Firstly just so that it is clear to the OP, I only produce monochrome prints so any considerations towards making colour will have to be judged on the views of other togs who do or have done colour wetprints.
The Intrepid enlarger kit:
I'm presuming that the OP has watched the video on Intrepids website and thus has a good idea of what the kit consists of and how it works.
As with most products it has its good points and it's not so good points and this brief review is of course only based on my personal experiences.
So let's start with what I have found to be negative points but not so negative as to not recommend the kit to others
1. The setting up if using a tripod can take a while and be a tad tedious to ensure that the camera ( both standards) are square / parallel with the easel.
I have used the kit both facing (traditionally) downwards onto a table but also horizontally with the easel mounted on a wall.
The latter option I find easier, nonetheless setting up does involve a certain amount of patience.
If changing paper sizes , the rising / lowering of the enlarger using the center column / legs of a tripod can be a pita. ( an alternative of course is to raise/lower the easel using books or by wall mounting the enlarger and using a height adjustable table.)
I imagine a copy board setup is much more straightforward and I am actually in the process of adapting the column of an existing enlarger to accomodate the Intrepid kit.
2. The filter holder is, imo, the weakest part of the kit in so far as it is very easily dislodged from the lens.
Up until purchasing a different filter kit with secure below lens filter holder, I used a little gaffer tape to secure the Intrepid holder to the lens but bear in mind I do a lot of filter changing ( grade splitting) so perhaps this will prove less of a problem to other users.
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So now the positives:
1. Firstly, if space is an issue then there's no 5x4 enlarger on the market that will pack down and store away like the Intrepid kit will.
2. It will work on most ( if not all) standard 5x4 field cameras with graflock back.
I now use mine on an Intrepid 10x8 camera with 5x4 reducing back, a camera that is destined to be my permanent enlarger and will hopefully accomodate the 10x8 enlarger kit when it becomes available from Intrepid.
3. The light source is powerful and evenly distributed across the negative / print.
I regularly/ predominantly print 12x16 inch prints and have never had a problem.
4. The lens board will house standard enlarger lenses although a LF lens of 'standard' focal length for the format ( ie 150mm ish for 5x4) can also be mounted on its linhof board and works equally well ( arguably better!)
5. The filter holder, barring the points made above, does what it needs to do and accepts standard square gel filters that are readily available fairly cheaply.
6. The Power source is DC with adapter supplied.
Perhaps a longer length of lead would be an advantage but it's no big deal....It functions perfectly well and feeds both the lamp and the timer.
7. The digital timer is excellent, easy to use.
Accurate to 1/10 second with a memory function for the previous set time.
8. The negative holders work fine.
I have the full set but have only used the 5x4 .
It does crop a little too much from the edges of the neg for my liking ( more so than the holders in my scanner) and it would be beneficial if the holder was recessed to accept the neg easier, but to be fair I bring the issues on myself by composing edge to edge on the groundglass, thus leaving very little room for "manouvre"
I think that I've covered everything.
If anything else comes to mind , I'll add edits to this post.
Any questions, just ask ....
