5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

By CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH

24 April, 2024

Post Categories:

5 frames with...

Post Tags:

Ilford Film ilford FP4+ ilford HP5+ Intrepid 4x5

Leave a comment (20 Comments)

Share this post:

“Started in 1903 by Albert Scott and James Bathgate, the company [Nutty Club] became famous for products like pink popcorn, pearled peanuts and dozens of other products including candies, syrups, nuts, condiments and food colouring. Scott-Bathgate announced in a news release this week that its operations are winding down, with a late January 2024 end date.” (Source: Darren Bernhardt · CBC News, Dec 14, 2023).

Famous for Quality. I take detailed notes, so here you go: I exposed a sheet of FP4+ for ½ sec at f/32, having metered for incident light with a Sekonic. I developed it in DD-X (1+4), 10 min. I also exposed the same scene on a sheet of Fomapan 400 (metered at 250 ASA) and developed in Kodak D-76 (1:3 dilution) for 23 min. The two print almost exactly the same, at least at 8×10. Apparently I hadn’t discovered the Foma-Rodinal combo yet: 23 minutes is a long time to be rolling a Jobo tank by hand!

This is easily my favourite building in Winnipeg. It’s actually three buildings, and when I took these photos a few years ago they were still churning out good stuff like pink popcorn. It’s sad to see it closing down and I suppose the buildings will become expensive lofts. This is a great location for an early Sunday morning as this part of town is getting gentrified (with expensive lofts) and there’s less to worry about; although I’m not generally fearful, I sometimes wonder about having expensive-looking equipment out on display.

A note about the camera. I used an Intrepid IV 4×5 on top of a nice wooden Berlebach tripod. The Intrepid is not a perfect choice for architecture because a 90 mm lens gives you a compressed, stiff bellows making it hard to use movements, especially with a flat lens board. The Intrepid V has an interchangeable bellows, and would probably be a better choice although I’ve not used one. Of course you could use a recessed board to relax the bellows – as I do now – but it turns out these buildings are not too tightly restrained by others and in the end you can get some good images, even with a 150 mm lens. Another issue with the Intrepid which becomes apparent with architectural photography is that movements are hard to fine tune. But don’t be too turned off: it’s an excellent camera for backpacking and landscapes! For these photographs I used a 150 mm Rodenstock Apo Sironar-N lens. A great performer.

When I took these I was already happy using FP4+ and HP5+ with DD-X or D-76, a combination I’ve used for decades in MF and 35 mm. Since Fomapan 400 is about half the price, I was starting to switch to it at around this time. I now use it almost exclusively in 4×5, usually at 200 ASA and usually with Rodinal (1+50). There is a lot of advantage to using a single film/developer combination most of the time, as long as it doesn’t become dogma and hinder creativity. Fomapan 400 is a reliable 200 speed film with the only disadvantage of well-documented reciprocity failure on longer exposures. It pairs beautifully with Rodinal.

I don’t have a decent scanner, so these are all prints, either 11×14 or 8×10 on Ilford multigrade fibre-based paper. The developer was Kodak Dektol, diluted 1:1, but I have recently switched to E72 (2:3) as it is easy to make and gives the same results as far as I can see. I toned with dilute (1:20) Kodak selenium toner, to get rid of the green hue and then rephotographed them with my phone (Pixel 7) and did very slight touch up – B&W conversion and some cropping mainly.

The back lane. Ok, so not all 4×5: this one was taken on 120 film. I’ve driven past these buildings hundreds of times and always thought they had a great look. Early one Sunday morning I went scouting. Stupidly I didn’t bring my new 4×5 because I assumed the spaces would be too tight. There was a soft morning mist (the Red river is nearby) which made for a nice moody shot; I returned the next weekend better prepared. This was Ilford Delta 400 (sadly not available as sheets) processed in DD-X.

The back lane II. HP5+ for 1/8 sec at f/22, (incident light/Sekonic). It’s developed in DD-X (1+4), 9 min. I couldn’t get the “Nutty Club” sign to fit, but at least I got the Nutty gal. She’s a legend.

“Nutty Club”, Candies, Nuts. Fomapan 400 1/15 sec f/22. I used an orange filter for this, so I added 2/3 stop. Since the building is painted white, I wanted some darkness in the sky, but I don’t think it was really needed – especially as I cropped almost all of the sky in the final print! I metered at 400 ASA because I hadn’t grasped yet that Foma 400 is really a 200 speed film. I developed in Rodinal (1+50) for 11 min and the negative is not too thin.

The Intrepid is probably not so Famous For Quality. Like most things English it’s quirky and you have to be forgiving of these quirks. If you want to get into large format and you value a light and affordable camera, this is undoubtedly a very good choice.

I’m on Instagram as @chrisrampitsch.

Share this post:

Find more similar content on 35mmc

Use the tags below to search for more posts on related topics:

Ilford Film ilford FP4+ ilford HP5+ Intrepid 4x5

Contribute to 35mmc for an ad-free experience.

There are two ways to contribute to 35mmc and experience it without the adverts:

Paid Subscription – £2.99 per month and you’ll never see an advert again! (Free 3-day trial).

Subscribe here.

Content contributor – become a part of the world’s biggest film and alternative photography community blog. All our Contributors have an ad-free experience for life.

About The Author

By CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH

Analogue film shooter and printer since the mid 1980s. Also a home-brewer.

View Profile

Comments

JC on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

Impressive pics from Winnipeg !
Great image quality with the Rodenstock lens !
My favourites are the third and the fourth shots.
Greetings , Jens

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

Thanks! As always, the original prints look so much better than what I see on my screen!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Daniel Castelli on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

It’s comforting & somehow reassuring to see work done using large format. Fine urban documentary shots.
In the early 1970’s I worked with a 4x5 monorail. I never advanced beyond rank amateur, but it was such a blast seeing an individual large negative. We all thought we were the new Ansel Adams just waiting to be discovered. Didn’t happen.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

Thanks for the kind words. I guess many of us hobbyists remain undiscovered! I have made my peace with that.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Jeffery Luhn on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

I liked shots 2&3 the best. Terrific bold tones and composition. Thank you for the technical data. I shot architecture, in addition to studio products, for 30 years. 4x5 was my format of choice. Two Cambo cameras. One with a bag bellows and 90mm. Also used a 'cigar box' fitted with a 65 super angulon. City architecture can be tight, and I was in San Francisco!

Please keep posting your shots and data. I enjoyed them very much. You inspired me! I think I'll get my 4x5 out!!!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

I plan to post some more for sure. I have another 5 frames written up, just have to get around to uploading. And do get that 4x5 out!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Curtis Heikkinen on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

What a handsome camera set up! I know nothing about large format photography so much of this piece was beyond my understanding. But your images are beautiful. Really enjoyed them. Very nice work!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

Thanks! LF is easier to get into than you might think, but it is very addictive and a bit of a time hog. Although it may sound counterintuitive, it is really a good way to learn the basics of photography.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Gus on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

A great article! I've never shot large format so I appreciated the practical discussion on wide angle lenses and bellows. I've been dabbling in architectural photography on 35mm with a Nikon shift-lens and really enjoying it. Beautiful photos.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

I'm glad it helped. The shift lens is key for architechture I think. I feel that LF is intimidating to a lot of people, and this is not really warranted. It's easier than most people think, and not as expensive as is generally assumed, because the rate is so much slower. LF is especially well suited to architecture, where your subjects will be very patient! I sometimes spend 15-20 minutes getting everything right, although practise definitely speeds things up.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Gary Smith on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

Great article Christof! My one small problem is that I don't (yet?) own a 4 x 5 field camera and seeing shots like yours above doesn't help my gear aquisition sickness... ;-)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 24/04/2024

If you're thinking about it, you should definitely get one - I waited far too long. I started photography as a hobby in the early 1990s, when I was in my 20s, and always thought "that's something for later". I finaly got one in 2021 and realized immediately that I should have done this sooner - expenses be damned! But at least I didn't wait until I'm retired.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Roger on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 25/04/2024

Nice photos. As with Gary, you made large format sound very tempting and I got as far as checking how much a camera would cost. But then I thought about the hassle of developing the negatives, and paused. I sometimes use a tilt-shift on 35mm (though less than I should because the lens is so heavy) and I have wondered whether the extra adjustments on a large-format camera make it easier to control depth of field and perspective.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 25/04/2024

I haven't used a 35mm tilt/shift lens. On a 4x5, the movements are fairly intuitive and there is good stuff on YouTube. The Intrepid is not the best at this, because all the movements are friction-fit. A better Camera, like the Linhof, controls these by means of little gears running on tracks, so fine adjustment is easier. But the cost and the weight... (I have been on a 3 day solo backpacking trip with my Intrepid, 2 lenses and 9 holders AND of course all my camping stuff!) A monorail or Field camera will beat a 35mm shift/tilt every time though - for sure.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Gary on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 25/04/2024

Thank you for posting these excellent shots. I have a Calumet 4x5 wooden field camera that has not been used for years. I don't have a darkroom. Do you have any suggestions for those of us w/o a darkroom who would like to try LF photography? Polaroid used to make instant film for 4x5 but of course no longer.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH replied:

Comment posted: 25/04/2024

Ok, so first of all, you don't need a darkroom - although you do need a changing bag or a dark room - like a bathroom without windows - where you can load holders and then load a developing tank. Once your negs are dry you would then need a scanner. There is also an alternative. You can use Fuji Instax wide film using a LomoGraflok 4×5 Instant Back (https://shop.lomography.com/ca/lomograflok-4-5-instant-back). I've not done this, but it is on my to-do list for sure.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sam Forrest replied:

Comment posted: 25/04/2024

You don't need a darkroom, especially with so many offerings now for daylight processing tanks and trays for sheet film. As a 4x5 shooter myself I would strongly advise splurging for a changing tent in lieu of a bag. Harrison makes very nice ones. Loading film holders for every single shot you take, using those changing bags gets old... fast. Good luck and I hope you can blow the dust off your camera!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 25/04/2024

I agree, 4x5 is easier to process than it seems. Anchor glass company makes perfect bread pans with rounded edges that allow you to process stacks of 4x5 sheets in chemicals. You put the film in one sheet at a time and 'deal from the bottom of the deck' to agitate. Maximum 20 sheets at a time.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Sam Forrest on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 26/04/2024

I have a 90mm Nikkor-SW lens that I use with my intrepid 4x5 and I grinned at your comment about stiff bellows. I love that lens but it certainly does limit your movements! Someday I will pick up a recessed board... I enjoyed your gallery! Thanks for sharing

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Paul Quellin on 5 Frames with an Intrepid 4×5 – Famous For Quality.

Comment posted: 27/04/2024

Great pictures Christof. I spent a good while looking at Intrepid's product line up, but somehow ended up with a Toyo monorail. There is movement galore, but the upside to the quirkyness of your Intrepid has to be that it is luggable. I can take the Toyo outdoors somewhere, but I have to take the car and I won't be walking too far from where I park. I think large format cameras set varying constraints generally; I suspect the one constraint they all have in common is speed of use, but that's part of the appeal too I suppose.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Photography & Projects

Looking for some inspiration, or just want to flick through the project work and photos?

Reviews & Experiences

If you're looking for photography equipment and peripheral reviews, this is the place to start!

Theory & Reflections

If you're looking for photography equipment and peripheral reviews, this is the place to start!

Tutorials & Knowhow

If you want to learn or discover a new technique, build on your skills, or be inspired to have a go at a bit of DIY or camera modification, then you’re in the right place.