View Full Version : New product tease: Smartflex 4x5
Oren Grad
11-Sep-2024, 15:51
A modern Graflex clone? I don't know anything about this project or the individual responsible for it beyond what is presented on the website:
https://smartflexcamera.com/
paulbarden
11-Sep-2024, 16:21
If the camera is to be measured by their confidence alone, it must be a remarkable camera indeed. But it seems they can't decide what their "Smartnon" lens is - is it an f2.0 or f2.5? They state both values on the lens page.
I've been watching their Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/smartflexcamera/
They've got a lot of different ideas they are putting into this camera, such as a way to use it as a 4x5 film projector (https://www.instagram.com/p/C_yEWJlSP9O/) (weird, but okay!). Paul, they've apparently just "upgraded" their design to hit f/2.
A Kickstarter is apparently in the works. Depending on price, I may be interested. I just got an RB Series D and I like the 190mm Ektar - I'm curious what the weight will be on the Smartflex with that huge f/2 lens. 3 stops faster than the Ektar, gotta be a lot of glass!
Results look impressive IMO:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9PysFPSutQ/
Except they seem to have some light leaks on many of the photos at the bottom. I would hope this is due to early design samples.
Oren Grad
18-Sep-2024, 08:35
Thanks, Bryan. They really should come up with a different name for that lens, though: "Smart? Non..."
what a great looking modern GSLR... I remember Ron Wisner was selling a SLR but it didn't have the integrated roller blind shutter, it's shutter was on the lens like a regular 4x5 ..
if I didn't already have a GSLR and a beater to harvest parts off of ... , this looks like the perfect modern camera, there's nothing like using a graflex slr ! easy peasy ... their 8x10 looks amazing ( on their IG feed ) .. hope it's affordable !
dimento
20-Sep-2024, 00:59
A modern Graflex clone? I don't know anything about this project or the individual responsible for it beyond what is presented on the website:
https://smartflexcamera.com/
Looks interesting. Hopefully the price is affordable
Been following this project closely. They recently did an information dump on Instagram and it seems the price they are going with for the Kickstarter is $2900 for the camera and 178mm f/2 lens. I'm still a bit confused on the lens specs but it sounds like the lens has a T/stop of f/2.5, which is why they've sometimes referred to it as such.
Honestly it was more than I was hoping, but I figured I was being too hopeful. I commented that they need to post some high-res photos and prove the efficacy of the lens. The specs and performance seems good, but I'm still concerned on the somewhat fogged (or flare?) on many of the images they've posted.
$2900 is more than I was willing to spend without hesitation, but I may bite the bullet and get one. I've been enjoying shooting the RB Graflex and if the lens is really good it'll be worth the price compared to what people pay for some of the really rare super-speed lenses (and will probably be way better and a ton lighter than the 8" Pentac I picked up but haven't been able to adapt yet). They claim Kickstarter will be coming "soon" but they've said that for a while.
interneg
29-Nov-2024, 05:36
price they are going with for the Kickstarter is $2900 for the camera and 178mm f/2 lens.
Rising to 3400 USD then 4500 USD - the latter was at the bottom end of what I'd have reckoned a realistic price would be for something of this complexity, built without an extant ecosystem - and they have all but said that 4.5k is the lowest sustainable/ profitable price. They've essentially implied that the lower Kickstarter prices will only really cover the costs of the MOQ parts.
I'm still a bit confused on the lens specs but it sounds like the lens has a T/stop of f/2.5, which is why they've sometimes referred to it as such.
F-stop 2.0, T-stop 2.4-2.5, real FL of 170mm - there was a whole post about this. Not based on the Aero-Ektar, rather it seems to aim for similar speed/ focal length with available modern glass - which is reasonable. Let's face it, even with all the latest ED glass, a 170/2.0 that covers 4x5 and can be carried by a human who doesn't weight train is going to have performance limitations - which aren't going to be helped by social media compression. Overall, a tessar type lens might not have been much cheaper to do per unit, but the fast lens is where the market is for that type of camera today.
Honestly it was more than I was hoping, but I figured I was being too hopeful.
Way too hopeful. How does 8-10K USD sound? That's what a Graflex with a normal tessar type lens would have cost when adjusted relative to average incomes today - similar to a Rolleiflex or a Leica M or Nikon F in their eras. Professional kit was never cheap until it became ultra mass producible for the hobbyist-professional manqué.
Eh, I don't think that is a useful comparison. Manufacturing is altogether different in this era.
They make big claims for their lens quality. I'm interested to see what the results look like at around f/4 to f/5.6, especially compared to the Ektar 190mm f/5.6 I have been using on my RB. The Ektar is not the sharpest lens but the results are nice, especially the background defocus. At f/5.6 it's very hard to nail focus, so f/2 seems like a bit much, especially if shooting quickly.
interneg
1-Dec-2024, 19:55
Eh, I don't think that is a useful comparison. Manufacturing is altogether different in this era.
Only up to a point - maybe 50% of what it might have cost in the past, not 20% - at least for the body. The lens is a different matter, and much cheaper manufacturing is potentially very feasible for classic formulas (if the glass is available - cf. Intrepid) - that being said, I get the feeling that they want the lens to be seen as an Aero-Ektar competitor, not necessarily as a hyper-sharp modern optic (despite using modern ED glass).
Edited to add: there is a claimed MTF result in one of their posts that would appear to place it a little worse performing than a v1 135/3.5 Planar used wide open. Make of that what you will, given the speed difference etc.
Their Kickstarter is live:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/smartflexcamera/smartflex-camera-slr-4x5
I've pledged for a camera and lens.
Andrew O'Neill
26-Dec-2024, 20:04
That's a bit pricey for me. Good luck!
They continue to improve the camera as we get closer to delivery of the Kickstarter pledges. Looking forward to a couple of projects I have in mind for this camera.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DG0UJkpyByP/
Update: cameras are getting out into the wild. I think I am one of the first in the USA to get mine due to tariff delays.
Lens is very good and much lighter than an Aero Ektar. Camera build quality is a little iffy but it does the job and is very lightweight.
kilimanjaro1996
10-Jun-2025, 10:57
Hi Corran, look forward to seeing your first photos out of the SmartFlex and the new lens!
Couple here:
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?179788-Portraits-from-2025/page7
Weather was poor the past weekend so have not had a chance to shoot much else yet.
Whir-Click
14-Jun-2025, 19:45
Corran, I’d love to hear more of your impressions using the Smartflex.
Reminds me of Gowland's 4x5 TLR, though that has greater parallax than a tlr rolleiflex. Still I can't see myself wanting to use any 4x5 without movements except a cigarbox pinhole.
https://www.japancamerahunter.com/2025/06/camera-geekery-the-4x5-gowlandflex-glamour-camera/
Weather has been really bad lately since receiving, but I'm planning to shoot some more with it tomorrow.
I have other 4x5 cameras with movements of course - this is a specialized camera for handheld/quick shooting. I do wish it had tilt/swing - I like the effect of shooting with a tilted plane of focus sometimes. Maybe in the future they will design a new front standard with that.
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