Macro bellows won't fit modern DSLR... Any ideas?
Macro bellows won't fit modern DSLR... Any ideas?
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Discussion

kVA

Original Poster:

2,460 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
I have a set of macro bellows that I bought about 30 years ago and used about twice on my FM2. Dug them out recently and got all excited about using them on my DSLR - only to discover the battery grips on ALL modern cameras, prevent you from actually attaching the bloody thing! Grrr...

Any suggestions? (the frame of the bellows extends almost as far back as the mount and needs a flat front face to the camera to line up the lens mount.)

Inspired by the cardboard tube on the Random Photos thread - maybe I'll have to get the scissors and gaffer tape out, after all?

Simpo Two

92,708 posts

294 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
Extension tube/s?

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
Take the grip off?

Cheap extension tubes are cheap.

Buy a dremmel?

LongQ

13,864 posts

262 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
Have a read here.

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/c...

Bellows on a 1Ds III

kVA

Original Poster:

2,460 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
Cheers... thumbup

Was kind of hoping for an easier option, but the extension tube should work, but then I might as well use them instead of the bellows!

Oh well, it was just an idea.

LongQ

13,864 posts

262 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
kVA said:
Cheers... thumbup

Was kind of hoping for an easier option, but the extension tube should work, but then I might as well use them instead of the bellows!

Oh well, it was just an idea.
Ah, well yes and no.

The bellows, preumably, ought to give you some 'tilt and shift' options that should allow some interesting flexibility for DoF compared to a 'fixed' lens. Very useful for macro work. Plus you get variable lengths by adjustment rather than by faffing about with fitting and removing tubes.

kVA

Original Poster:

2,460 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th January 2012
quotequote all
LongQ said:
Ah, well yes and no.

The bellows, preumably, ought to give you some 'tilt and shift' options that should allow some interesting flexibility for DoF compared to a 'fixed' lens. Very useful for macro work. Plus you get variable lengths by adjustment rather than by faffing about with fitting and removing tubes.
I'm afraid not - they're just straight macro bellows, but obviously more adjustable than fixed extension tubes...


LongQ

13,864 posts

262 months

Friday 27th January 2012
quotequote all
kVA said:
I'm afraid not - they're just straight macro bellows, but obviously more adjustable than fixed extension tubes...
Ah, OK.

Still a lot to play with if you just use cheap tubes at the camera end to make an effective mount.

Whitefly Swatter

1,131 posts

228 months

Friday 27th January 2012
quotequote all
kVA said:
I have a set of macro bellows that I bought about 30 years ago and used about twice on my FM2. Dug them out recently and got all excited about using them on my DSLR - only to discover the battery grips on ALL modern cameras, prevent you from actually attaching the bloody thing! Grrr...

Any suggestions? (the frame of the bellows extends almost as far back as the mount and needs a flat front face to the camera to line up the lens mount.)

Inspired by the cardboard tube on the Random Photos thread - maybe I'll have to get the scissors and gaffer tape out, after all?
Not ALL modern digital cameras, I use my old Olympus bellows on my E3 with only a converter ring


Setup by bobshepherdphotography, on Flickr

note the hightech ringflash attachment devices!

kVA

Original Poster:

2,460 posts

234 months

Friday 27th January 2012
quotequote all
Whitefly Swatter said:
Not ALL modern digital cameras, I use my old Olympus bellows on my E3 with only a converter ring


Setup by bobshepherdphotography, on Flickr

note the hightech ringflash attachment devices!
But how do you physically attach the bellows to the camera? - I can't engage the two dots, as the bellows foul the battery grip on the camera?

Looks good though - especially the high-tech rubberised polymer, fully flexible, with adjustable tension, ring-flash mounting device! biggrin

K12beano

20,854 posts

304 months

Friday 27th January 2012
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Extension tube/s?
This.


Will that not provide enough clearance between body and bellows?

Whitefly Swatter

1,131 posts

228 months

Friday 27th January 2012
quotequote all
kVA said:
But how do you physically attach the bellows to the camera? - I can't engage the two dots, as the bellows foul the battery grip on the camera?

Looks good though - especially the high-tech rubberised polymer, fully flexible, with adjustable tension, ring-flash mounting device! biggrin
The Olympus system attaches with no problem

You may need an extension tube