Intrepid Compact Enlarger

Product Description

The Intrepid Enlarger is a total rethink of the traditional darkroom enlarger. A super compact, simple and fun to use kit for making prints from your colour and B&W film at home (from 35mm to 6x9), simply mount it on a tripod or copy stand!
You can even use it to make scans of your negatives using a digital camera/smartphone.

Utilising innovative new LED technology, The Intrepid Enlarger is the smallest, most compact darkroom enlarger ever made. In fact, it is so tiny it could fit into a shoebox!
While it may be the smallest Enlarger ever to exist, it has all the features of a traditional one, just without being bulky, expensive or relying on outdated technology.
The LED lights are perfectly calibrated for printing/scanning, and all the filters for colour balance and contrast are built into the controls on the timer.

Mode 1: Printing Black & White Film
Unlike traditional enlargers, all the contrast filters are built into the LED light source, so you can quickly adjust them with a single dial without the need for separate filters. However, it works just like a traditional enlarger in terms of focusing, setting the time and exposing your paper.

Mode 2: Printing Colour Film
In Colour printing mode, you use Cyan, Magenta and Yellow dials to alter the colour balance of your print. In addition, the light source has been specially calibrated to make colour printing as accurate and straightforward as possible.

Mode 3: Scanning
The third way of using the Enlarger is as a light source to make scans of your colour or black and white negatives using a digital camera or smartphone. The light source is held magnetically to the enlarger body to pop off when you want to scan simply.
Then it would be best if you mounted a digital camera or smartphone to a tripod or copy stand, lay the light source below and slot your film into the correct negative carrier and place it onto the light source. It's a lot quicker than a flatbed scanner and more portable but still allows you to create high-quality digital images of your negatives!

Key Parts
The Timer: Controls everything and has three modes: black and white, colour and scanning. It also has controls for timing, contrast filters and CMY colour balance. It even has a built-in safelight, which is a valuable feature for those with limited space!
Light source: attached to the body of the Enlarger, has high-quality linear guides for focusing and a threaded mount for attaching to your tripod or copy stand. Unlike traditional enlargers, it uses LEDs that are calibrated specially for printing and scanning.
Negative carriers: the complete kit comes with one for each format from 35mm up to 6x9. You simply lay your negative strip in the correct sized carrier, lining up the frame you want to print or scan from.
The brains behind the operation allow you to set your exposure times, contrast and colour balance. It even has a USB port at the back for future firmware updates and new features.

What else do I need to get started?
Unlike traditional enlargers, the Intrepid Enlarger has all the filters for colour balance and contrast built-in, so you don't need any external filters. To start scanning your film, you'll need a copy stand/tripod and a digital camera/smartphone.
To set up a darkroom space to start making prints of your 35mm and 120 negatives, you will need a few other items:
A tripod or copy stand to mount your Enlarger to
An enlarging lens - 50mm for 35mm film and 80mm for 120 (lens buying guide below for more details)
Darkroom chemicals and photo paper
Tray, tongs and a grain/focus finder
A printing easel to keep your paper flat and help with framing

There are, of course, other valuable items, but we've just listed the absolute essentials here.
Besides these, you need a space to use as a darkroom; this can be anywhere as long as you can temporarily block out all light.
The beauty of the Intrepid Enlarger being so compact means you could use it pretty much anywhere, even a cupboard. Then once you're finished, you can simply pack the whole kit away in a small box!
Check out our guide videos on colour printing, black & white printing and scanning for more details.

Intrepid Enlarger vs traditional Enlargers
We have had a lot of fun in the darkroom over the last year testing this product, and we have found that it works just as well as traditional (and much more expensive) enlargers. The print quality from the Intrepid Enlarger is fantastic. It can deliver the same range of contrast and exposure times as a traditional setup and many new features that you don't get in older enlargers.

Enlarger Lens Buying Guide
The Intrepid Enlarger does not come with a lens, so you will need to purchase one before your kit arrives - we suggest the Firstcall 50mm one for 35mm printing. Just like your camera, your Enlarger is only as good as the lens you put on it. Below are some key points to consider when buying your enlarger lens

M39 Threaded lens only, this is the vast majority of enlarger lenses, but it is best to check if it is not mentioned.
50mm focal length for 35mm, 70-105mmmm for 120
Check that the glass is clear from scratches, haze and fungus
There are many brands of enlarger lens, but Nikon, Rodenstock, and Schneider make the best ones.
Check that the aperture blades are moving smoothly and free from oil.

Technical Bits
Film formats: 35mm & 120 (6x6, 6x4.5, 6x7, 6x9)
Contrast filters built-in, 00 to 5 in 1/2 steps
Complete CMY control for colour printing
Calibrated backlight for digital camera scanning
Built-in safelight
Easy printing from 5x7 up to 11x14 (much larger possible with horizontal projection)
M39 lens mount
Waterproof connectors
The Intrepid Compact Enlarger integrates cutting edge LED Tech into a tiny enlarger giving you all the functionality of a traditional setup and some features never seen before on an enlarger!

Intrepid tested their light source in the darkroom over the last two years; results are very similar to Ilford multigrade heads. You can't notice a difference between the two; contrast, exposure times, and print quality are very similar. The focusing mechanism uses an 8mm ground linear shaft and high-quality bearings from IGUS. This provides very smooth and stable use. The main body of the Enlarger is supported by 5mm aluminium, creating a very rigid setup.
The timer is supplied with a power supply for your region and works with all international power grids. The timer also features a USB port for future firmware updates and extra features.

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Customer Reviews

By YGladman on 9th December 2022

"Fast delivery and excellent response to an email asking a question re this item. The Intrepid Compact Enlarger is a great item for somebody who does not have a dedicated darkroom & the results I achieved with my initial enlargements are of great quality, I look forward to many more sessions with this product."

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Product Features

• Film Speed: ISO 100