Travelwide 4x5

Wanderlust has just furnished an update, go to their Kickstarter page to see it. It looks like it is all coming together with just a few production bugs to work out. They say they hope to fill all the backers orders and have cameras for sale on their website by the end of December, 2013.

Woo Hoo!
 
I'd love to know where to buy one of these. I don't care about what the nay-sayers say. With that price, it reduces the barriers to entry for LF which is one reason I haven't experimented with it. I would imagine portrait work with a 4x5 is going to be so much fun!!
 
jkrumsick said:
I'd love to know where to buy one of these.
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They're not yet available outside of the Kickstarter project. However, a project update went out a few days ago indicating that a preorder site for regular sales would be up shortly.

The camera is not yet in production - the update gave a detailed account of engineering changes that have been made as they have been debugging the molds required for manufacture of the camera parts. But it sounds as though they're getting very close now.
 
I am going to love this camera. Over the past several months I have prepped everything i need from shooting to developing and now it is just a matter of waiting for this camera to arrive.

I personally am thrilled that Ben and Justin have had the persistence to get this camera this far. However this turns out it has been a great project. Two or three Grafmatics and two or three Graflex 23s and I may not need any other camera besides my Leicas for low light work.
 
Adverage updates have taken 4~6 weeks. The last one took 2 months. Now that they are past their worst case delivery date this has made a few backers upset but really I think most backers are holding tight the idea of a truly portable fun 4X5 camera even if a few months later than planned. I sure Ben and Justin will apply the lessons learned to their next project and allow a year lead time to any complex project like this.

Although later than planned the resulting camera is now much improved over the original Kickstarter proposal.
 
Update #15 just posted, the backers might want to check it out. They also just put up a preorder site for a limited number of cameras that will be left over after the backers orders have been filled.
 
II was able to buy a Schneider-Kreuznach Angulon 90mm f/6.8 Wide-Angle Lens in a Compur-Rapid Shutter, on ebay for $180 US. As soon as I git it I am going to try it on my Graflex until the Travelwide comes. Then I can compare the ease of shooting, quality, etc.
This should be a lot better than a Holga.
I ordered one at https://wanderlustcameras.com/
 
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An update (the 29th) to backers was sent out last Wed. (3/18). It is finally sounding like they are within weeks of shipping some cameras out.
 
Raid, that would be somewhat difficult to answer! As an original backer, I can't wait to get my Travelwide. If your into 4x5 and have a 90mm, it probably is. The initial production run is showing sold out, but you can sign up for notification of the next preorders.
 
I have a Linhof 4x5 with a Schneider convertible lens. I am not sure whether I also have a regular 90mm Schneider.
 
I'm a backer but not holding my breath. They have been 'close' to finishing the project since update #12 on November 25, 2013 titled "In the homestretch!", an unfortunate choice of words. Seems like every single thing has been a problem and this helical issue, noted in a July, 2014 update, has gone on for 8 months. I feel for them, they are under tremendous pressure and must be numb by now. They pre-sold 300 extra units in April, 2014 with a projected delivery by "summer 2014". I can barely imagine what they are hearing from those folks.
 
I don't think they are accepting new orders yet. I doubt that they will until they've fulfilled all of the kickstarter orders, plus the second round of orders that they accepted when they thought the camera was almost ready to ship.

raid said:
Is it still worth it to place an order for a camera at this late stage?
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I'm also a backer. I am out of pocket about $300 which includes the lens I bought specifically for it. Not a biggy (and I can sell the lens) but for the other backers this may be significant money. I've spend more on a good dinner.

I honestly believe that they will come good soon as they say in the latest update and are sincere to deliver a great product. And if they don't, well that's the risk of any kickstarter project. I don't see the point in the legal recourse that some are suggesting. I would rather wait another year and get a fully functioning camera body.

Cheers - John
 
I am a backer too for both bodies: the 65 and the 90mm version. Problem is: in the last years my photography has evolved in a way that I might not be going to use them ever, despite the fact that I reserved both lenses for it.....
 
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