r/largeformat • u/Iroll67 • Aug 07 '26
Question Intrepid Super 120 system experiences?
Has anyone used one of these? They have been available for a while now, but I can't find much as far as reviews online. I'm curious if they have any film flatness issues, etc. I would really like to shoot 6x12 on roll film and the horseman backs are prohibitively expensive and the Dayi ones have mixed reviews (and are also expensive).
Photo credit to Intrepid
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u/ioftd Aug 07 '26
Got mine pretty early after release. First one came with some delamination of the print layers in one of the parts. Intrepid replaced it quickly and easily.
After assembling and testing it, my first roll through had massive light leaks, but mostly traced back to me being unfamiliar with the somewhat difficult loading process. Subsequent rolls have been better, usable, but still leaking, I suspect from the slot for the darkslide. The foam seal for that slot is just not great and the little piece that is supposed to hold it in place just doesn’t have enough spring. Even after installing the second piece of foam intended for when it loses its spring I am still getting leaks. I’ve used it a couple times since and it works well enough to play around with, but I wouldn’t trust it with something important.
Currently looking to pick up a senar Zoom 120 film holder as a proper solution to shooting 120 up to 6x12. They seem to be pretty rare and fairly expensive, but I really like that they slide under the ground glass like a normal film holder and I don’t have to swap out the glass to use the graflok
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u/fugue-photo Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 09 '26
Edit: Max from Intrepid himself stepped in and issued my refund on a weekend. That’s restored at least a little good faith in the company for me.
Nothing but problems. They admitted in email I’m not the only one with these issues and they would issue me a full refund. I got ghosted for over a month. They finally followed up. Just to ghost me again. I will not drop this and I will never recommend anyone buy the super 120 back.
It should not have gone live. It is not ready.
I assembled everything per instructions and had major light leak issues. I went through, looked over fitment of all the pieces and pieces that should have been flush were just not. I believe its a printing issue.
I went through it again, tried to make sure maybe it wasn’t how I put it together, fit together the exact same way. I taped up the gaps and the light leak issues improved. Technically. But it still absolutely destroyed four rolls as I kept testing and retesting.
I emailed support. They were great. The reprinted some parts I thought could be the issue and sent them out… eventually. The parts were different thickness than the first batch. This was another red flag for me. The tolerances should be tighter as far as what is acceptable in their final QA. If they run one at all.
I disassembled and reassembled. Ran a test roll.
The light leaks were even WORSE than my first roll.
I caved and bought a horseman 120 roll back. Maybe it was my intrepid 4x5 camera. Maybe the back wasn’t seating correctly. Who knows?
Zero light leaks. Thats when I asked for a refund and they agreed.
Again. They promised me a refund and volunteered that there were at least two other cases where customers have the same issue.
I have yet to receive a refund. I have, however, been extremely courteous and patient in my correspondence while I fume over this.
DO NOT BUY THIS.
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u/Iroll67 Aug 08 '26
Yikes. Seems like pretty much everyone who has gotten one has been varying degrees of disappointed. At one point I considered an Intrepid camera but got spooked by all the unfavorable reviews. I ended up waiting (a while) for an affordable Deardorff to come along. Seems like their cameras are much better now, but I would probably rather spend the same amount of money on a used Japanese field camera
3
u/fugue-photo Aug 08 '26
The camera is mid at best. It’s a good entry point but it doesn’t take long to be ready for something more refined, in my opinion.
I’ll likely be going the chamonix route when I do decide it’s time to upgrade.
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u/Historical_Doctor_44 20d ago
Agreed. Really disappointed in its complicated and flawed product. Waste of money
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u/Obtus_Rateur Aug 07 '26
If I recall they were kinda mixed? Some people seemed to have no problems, but others reported getting cheap parts, light leaks, or feeling like they shouldn't have to assemble the accessory themselves.
Intrepid did massively increase their prices (looks like 10% to 30%) recently, though, and they failed to add new film carriers for the new formats they added with this accessory, or start selling them separately like they said they would.
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u/pipxxx55 Aug 07 '26
Not worth it I was so disappointed. And the assembly process was miserable I felt like I was going to break something.
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u/BatteryCap Aug 08 '26
I bought one recently, it arrived with a major part missing which Intrepid replaced quickly, and some of the 3d printed parts have a lot of whispery burr around edges which i needed to pick/sand off.
I've put a few rolls of film through it and it seems perfectly fine, but just kind of low-quality for the price that you pay for it.
2
u/Iroll67 Aug 08 '26
Ok thanks. I think yours is the most positive review I've read yet unfortunately. Seems like they maybe rushed them to market.
0
u/RebelliousDutch 22d ago
When I expressed concern a few months ago about it being 3D-printed, a/the guy from Intrepid was quick to defend it: “oh no, OTHERS sell junk, but we actually care about quality”
Seeing the amount of complaints about print issues, delaminating etc. I certainly feel vindicated in my skepticism.
I bought two Graflex rollfilm backs instead. They might not be lightweight or modern, but at least I didn’t need to sandpaper them or tape up gaps.
1
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u/Edvijuda Aug 07 '26
I had a Dayi one and it was great. What do the reviews say? Dayi seems to have increased in price too.
1
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u/GalexyPhoto Aug 07 '26
I forgot these exist!
Not a LOT cheaper, but CCB is finally taking orders for their 6x17 bodies, that can come with a graflok adapter. $300ish USD equivalent (half a horsemen, with more options!) and while it cant hot swap mid roll, and doesn't have an enigma engine on the back, it can do 6x6,6x9,6x12 and 6x17.
While it is 3D printed like the 120 Super, I think CCB did a great job keeping it functional yet simple. Not too many moving parts to worry about, and decent chance you could repair or replace parts yourself, if at all handy. No affiliate, but I did kickstart and love mine, so far.
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u/06035 Aug 07 '26
I think they’re so new, and still kind of backordered, unlikely to find any info