Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: 16x20 Bellows Question

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Toronto Canada
    Posts
    122

    16x20 Bellows Question

    Hello Everyone,


    Some of you might have seen my other posts, but I'm interesting in getting into 16x20 tintypes.

    If I had custom bellows made so I could have 1.6 meter bellows extension/length, what would the bellows length be when compacted/compressed (Estimated - I guess it depends on material thickness)?


    I inquired with a custom bellows maker and I was confused by their answer (but didn't want to keep asking the same question and bothering them).


    Thanks so for reading this, and thanks in advance for your help and time, it's much appreciated!

    Cheers,
    Kevin H.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    826

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Kevin,

    The bellows extended length impacts the folded / compressed length in the number of folds needed to achieve the flexibility for that length. The number of folds and the thickness of the material will provide some insight into the compressed length. BUT it might also be impacted to the flexibility of the material and construction i.e. how flat does the inside and outside corners lay.

    That does not give you the answer you are looking for, but that is some of the factors involved.

    Hope that helps,

    Len

  3. #3
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,319

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    I have 14x17” camera bellows made square by Custom Bellows.

    So rear 16x16” with front 10x10” for 10” lens boards. 40” extension.

    They fold to 2” thick as shipped without frames.

    My camera is not completed.

    I chose 14x17 since I found film holders first to use 14x17 X-Ray film.

  4. #4
    Tracy Storer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Oakland CA
    Posts
    1,047

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    It depends on how much taper there is since that affects whether the folds are stacked on top of each other when compressed, or if they "nest" as the bellows goes from large at the back to small at the front.
    Tracy Storer
    Mammoth Camera Company tm
    www.mammothcamera.com

  5. #5
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Stuck inside of Tucson with the Neverland Blues again...
    Posts
    6,266

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Build/buy the bellows first, then build the camera around them. Meanwhile, start doing smaller tintypes, and take a workshop if you can. Learning tintypes in a 16x20 format is as insane as learning large format with 16x20 film...
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Toronto Canada
    Posts
    122

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Thank you Len Middleton, that helps a bit, but I can't totally visualize the description, but thank you still!

    Randy Moe, thank you for your reply. Wow, that compresses really well, this is promising!

    Tracy Storer, thank you also for your reply, the bellows maker did say it would be larger at the back and smaller at the front? I think two bellows joined.

    Hello Mark Sawyer, thank you for your reply! I'm looking for the minimum bellows length to make sure I can shoot at wide lens, something around 360mm.
    And Yep, I know someone in my city that has workshops, but they are super pricey at $450 CAD for 2.5 hours of learning.


    Thanks everyone again! I'm thankful for your help and time!
    Cheers!

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Bellingham, WA (displaced Canadian)
    Posts
    518

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Quote Originally Posted by Qeb View Post
    Hello Mark Sawyer, thank you for your reply! I'm looking for the minimum bellows length to make sure I can shoot at wide lens, something around 360mm.
    And Yep, I know someone in my city that has workshops, but they are super pricey at $450 CAD for 2.5 hours of learning.
    Something to consider for that would be the size of your lens board. The larger your lens board is, the deeper you can make a recessed lens board for wide angle lenses without obscuring the corners. This has additional advantages of keeping the bellows less compressed, which allows movements more easily.

    Something to think about.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    826

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Kevin,

    If you have a large enough front standard and resulting lens board, it may be possible to construct a recessed lens board that is large enough to manage the lens and shutter adjustments, and deep enough to reduce the need to compress the bellows as much.

    Another consideration.

    Good luck in your efforts,

    Len

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Bellingham, WA (displaced Canadian)
    Posts
    518

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Quote Originally Posted by Len Middleton View Post
    Kevin,

    If you have a large enough front standard and resulting lens board, it may be possible to construct a recessed lens board that is large enough to manage the lens and shutter adjustments, and deep enough to reduce the need to compress the bellows as much.

    Another consideration.

    Good luck in your efforts,

    Len
    Two recommendations for the same thing means the idea is twice as a good!

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    826

    Re: 16x20 Bellows Question

    Quote Originally Posted by MAubrey View Post
    Two recommendations for the same thing means the idea is twice as a good!
    Looks like you posted while I was still composing.

    That is a reasonable assessment though...

Similar Threads

  1. Question(s) For 16x20 Users
    By Richard K. in forum Cameras & Camera Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-Dec-2006, 00:46
  2. Easel question for 16x20 and 20x24 printers: To VACUUM EASEL or not?
    By Andre Noble in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-Oct-2001, 18:34
  3. Printing first 16x20 sharpness question
    By Cedric P. Thevenaz in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 31-Aug-2001, 22:48

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •