Wanderlust, A Chicago-based camera company is aiming to bring large format photography to the portable world. Typically large format photography is connected to large, heavy, metal box studio cameras, but Wanderlust is campaigning Travelwide, a portable ultra light 4×5 film camera.
They wanted Travelwide to be a 4×5 that you could take anywhere in the world, and carry every day at home. It’s lighter than a DSLR, and not much larger—yet tough enough to toss in a side bag or cram into an overloaded backpack.
This film camera might seem dated, however Wanderlust wants to embrace the raw quality you get from a film camera that really does not compare to what a standard DSLR captures.
Travelwide shoots on 4×5 film, which is about 13 times greater than a standard 35mm lens, which is what most SLRs use. While slightly larger than a DSLR, Travelwide is much lighter. Wanderlust took their prototype on an adventure to Brazil with them to discover the product really is viable.
To bring the product to market they plan on using rapid injection molding, and want to eliminate people’s hesitation to bring the 4×5 on any trip by making it small and lightweight. One aspect of the project that seems tricky at this point is that users will need to provide their own lenses. Wanderlust is working to provide helpful connections of where to buy them.
Photo Credit: kickstarter.com
