One of the benefits of film, is the option to shoot with much larger formats. Currently, the largest and highest resolution commercially available sensor, is the 150mp system from Phase One. This camera offers some of the highest resolutions with the largest sensor currently on the market; however, film cameras still greater potential in this area.
Intrepid Camera is a company based in the U.K., that specialize in manufacturing large format cameras. This company started off by producing a 4x5 camera, which was received extremely well, due to its colorful design and for being lightweight. It then produced an 8x10 camera based off the same design and it's a camera that I thoroughly enjoy shooting with. The only issue with the 8x10 camera is that it weighs significantly more than the 4x5 camera. This is obviously expected due to the difference in size. Fortunately, Intrepid have now released a 5x7 camera which only weighs slightly more than the 4x5.
At only 1.4 kg, this is incredibly lightweight and only weighs 200 g more than the 4x5. This is pretty remarkable considering how much larger the film size is in comparison. For many film shooters, 5x7 is a good balance between the formats, so this latest release is something that I think should be quite popular.
Personally, I prefer the 8x10 because you can always adapt the other formats to it. Although, the smaller, lightweight design of the 5x7 is looking appealing too.
Large format is on my mind for a very long time... Ben Horne puts of so much content on shooting with large format camera it will be very good to get my hands on one of these one day.
I highly recommend them.
Do it. You won't regret it. 5x7 is great, but 8x10 is magic. You can get an 8x10 with a 5x7 or 4x5 reducing back then you can have some options as far as which format.
I shot a lot of 5x7 in the 80's. Nice format. Hard to find film.
Today I would presume the emulsions available are few and thus is a lot less useful than 4x5 and maybe even 8x10.
Not too much available, but you can get Ilford, Bergger, and Foma. It's still alive!
True. When I stopped using the camera the choices were Kodak, Fuji, Agfa and Ilford. A decent range of color (positive and negative) and B&W.
The problem with large format is that you need to factor in the film backs, lenses, tripod, and carrying case if it’s to be used in the field. I weighed so much carrying a 4x5 and associating gear in the city I literally stopped a moving escalator.
In a studio setting a camera’s weight doesn’t really matter as long as you can lift it onto the tripod or studio stand.