Compact bellows? And precise bellows?

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

Hi,
I have an M42 Revue bellows, I guess it's made by Novoflex. It works very nice with long focal lengths from 80mm onwards but below that it can only reach high magnifications. And for ultra high magnfications (anything above about 3:1) it's not precise enough.
So I want to buy some better bellows - one precise and steady for very high magnifications and one for low magnifications.

Does anyone here knows compact and affordable bellows?
And any recommendations for a very precise bellows?

Arkku · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 1416 Location: Helsinki, Finland

One trick I use to effectively “shorten” bellows is that I put an M39 adapter on the mirrorless camera, then an M39 to M42 step-up ring, and M42 bellows on that—it saves about 15mm compared to using an M42 adapter on the camera.

In any case I'm able to focus to infinity with a 75mm enlarger lens on the bellows.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Keep an eye on ebay, very nice bellows units turn up frequently, Nikon and Konica ones are particularly nice.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Unitor make excellent quality bellows, mine are Minolta MD but they come in most mounts and the mount is interchangeable.

http://e-group.uk.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9921

The quality is first class, they are strong, rigid, and the movements are very smooth and precise. The full kit has a slide copier and a focusing rail.
I was lucky ang got a full set in immaculate condition for £20 at a camera fair. I generally see them there at around £40 to £50.

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

Most any good quality set of bellows should serve both your purposes. Any good bellows built by Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus, or Minolta should work well. I've also owned a set of Vivitar bellow that were well made and I currently own a set of Spiratone bellows -- the Bellows Master SST by Hama, which are excellent. I also own a set of Nikon PB-4 bellows, which are very sturdy, and I wouldn't hesitate to use them for both high and low magnification work. Fully retracted, they measure about 43mm from flange to flange, and fully extended they're about 200mm.

An important thing to consider with bellows is an element of their design. Some bellows have only a front and rear standard and in some cases, only the front standard is movable. Others allow both to be moved. But the best bellows designs, such as my PB-4, have a separate tripod mount on its own track, which can be moved independently from the bellows standards. This gives you the best flexibility when you're out there in the field.

Himself · Expire: 2013-05-30

I have to ad Contax PC bellows on Michael's list.
A masterpiece. I have 2 of them Shocked

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

No argument from me. And there are also Leitz bellows. And then you've got the various excellent medium format bellows to choose from, such as those made by Hasselblad and Bronica, to name just two.

koji · Expire: 2012-12-27

Get a Minolta's portable bellows like this:

I got this from eBay around $65.

It is very easy to change its mount of your camera, I have changed to E-mount as you see.
Very light, relatively sturdy, only problem would be you may need macro photo rail to focus,
since focusing is done by extending/compacting the bellows which is not accurate for macro.

It is very compact and easy to carry. Above 75mm lens, you can focus to infinity with NEX.

And also you can have fun with the other lens like Contax G-Planr 45mm head (M42-mount) with:

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

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

Those compact Minolta bellows are simply too cool. They look especially cool attached to the NEX with that Planar hanging off the front. Cool

Not terribly practical methinks, but I don't care. I want a set. Only problem might be that the $65 you paid for yours was a really good deal?

Click here to see on Ebay

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Those are very useful, even outside. Never made one mine strangely enough...