Hi all,

Just received an Auto Bellows AR purchased off eBay and it has a small problem that I would like to fix. Still works, but will work much better if I can locate some replacements for the large nylon bushings that slide on the rail. I'm sure I could make some myself or get some made, but it would certainly be easier to just pick up a pair somewhere, if possible!

Incidentally, learned a new trick with this eBay transaction. The item arrived exactly 31 days after the close of auction, therefore I can't add my 2 cents to the seller's feedback! It would be neutral, as they never even acknowledged any of 5 separate emails & it took three calls to their 800 # to get the transaction underway. Plus I think they were a bit misleading about the item condition... but I have to admit I didn't expect a perfect item and I still got an excellent deal once I correct the bushing problem.

If anyone has or can suggest a source for the bushings, please drop me a note.... just the two on the upper rail (which I believe are the same as the Standard Bellows 3 AR). Thanks in advance.

Alan Myers San Jose, Calif.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Answers

Auto Bellows

Alan, you should be able to give feedback on eBay for up to 90 days.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Nylon Bushings

Hello Alan, Try www.smallparts.com and natcam.net (camera repair/dealer selling off his camera parts,etc.[not the vital parts]). Your local camera repair shop,plastic goods,plumbing&hardwaredealers?? Then there is Greg Weber and Konica. If I come up with any other sources I'll drop you a line, Luck,Dave P.S. I forgot to thank you for the info on the +Ten macro close-up lens and all the alternatives

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Bellows

Alan, what is the purpose of the bellows? I saw one on ebay &I have 2 Konicas I love. I often do close-up with the screw-on macro lenses. Thanks, Tom

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2001

Bellows

Hi Tom,

As you know from using your own equipment, most lenses are limited in how close they can focus on subject matter. Some form of adjustment to the lens' minimum focus point is necessary to get closer. There are several ways to take close-up photos (aka macro, or micro if you are a Nikon-ophile)...

1. Attachments to the front of the lens, such as you are using, which provide somewhat closer focusing.

2. Use a specialized macro lens designed to focus closer and/or...

3. Put various types/lengths of extensions behind the lens which move it away from the camera body and film plane, increasing it's magnification.

A bellows system for 35mm and many medium format cameras is really just an extreme form of extension. It is highly adjustable in length, offering a great deal more flexibility & precision than a set of extension tubes. (Although, I must say I ALWAYS carry extension tubes, and tend to use the bellows less frequently, due to it's size, weight and the complexities/time of setting it up.) However it gives much more magnification than is possible with extension tubes and is invaluable for a lot of macro work. More sophisticated bellows provide indexed magnification and some automated features.

I actually have 3 Konica bellows right now. The first I bought many years ago, a Standard Bellows 2 AR. It's very compact and light weight... nice on a hike! It is also a little less rigid than I like and more susceptible to damage than the later designs.

My "workhorse" bellows is a the more "modern" Standard Bellows 3 AR. Much larger and more rigid, plus I've added several accessories: an Auto Ring which controls the lens' aperture (not true Auto Exposure, however), a Focusing Stage which moves the entire lens/bellows/camera assembly back & forth on the top of a tripod, as this is the technique you need to use with many macro devices to focus on the subject matter. The downside is that this assembly is pretty heavy and large.

You can tell from my post, I just acquired an Autobellows as well. This is similar in appearance to the Std Bellows 3, but offers built-in functions of the Auto Ring, has a matched & built-in Focusing Stage and, a feature I like a lot which neither of the others has, Depth of Field Preview. It's good deal more compact & lighter than the Std. Bellows 3/Focusing Stage/Auto Ring combo!

You can use many different lenses on a bellows, I've used Hexanon 85/1.8, 100/2.8, 135/2.5 and others. There are "bellows lenses" too. These are usually 100 to 135mm (for in 35mm format) and don't have a built-in focusing mechanism, the bellows provides all of that from near to infinity. The Hexanon 105/4 is an example (the Hexanon 55 macro really is too short a focal length for macro work, in my opinion). One popular accessory you will see with many bellows is a Slide Copier. This allows you to make multiple copies of your own slides, and to crop and do limited color correction, etc.

I hope this answers your questions, if not, feel free to get in touch.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for replacement nylon bushings, I have a couple good leads I'm following up on.

Alan Myers San Jose, Calif.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Bellows

Thank you so much for the response, now I know I need one! I have an old copy stand I use to copy old snap shots with. I saw one on E-bay that looked good, one can do ok if you go in with both eyes open! Thanks again Tom

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001