stay that way, the fine focusing mechanism is quite precise but the knob is extremely hard to rotate (could just be my sample), inserting the chassis in the camera requires a delicate touch. The latter brings me to what is the one general comment I have thus far: the camera may not react well to abuse. And I really mean "abuse". It ain't no Master Technika or other 4x5 folding tanks (some Horsemans come to mind), that you can throw in the back of your car without giving it a second thought. But you probably had figured that out already ...

 

[jamgolf]

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it. Glad to hear you are OK in terms of Covid etc.

I am getting a Leonardo (arriving next week) and have also ordered the Michelangelo so I wanted to hear first-hand user feedback. Thanks for sharing your early impressions. I understand it's not going to be as receptive to abuse as some other cameras you mentioned but personally, I was attracted to its handmade nature and also wanted to support a person making such cameras in this day and age. I will probably not be gentle with it but will also not be abusing it, so probably should be alright.