Introducing the Travelwide: An Affordable, Ultraportable Large-Format Camera

Many photographers want to give large format a shot, but carrying a massive 4×5 camera around with you isn’t always practical or realistic. Fortunately for those people, the folks of Wanderlust Cameras have hit Kickstarter with a new invention: the Travelwide 4×5. It’s an affordable, ultralight large-format camera that you can take with you anywhere.

Here’s the Kickstarter video introducing the Travelwide:

The camera was put together by Justin Lundquist and Ben Syverson (AKA Wanderlust Cameras) for those of us that want the benefits of 4×5 on the go. It comes in two varieties: a focusable version built around the Schneider Angulon 90mm ƒ/6.8, and a wider fixed focus version built around the Schneider Super Angulon 65mm ƒ/8.

Both Travelwide versions will cost you only $100, but will require you to purchase your lens separately. With the lens attached, the camera is lighter than a DSLR (only 630g), and about the same size. It can easily be held in one hand, and comes complete with several cold shoes for attaching any accessories you see fit.

Here’s a demo of co-creator Ben Syverson using the Travelwide 90:

Want to see what the camera’s capable of? Check out these some sample photographs:

In order to bring the Travelwide 4×5 into the real world, Wanderlust Cameras has set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise $75K. That’ll cover the costs of the molds and manufacturing required to bring the camera to market. Donation options range from $25 to $10K, with $100 snagging you your choice of either the fixed focus Travelwide 65 or focusable Travelwide 90.