Any advice on bellows?

[Richard_D]

Has anyone tried the cheap bellows fron ebay?

The Nikon PB-4's seem to be going for more than I really want to pay.
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Richard

The interesting bit:

Nikkors: 20mm f2.8 AIS, 24mm f2.8 AIS, 28mm f2.8 AIS, 35mm f2 AIS, 50mm f1.4 AI, 50mm f1.48AI, 50m f2 AI,
55mm f3.5 AI'd, 105mm f4 AI, 135mm f2.8 AI'd, 135mm f3.5 AI'd, 200mm f4 AI'd .
Nikon E Series: 100mm f2.8 .
Soviet Nikon Mount: Zenitar 16mm f2.8, Arsat/arax/photex 85mm T&S f2.8 .
Other: Asahi Super Takumar 55 mm f2 (M42) ,Tamron 300mm f5.6 SP, Tamron 500mm f8 SP.

DSLR: Nikon D700. 35mm SLRsNikon FE, Pentax S1a.
TLR: Rolliecord II.
Sub-Minature: Pentax Auto 110, 18mm f2.8, 24mm f2.8, 50mm f2.8.

More to come...

[Attila]

I used Pentax and Pentacon belows (M42) both are fine and cheap.
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Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
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Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my Ebay shop to support my reviews !

[lulalake]

[Richard_D]

Thanks I hadn't thought of using non-nikon bellows, but I suppose the adapters I'd need each end wouldn't really matter with bellows...
_________________
Richard

The interesting bit:

Nikkors: 20mm f2.8 AIS, 24mm f2.8 AIS, 28mm f2.8 AIS, 35mm f2 AIS, 50mm f1.4 AI, 50mm f1.48AI, 50m f2 AI,
55mm f3.5 AI'd, 105mm f4 AI, 135mm f2.8 AI'd, 135mm f3.5 AI'd, 200mm f4 AI'd .
Nikon E Series: 100mm f2.8 .
Soviet Nikon Mount: Zenitar 16mm f2.8, Arsat/arax/photex 85mm T&S f2.8 .
Other: Asahi Super Takumar 55 mm f2 (M42) ,Tamron 300mm f5.6 SP, Tamron 500mm f8 SP.

DSLR: Nikon D700. 35mm SLRsNikon FE, Pentax S1a.
TLR: Rolliecord II.
Sub-Minature: Pentax Auto 110, 18mm f2.8, 24mm f2.8, 50mm f2.8.

More to come...

[LucisPictor]

Some weeks ago I bought my first bellows. The cheapest I coud get and it works perfectly!
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There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who don’t.
"Schnäppchenjäger" | "KAPCTEH" | "Karusutenu" | "Carsten" | T-shirt?
Cams in use: EOS 40D, EOS 350D, EOS 50e, EOS 500, Spotmatic SPII, EXA I & 1c, Zenit EM; Oly 35RC,Minolta Hi-Matic E & F, Ricoh 500RF, Yashica Electro 35 GS, FED-3b and some others...
Lenses in use: Asahi Pentax: 2.8/28;3.5/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;2.8/105;3.5/135;28-80 | Canon (AF):1.8/50;17-85;75-300 | Former GDR: CZJ Flek 4/20; Pentacon 3.5/30; Pentaflex 1.8/50; CZJ 2.8/50; CZJ 4/135; Pentacon 4/200 | Fujinon: 43-75 | Hanimex: 3.5/23; 4/100;80-200 | Hoya: 25-42;80-205 | Leica: Elmarit-R 2.8/35 | Mamiya: 1.8/55 | Minolta: 1.7/50 | Nikkor: 2.8/24;2/35;2/50;1.2/55;1.8/85;3.5/135 | West German: Ludwig 2.9/50; Meyer 2.8/100; Will 4.5/105; Schneider 3.5/135;Enna 3.5/135; Zeiss 4/135;Isco 4/135; Enna 4.5/240 | Olympus: 3.5/28;1.4/50;3.5/135 | Rikenon: 1.7/50;35-70 | Rollei/Voigtländer: 1.4/55;1.8/50 | Russian: Peleng3.5/8; Zenitar2.8/16; MIR2.8/37; Volna2.8/50; Industar2.8/50; Industar3.5/50; Industar3.5/5cm; Helios2/50; Helios2/58; MIR38 3.5/65; Volna2.8/80; Jupiter2/85; Kaleinar2.8/100;Tair2.8/135; Jupiter3.5/135; Jupiter4/135; Telear3.5/200; Jupiter4/200; Tair4.5/300;RF: Jupiter2.8/35;Industar2.8/53 | Sigma: 28-85;28-105(AF);17-70(AF) | Soligor: 28-105;35-200;70-220 | Tamron: 2.5/24;2.5/135;60-300;70-210 | Tokina: 28-105;80-200;12-24(AF);70-210(AF) | Vivitar: 3.5/17;2/24;2/28;2.5/28;2.8/28 | Yashica: 2/5cm | Other Japanese: Cosina3.8/20; Albinar2.8/28; Porst1.8/35; Beroflex 8/500; Spiratone28-200; Maginon70-210
Green are the lenses I shoot the most.
More? http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65

[Attila]

[Séamuis]

pentax m42 auto bellows usually go for pretty cheap and I would say thats your best bet. the K mount versions are usually far more expensive, though likely cheaper than a nikon set.
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Spotmatic II / Spotmatic F / Spotmatic ESII / KX / K1000 / MX / ME-F / superA / K110D / K10D
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Winder MX w/ Remote Trigger Socket / Winder ME II / Motor Drive A / Auto Bellows M Set
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M42: S-M-C Takumar 35 3,5 / S-M-C Takumar 50 1,4 / S-M-C Takumar 55 1,8 / S-M-C Takumar 85 1,9 / S-M-C Takumar 135 3,5
K: smc-M 20 4 / smc-M 28 2 / smc-M 35 2,8 / smc-M 40 2,8 / smc-M 50 1,7 / smc Pentax 55 1,8 / smc-M 50 4 macro / smc-M 85 2 / smc-M 135 3,5 / smc-M 200 4 / smc-M 40~80 2,8~4
KA: smc-A 28 2,8 / smc-A 35 2,8 / smc-A 50 1,7 / smc-A 100 2,8 macro / smc-A 70~210 4 / smc-A 28~135 4
KAF: smc-FA 43 1,9 Limited
KF: smc-AF ZOOM 35~70 2,8
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PENTAX equipment, ILFORD & Kodak film
Séamuis Moore

[luisalegria]

"I guess all of them same, if not leaking and you able to fix postion and move position just works."

It seems that way to me also. Mine are both "cheap" third party bellows, Spiratone and Kopil. Even leaking isn't so bad on a dslr, as a very tiny hole will add extremely little light except on a very long exposure. The real danger with bellows light leaks was fogging the film through an open shutter.
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Pentax K100D, SV, SP1000, SP500, LX, SF10, Mamiya 1000TL, Sears/Ricoh TLS, Exakta VX, VXIIb, Olympus OM-10, Nikon FM, Zeiss Contaflex B, Retina Reflex S, IV, Rolleiflex, Speed Graphic & Meridian 4x5, misc. rangefinders and folders, several dozen lenses and etc., et. al., ad infinitum.

[Richard_D]

Thanks folks.

Don't tell my wife but I went for the PB-4 bellows anyway. The Tilt/Shift might be useful for macro work, and they come with the PS-4 Slide copying attachment...

Any idea whether mounting a longish enlarger lens would give me infinity to further justify paying the extra for the tilt/shift?
_________________
Richard

The interesting bit:

Nikkors: 20mm f2.8 AIS, 24mm f2.8 AIS, 28mm f2.8 AIS, 35mm f2 AIS, 50mm f1.4 AI, 50mm f1.48AI, 50m f2 AI,
55mm f3.5 AI'd, 105mm f4 AI, 135mm f2.8 AI'd, 135mm f3.5 AI'd, 200mm f4 AI'd .
Nikon E Series: 100mm f2.8 .
Soviet Nikon Mount: Zenitar 16mm f2.8, Arsat/arax/photex 85mm T&S f2.8 .
Other: Asahi Super Takumar 55 mm f2 (M42) ,Tamron 300mm f5.6 SP, Tamron 500mm f8 SP.

DSLR: Nikon D700. 35mm SLRsNikon FE, Pentax S1a.
TLR: Rolliecord II.
Sub-Minature: Pentax Auto 110, 18mm f2.8, 24mm f2.8, 50mm f2.8.

More to come...

[poilu]

[Richard_D]

[Arlon]

I have 4 different bellows and the one I use the most is a Novoflex Automatic bellows. It stops down the lens for you. It's small, light, compact, has nikon mount, easy for hand holding in the field.

Next on my favorites list is the PB-4. It's a beast and mounts straigt up on my d200 (some say you need a spacer) by rotating the mount on the bellows 90deg and then just turn it back once mounted. Rotating mount is handy. Build quality is VERY good. I thought I'd use tilt/shift more than I do.. I would rather have an 85mm tilt/shift macro lens though (saving m y pennies now). PB-4 has a great built in focus rail. If using a tripod, this is the bellows I use.

Adapter to mount anything to anything are available. I even mount a microscope lens on the bellows from time to time. I use a lot of enlarger lenses from 35-150mm (not all are created equal). My favrite enlarger lens is an old 50mm nikon f2.8.


Bottom line, I love the PB-4 but because it's so massive, I always find myself grabbing the novoflex when I'm heading out the door. I shoot off hand 90% of the time so the PB-4 just doesn't get as much use as the little Novoflex does.


Check this link for a ton of useful information on the subject (towards the bottom)

http://www.nikonlinks.com/unklbil/macro_adapter.htm
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D200, D90, D70 (IR converted), D50, F2
Big box of MF lenses from 18mm to 600mm and a lot in between..

Favorites are the micro nikkors (55mm, 105mm and 200mm).

[Richard_D]

[Arlon]