Randall Cherry
10-Dec-2007, 12:43
Hello All,
I just purchased a Zone VI 8x10 camera. I believe the camera is a rebadged Wista because it has double extensions and a non-detachable bellows, and is marked "Made by Zone VI Studios, Newfane Vermont, U.S.A." The bellows exterior is black and has a "papery" feel while the interior is lined with a black fabric (in other words, I don't believe the bellows to be made of leather or vinyl).
Though the camera is a few decades old, it is in unused contion because it was bought and used as an interior decoration at a resort! Thus, the camera was set up and then positioned in a sitting room, but never actually used. The camera was used as such since new, meaning it has been set up and on a tripod for roughly 20 years and has no user marks on it.
Unfortunately, because the camera was set up for so long, the bellows has become very stiff and has practically soldified in place. Any small movement of either standard causes a "crackling" sound to come from the bellows. As such, the camera is unusable because any normal use will quickly cause pin holes (and worse) in the bellows. However, because the camera was never used as a camera (i.e. folded and unfolded, rise, sift, etc.) the bellows are intact with no light leaks and are frozen in a permanently sagged position.
I am hoping I can recondition the bellows so that they are again flexible. If I can't recondition the bellows, I will have to replace them, which won't be easy to do since they are not replaceable bellows.
Can anyone tell me what the bellows of this camera are made of? Can anyone tell me how to recondition the bellows?
Thanks!
Randall Cherry
I just purchased a Zone VI 8x10 camera. I believe the camera is a rebadged Wista because it has double extensions and a non-detachable bellows, and is marked "Made by Zone VI Studios, Newfane Vermont, U.S.A." The bellows exterior is black and has a "papery" feel while the interior is lined with a black fabric (in other words, I don't believe the bellows to be made of leather or vinyl).
Though the camera is a few decades old, it is in unused contion because it was bought and used as an interior decoration at a resort! Thus, the camera was set up and then positioned in a sitting room, but never actually used. The camera was used as such since new, meaning it has been set up and on a tripod for roughly 20 years and has no user marks on it.
Unfortunately, because the camera was set up for so long, the bellows has become very stiff and has practically soldified in place. Any small movement of either standard causes a "crackling" sound to come from the bellows. As such, the camera is unusable because any normal use will quickly cause pin holes (and worse) in the bellows. However, because the camera was never used as a camera (i.e. folded and unfolded, rise, sift, etc.) the bellows are intact with no light leaks and are frozen in a permanently sagged position.
I am hoping I can recondition the bellows so that they are again flexible. If I can't recondition the bellows, I will have to replace them, which won't be easy to do since they are not replaceable bellows.
Can anyone tell me what the bellows of this camera are made of? Can anyone tell me how to recondition the bellows?
Thanks!
Randall Cherry