Stenopeika 4x5 Michaelangelo Folding View Camera, Iroko Wood/Aluminum (96x99mm Lens Board) Review

The Stenopeika 4x5 Michaelangelo is a folding large format view camera aimed at traditional film photographers working with sheet film. Built from iroko wood and aluminum, it uses a 96x99mm lens board standard and ships with a magnetic ground glass protector. At $1,099, it sits in the middle tier of 4x5 folding field cameras, positioned between budget wooden models and flagship metal designs from makers like Wista or Toyo. The iroko wood construction offers a balance of warmth and durability, while the aluminum components keep weight manageable for field work. The folding design is traditional for 4x5 field cameras, allowing the front standard to collapse back into the body for transport. This is a camera for large format practitioners who want the tactile experience of wood and the movements inherent to view cameras: tilt, shift, swing, and rise/fall controls that enable precise composition and depth of field manipulation.