Bellows

tinybynature · Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 75

Not sure if this is the right area of the forum, but I am sure someone will move it, if it needs to be.

I am curious about the use of bellows, on a DSLR, or Mirrorless camera.

Is there not a danger of excess dust inside the bellows, being attracted to the sensor when the camera is turned on?

Does anyone use a high quality filter, between the bellows and the camera flange? Or do you just blow out the bellows as best as possible and keep your fingers crossed?

Just curious.

Himself · Expire: 2013-05-30

I`ve never thought of that.
And I use a bellows quite a lot. I wouldn`t put a filter inside.
No problemos at all.

fuzzywuzzy · Expire: 2013-11-30

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

I've never even thought of it either. And I use my bellows -- well somewhat often. Not a lot. But they're capped when not in use. It's easy enough to give em a blast of air from one of those cans of air you can buy at computer stores (and camera stores?), if it's weighing on your mind.

tinybynature · Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 75

Figures a guy with OCD, would ask a question most people do not even consider!! LOL

I was thinking about it, after looking at some used ones online. Who knows, how it has been cared for and what might be trapped inside. I guess if buying brand new, you can keep it capped and not be so concerned about it.

I guess even stick a good quality vacuum inside with a dusting brush attachment, would get out anything large and probably a lot of smaller dust particles as well. It would probably work better, than blowing it out.

Thanks for all the input Smile

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

I wouldn't be banging a dusting brush attachment inside a bellows -- even a small one. Bellows can be fragile. Especially old ones. And let's face it, most of the bellows we see for sale on eBay and elsewhere are old ones. You're likely to tear 'em up doing that.

Look, in order for dust particles to be distributed anywhere, there must be an air current, yes? When a bellows is fastened to a camera and a lens, there are no air currents inside this system, okay? So dust will not be distributed anywhere. This is a non-issue.

tinybynature · Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 75

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

No it doesn't, unless it also is leaking a positive charge. Which I doubt.

Dust has a net negative ionic charge, hence substances with a net positive charge tend to attract dust particles. This has nothing to do with electro-magnetism. It is basic chemical ionic bonds.

tinybynature · Joined: 29 Jan 2013 Posts: 75

Thank you for clearing that up!