Bellows Replacement Sources, 2012

[jb7]

Thank you- will have a look at those videos in a bit- but- I don't know the Corona- how close together can you position the standards? Thanks for the review-

[Ramiro Elena]

David, are those videos from ecbuystore? I'd like to see one for the Kodak 2D, mounting the frames seems trickier than I though.
Joseph, I'll photograph both the new bellows from ecbuystore and the original from the Eastman View side by side tomorrow. They're pretty much 1/4 of the original.
Rudy says he can do any length. I should have asked for a longer set, mine are only 50cm.

[mdm]

I thought mine were wrong, Rudy gave me the link to those videos to show me how they fit together. They were not the same as the originals for me, with a box section at the back and narrower at the front end, but much longer overall and in fact more compact than the originals. It is painstaking work putting them on but probably easier for a 2D than the video. I looked at my 2D and the bellows attach the same as my corona so if you think carefuly and watch the video before you start you shoud be fine. I did mine in an evening but spent a few days thinking and working it all out first. 50cm seems ok for off the shelf bellows, that should do a 360 at portrait distance maybe. My 11x14 has 1m extension max with extension rail and my 5x7 2D has 60cm max with extension rail but the original bellows only manage 50cm. If you are unhappy, send them back and maybe ask for a longer custom set, you could even send your frames and ask them to fit the new bellows, that would be a lot less expensive than buying a elsewhere. Once you have cut anything though, you are stuck with them.

[mdm]

Here is mine, first the original then the new one. I thought the didnt fit but I was being an idiot. Notice how the front of the new bellows attatch inside the front frame rather than outside like the old ones, so the pleats intrude on 2 sides, this is a big lens board so no problem for me. There is a cleat that the front frame must fit over when you attatch them so, because of the fabric going through the inside its a tight fit, but it makes the front 100% lightight as there is a layer of fabric clamped between the front standard and the front of the frame. Mark the top and bottom and maybe front of each frame so they go on the same way they came off.

[mdm]

Here is the beast with the bellows fitted and some details. Last one is at infinity focus for a 14 inc lens. I am pretty happy with theese bellows, I got a good 11x14 with 2 film holders for a very good price as a result and its a new world now.

[Ramiro Elena]

That's right David, the bellows in the 2D wrap around the frame. I am such an idiot, the 85-100cm version is only $15 more! I assumed it was twice the price of the 50cm and didn't even ask.

If you are unhappy, send them back and maybe ask for a longer custom set, you could even send your frames and ask them to fit the new bellows, that would be a lot less expensive than buying a elsewhere. Once you have cut anything though, you are stuck with them.

That's exactly what I was thinking...

[Joseph Dickerson]

Joseph did you notice a strong smell of petrol or some sort of solvent with yours? I had that same problem you had and went on shooting for a whole year without noticing. Light leaks were unbelieveable.

I didn't notice any odor at all with mine. I have resealed the light leaks with a marine caulk (3M 5200 marine caulk/sealant) but can't test yet as it takes 48 hours for the stuff to set. I have used Plio Bond (first time) and E-6000, both with less than stellar results.

Getting a complete light-tight seal is a bear with the Sinar frames. I replaced a Deardorff bellows years ago and it was super simple by comparison.

Fortunately, I tested with the last of my Polaroid T-52 before shooting anything serious. I really hope this works out, as the bellows from ecbuyonline is really nice and adds to the versatility of the Sinar. Plus Rudy is really nice to deal with.

JD

[jb7]

Thanks for the extra information- Ramiro, look forward to your pictures-

David, those bellows look double tapered? Presumably that's the only way to get large bellows a meter long? It's a desirable feature anyway...

The pictures don't really show how compact they fold, since they're taken from above- I'd quite like to get a set like yours that would compress to less than two inches, do you reckon yours would do that? Thanks for all the reviews-

[Ramiro Elena]

Joseph, mine are 50cm long and compress to less than 1 inch.

[Joseph Dickerson]

The one I got is similar to the Ebony/Chamonix Universal bellows. The first (lens end) couple of pleats are loose so it works like a bag bellows with short lenses and a regular bellows with longer focal lengths.

It's really a cool design and, like yours, much more compact than the standard Sinar bellows.


Now if I can just solve the light leaks.

JD