Launching at 5pm GMT on November 15th, 2021 (about 2 hours from the time of writing) is the long-awaited hardwood edition of the Intrepid 4×5 field camera — something requested by customers of the UK-based large format camera and darkroom accessory company since its first Kickstarter way back in 2016.
The new cameras, initially limited to 60 units in 20 each of three different varieties of wood — Cherry, Walnut and Mahogany — are part of an initial run, which will be followed by a second limited run in January 2022.
Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Cherry 
Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Mahogany 
Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Walnut
As you might expect, the Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 retains all features of the Intrepid 4×5 MK4 and Black Edition — the base and front standard supports are anodised aluminium, and the bellows Intrepid’s signature water-resistant Nylon.
From Intrepid directly:
These premium edition Intrepid 4×5 cameras will be available in: Cherry, Walnut and Mahogany, all with hand-folded black bellows.
Each camera is cut from a single piece of wood, then sanded and varnished by hand. The individual grain of each piece of wood means that every Hardwood 4×5 will be totally unique.
The camera also features Intrepid’s very, very precise rear-controlled focus system and dual front standard controls for independent rise/fall and tilt movements.
The rear standard can be rotated through 360 degrees for fast changing of film orientation, and uses magnets to ensure it proper locking into either portrait or landscape “modes”.
Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Cherry 
Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Mahogany Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Mahogany 
Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 – Family
As the title states, the Intrepid Hardwood 4×5 comes in at a measly 1/46558th of the weight of an (American) football field (that’s about 1.2kg for our non-Imperial friends elsewhere in the world).
Funnily enough, that’s about the same as a “normal” Intrepid. Other than that, the camera’s ground glass is held in place by high tension leaf springs (and is removable). The rear standard remains Graflok compatible, meaning it is compatible with pretty much every single Graflock compatible film back and accessory made since 1950..and the fantastic Intrepid 4×5 Enlarger.
If you’ve been on the fence about Intrepid, here’s your chance to be stunned.
~ EM
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