Help please: Need new bellow for 8x10 SinarF, suggestions:

[sdean7855]

Any have experience, recommendations, suggestions on replacement 8x10 bellows for Sinar F?
1) Do all models of the Sinar (F, C, P) use the same bellows? I understand there are metering and non-metering backs; mine, AFAIK, is non-metering
2) Comments on domestic or international suppliers? I see new bellows offered for $185 on Ebay from HongKong (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Professional-Made-Bellows-For-Sinar-P2-8x10-Large-Format-Camera-/281094170515); has anybody used ecbuyonline (there's this thread from back in 2010 (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?96080-quot-ecbuyonline-quot-Sinar-8x10-Bellows)) and have comments on how his bellows hold up? Camera Bellows and the fellow in Hawaii appear to have gone out of business.
3) Anyone dealt with Turner (http://www.turnerbellows.com/photographic_bellows.html)? They are in Rochester, NY, have been in the business since 1935, though they have diversified to more than bellows.
4) Anyone have comments, experience, suggestions on attaching the bellows (once you get the replacement) to front and rear retaining plates? What glue to use, procedures, etc.?
5) I have the Nikon 600/800mm telephoto (where pinhole leaks really show up!) and might someday find the 1200 rear element at an affordable price. I figure I'd need something like 36" of bellows (from the literature, the infinity leans board to film distance seems to be about 800mm) for focusing to say 20' away, which is more than the standard Sinar bellows.

Still hoping for an answer to my question about where to find a rear standard horizonatal replacement bubble level for my Sinar F (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?121618-Need-rear-standard-8x10-bubble-level-assemblies-for-Sinar-F)....lotsa views, no replies

[DKirk]

Awaiting quote for my TOYO 810G from ecbuyonline, but the other one - 2012star888 - was selling for £120 bellows that are 500mm long, for a longer set (around 900mm) the quote was £240. So unless the listing is different for the Sinar, check how long the standard length they supply are - I'd have been well ticked off had I paid £120 for bellows that I can't use with the converted focal length of my Symmar 360mm. . .

As for the bubble level, what I did was buy an extra front standard for the Toyo (so when I shoot 5x4 I can use it as an intermediate standard for longer bellows when shooting Macro etc) - So assuming the Sinar uses the same idea for the bubble levels, that could be worth exploring.

[vinny]

Rudy at ecbuyonline makes a fine set of bellows many of us have recommended his work lately. There are several existi g threads on gluing bellows. This was recommended to me so it's what i used:http://www.tandyleather.com/en-usd/home/department/leather-cement-glue/2525-360.aspx

[prendt]

Any have experience, recommendations, suggestions on replacement 8x10 bellows for Sinar F?
1) Do all models of the Sinar (F, C, P) use the same bellows? I understand there are metering and non-metering backs; mine, AFAIK, is non-metering
2) Comments on domestic or international suppliers? I see new bellows offered for $185 on Ebay from HongKong (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Professional-Made-Bellows-For-Sinar-P2-8x10-Large-Format-Camera-/281094170515); has anybody used ecbuyonline (there's this thread from back in 2010 (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?96080-quot-ecbuyonline-quot-Sinar-8x10-Bellows)) and have comments on how his bellows hold up? Camera Bellows and the fellow in Hawaii appear to have gone out of business.


Camera Bellows is now Custom Bellows. An excellent source of bellows.

[William Whitaker]

Camera Bellows is now Custom Bellows. An excellent source of bellows.

+1. http://custombellows.co.uk/

The first of this year I had them make a replacement bellows for my 8x10 Sinar Norma. I sent them the old bellows and had them install it on the frames. Total price £188 (US$350 at the time), which included a £10 charge for fitting the new bellows to the old bellows frames. That fitting charge was more than reasonable, considering the hassle it would have been for me to have to do it myself. Money well spent! And their service was extremely fast. I think they had the bellows made, ready to ship, in just about one day's time! Shipping, of course, took longer. But I have nothing but praise for their service. Highly recommended!

[RSalles]

Q.: 1) Do all models of the Sinar (F, C, P) use the same bellows? I understand there are metering and non-metering backs; mine, AFAIK, is non-metering

Yes, and for the X and the Norma also,

Cheers,

Renato

[sdean7855]

Side note : I also play the concertina (the little hexagonal squeezebox) and have had much experience there with patching and replacing bellows. There the problem is wheezy bellows losing air *and* the fact the bellow are six or eight or 12-sided *and* have to stand up to some pressure. Bellows corner are often patched with thin skived kid leather put on the corners with white glue. However, the folds are much bigger and one rarely has more than 1-4 corners leak until the whole bellows is falling apart (since you rest it on your knee, often the bottom corners go from rubbing on your pants)...so the patch isn;t a big thing....but the idea of putting some 80 or so those patches on a Sinar bellows makes me shudder (not shutter).
Thanks for the help, think I'll go with Rudy at ecbuyonline...he has said his bellows (his standard Sinar is $185) can be made to 36" length for an extra $20.

[sdean7855]

I looked up the actual bellows length I'd need for a Nikkor ED T 1200mm telephoto, which the spec sheet listed as just under 800mm Rudy said that the normal Sinar bellow length is 700mm, but that he would make my bellows to 800mm at no extra charge

[vinny]

I looked up the actual bellows length I'd need for a Nikkor ED T 1200mm telephoto, which the spec sheet listed as just under 800mm Rudy said that the normal Sinar bellow length is 700mm, but that he would make my bellows to 800mm at no extra charge

In my experience ordering 3 bellows from him(which all were 800mm max), that's not measured at full extension. There's plenty of room to stretch them further. I would actually prefer less pleats which wiuld make folding the camera easier.

[redshift]

I've also had excellent service from Rudy. There is also now a listing for metal bellows frames from ECBUYONLINE for about $75. They are for 4x5 only for Sinar but work perfectly on the front of the 8x10 bellows. The rear frame on the old 8x10 bellows is aluminum so it is easy to clean off the old glue. The front frame is plastic, harder to clean without damage. The new frames are 2 piece metal sandwich assembly with machine screws included, makes it much easier to adhere and get a light tight seal.