Crowd funding is becoming increasingly popular among creatives. With more sites springing up and more artists asking for funds, Don’t Take Pictures spotlights projects that benefit the arts community.

This month’s crowd funding roundup presents a new and affordable large format camera. 

The Intrepid 4x5 Camera

The large format camera holds an important place in photographic history. From the outset these large, heavy cameras were used to render photographs onto glass plates. Though camera technology has changed substantially since photography’s invention, the large format camera has continued to attract a new following of passionate photographers in search of creative freedom and large, detailed negatives. Despite its popularity, the cameras remain heavy and expensive. The folks at The Intrepid Camera Co. have redesigned the conventional 4x5 camera to create a simple to use, lightweight, and compact new product that may pave the way for new photographers to turn off their sensors and take a peek under the darkcloth.

Made from birch plywood and aluminum supports and hinges, the lightweight camera body rings in around 1.2kg. It remains compatible with standard film holders and tripod mounts, and it uses a 75-300mm lens in Linhof/Technika style and lens boards, but note that lenses are note included. Unlike its bulky predecessors, The Intrepid collapses down to 190mmx190mmx120mm for easy transport. For a bit of pizzazz, the bellows are available in black, blue, red, or green. 

The rewards are great at all levels, offering field notebooks for photographers on location, the camera itself with your choice of bellows colors and complete with a pinhole lens, and personalized engraving options. With more funding, Intrepid will be able to expand their product line to include 8x10 cameras and film holders.

Read more about The Intrepid Camera Co. on their Kickstarter page.

This is the last day to fund this project.

Do you know of a crowd funding project that benefits the art community? Let us know at info@donttakepictures.com