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Thread: Chinese made bellows?

  1. #1

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    Chinese made bellows?

    What experience have you had with the Chinese made bellows? I may need to replace mine on my Toyo 45G and B&H wants over $400 for the real thing. Thanks

  2. #2
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    There's been a lot of posts about this recently. Search "Rudy" + "Bellows". That should pull up a bunch of info. To summarize what I've read: most people are happy with his bellows.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

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    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    I bought a set for a KMV 8x10 from ecbuyonline, and was disappointed in the quality. The outside material was pieced together from smaller pieces, and there were wrinkles and bubbles showing from the adhesive underneath. Functional, but not pretty.
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  5. #5
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    Don't forget to get a quote from Custom Bellows.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  6. #6

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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    I picked up an 8x10 bellows from ecbuyonline a year or so ago for my Cambo 8x10 and it was well made. The camera itself probably isn't worth a high priced bellows but if I had to buy a bellows for my Deardorff I would almost certainly spend the money for a nice one from Western Bellows in California.
    The Viewfinder is the Soul of the Camera

    If you don't believe it, look into an 8x10 viewfinder!

    Dan

  7. #7
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    Western Bellows is no longer in business, if memory serves me rightly.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  8. #8

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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Sawyer View Post
    I bought a set for a KMV 8x10 from ecbuyonline, and was disappointed in the quality. The outside material was pieced together from smaller pieces, and there were wrinkles and bubbles showing from the adhesive underneath. Functional, but not pretty.
    Mark, did you contact him about making it right?
    I had him make me a set about a year ago which arrived similar to what you're describing (bubbles, glue residue, different fabric than previous bellows, more than one section) and he explained that they were made by an employee of his who makes his bellows for the chinese market. Two weeks later I had a high quality bellows on my camera.

  9. #9
    Dave Karp
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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    Yes. I read recently on the forum that someone tried to contact Jim (Western Bellows) and he said he has retired.

  10. #10
    Bill Kostelec
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    Re: Chinese made bellows?

    I put 99 dollar Chinese bellows on my wife's Technika 3 and they are just fine.

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