Thank you very much, Sir, for the vertical test! Looks a bit dangerous, but a massive tripod head will do. Now I’m primed, I already got my eyes on one. Great to see there are creators who listen - highly appreciated, info like that isn’t that easy to come by.
Thank you very much. I’m always happy to help. Best of luck to you in your search. Once you get the bellows, I’d love to see an image you create with it.
The extension for mounting a DSLR can be bypassed by turning the mounting ring to the portrait orientation first. That allows the body grip to fit on the mount, after which it can be rotated back to the landscape position.
This is so interesting. I saw this bellowsin photo magazines 20+ years ago or more and found it such a cool tool to use but of course at the time money, time, and life necessecities were limited. I would love to see you do some samples of what this bellows can do aside from macro, in particular the shift and swing functions. I see KEH has the PB-4 for sale at $107.75. Anyway, I love the video and look forward to more in the future.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 on further checking $107 is for what they call "ugly". One in like new condition is $288.94. For fun and games, I am OK iwth ugly if it still works and light tight. I might ask about it.
very nice overview of the PB-4 bellows. not a lot of people know that this is actually better than the more common PB-6 model; this is better made, and allows some tilt that lets you operate a lens like a T/S lens...albeit to a limited extent. i have the 105 Bellows lens and it's not that great IMO...any modern macro lens of similar FL would perform better and easier to operate.
DSLRs such as my Nikon D810 can be mounted to the PB-4 without a rear extension: You just have to have to mount and unmount the camera while it is in the vertical orientation and then rotate back to horizontal for use.
With any appropriate lens mounted on the bellows, is setting the focus on the lens to infinity before adjusting the bellows the proper method for facilitating macro focus? That’s the one aspect of macro photography that I don’t think was described here. Thanks for this!
Biggest issue with it is the lack of front end support. If I add a 105mm macro lens and also a R1C1 light system the weight causes it to sag and then sags more with each movement forward for focus stacking. This could have been resolved with a more robust mount or a pillar adaptor for the front support.
I have not tried that. In fact I have never tried focus stacking with an autofocus lens, using that feature on the Z8. Eventually I will get around to it.
Great video mate. Could you list the adapter rings that you used as I have a D7100 that I`d like to use. Also with the bellows vertically mounted the side shift become vertical rise & fall. There was also a ring flash available that could be mounted on a reversed lens.
I don’t know. I’m not very familiar with Sony lenses but if they have an electronic diaphragm, then even if they can be adapted you would have no way of changing the aperture. Check the King Concept web site. They make a lot of adapters. Thanks for watching my video.
HI, do you know if I can mount the Z9, with the FTZ adapter of course, on the bellow? There is enough clearance the vertical and horizontal grips? Thanks.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 wow, thanks for the quick response. I have an oldie 55mm f/2.5 micro lens. I plan to use it to "scan" slides. I imagine it can do 1:1 reproduction for the 135mm film/slide. I wonder if there is some hack to scan or duplicate 120 film at least in 6x6 format? Thanks for all the information sir.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I meant to say using the 55mm micro with the PB-4, I think I can make it 1:1, yes? I haven't touched film for some time but the last I did it wasn't a good experience or it was just bad luck. So perhaps I can try to have some control over the scanning part. Thank you sir for your reply.
@@scottbrunner9831 Yes you can, but you will have very little working space between the lens and your subject. Reversing the lens allows you to achieve very high magnification. Thanks for watching.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 . Thanks. I am concerned that for wide angle (Arch and Landscape) the bellows would be too narrow and may block the light to the sensor on Full Frame cameras. I was considering using this for non-macro work.
@@scottbrunner9831 You will not be able to focus to infinity with most lenses mounted on the bellows. Nikon made a short amount 105mm lens that will but most others won’t.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Thanks. That is what I am learning. I have a Nikkor 24mm TS but there are a few occasions where an additional shift beyond the 10mm (?) would be just about right. I know Fotodiox and others have TS adapters but I found none designed for F-Mount camera and F-mount lenses. They seem to be more designed for adapting 'other' lenses to your camera.
I bought an aperture control ring when I bought my reverse mount rings from Fotodiox years ago and it works great. Super video by the way ... Cheers
Thank you
Thank you very much, Sir, for the vertical test! Looks a bit dangerous, but a massive tripod head will do. Now I’m primed, I already got my eyes on one.
Great to see there are creators who listen - highly appreciated, info like that isn’t that easy to come by.
Thank you very much. I’m always happy to help. Best of luck to you in your search. Once you get the bellows, I’d love to see an image you create with it.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I’ll try my best, Jules!
The extension for mounting a DSLR can be bypassed by turning the mounting ring to the portrait orientation first. That allows the body grip to fit on the mount, after which it can be rotated back to the landscape position.
@@adriancozma6102 Yes, you are correct. Thank you.
This is so interesting. I saw this bellowsin photo magazines 20+ years ago or more and found it such a cool tool to use but of course at the time money, time, and life necessecities were limited. I would love to see you do some samples of what this bellows can do aside from macro, in particular the shift and swing functions. I see KEH has the PB-4 for sale at $107.75. Anyway, I love the video and look forward to more in the future.
Thank you. That’s a good price for the bellows.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 on further checking $107 is for what they call "ugly". One in like new condition is $288.94. For fun and games, I am OK iwth ugly if it still works and light tight. I might ask about it.
very nice overview of the PB-4 bellows. not a lot of people know that this is actually better than the more common PB-6 model; this is better made, and allows some tilt that lets you operate a lens like a T/S lens...albeit to a limited extent. i have the 105 Bellows lens and it's not that great IMO...any modern macro lens of similar FL would perform better and easier to operate.
Thanks for your comments and for watching my video.
DSLRs such as my Nikon D810 can be mounted to the PB-4 without a rear extension: You just have to have to mount and unmount the camera while it is in the vertical orientation and then rotate back to horizontal for use.
@@n1k1george You are correct. Thank you.
I appreciate the overview - recently purchased one of these and looking forward to using it. Cheers!
With any appropriate lens mounted on the bellows, is setting the focus on the lens to infinity before adjusting the bellows the proper method for facilitating macro focus? That’s the one aspect of macro photography that I don’t think was described here. Thanks for this!
You are correct. Set the lens to infinity.
Biggest issue with it is the lack of front end support. If I add a 105mm macro lens and also a R1C1 light system the weight causes it to sag and then sags more with each movement forward for focus stacking. This could have been resolved with a more robust mount or a pillar adaptor for the front support.
I haven’t noticed that, but I’ve never put that much weight in front. Thanks for watching.
If you have tried using the PB-4 bellows for focus stacking, I would be interested in a detailed description of how you did it.
I have not tried that. In fact I have never tried focus stacking with an autofocus lens, using that feature on the Z8. Eventually I will get around to it.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696
Yeah, me too. I want to try it with auto focus and manual focus lenses.
Great video mate. Could you list the adapter rings that you used as I have a D7100 that I`d like to use. Also with the bellows vertically mounted the side shift become vertical rise & fall. There was also a ring flash available that could be mounted on a reversed lens.
Great video, thanks. Is there an adapter to mount Sony FE lens to the bellows?
I don’t know. I’m not very familiar with Sony lenses but if they have an electronic diaphragm, then even if they can be adapted you would have no way of changing the aperture. Check the King Concept web site. They make a lot of adapters. Thanks for watching my video.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Thank you!
HI, do you know if I can mount the Z9, with the FTZ adapter of course, on the bellow? There is enough clearance the vertical and horizontal grips? Thanks.
@@hopeallwell7228 There should be enough clearance. Thanks for watching.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 wow, thanks for the quick response. I have an oldie 55mm f/2.5 micro lens. I plan to use it to "scan" slides. I imagine it can do 1:1 reproduction for the 135mm film/slide. I wonder if there is some hack to scan or duplicate 120 film at least in 6x6 format? Thanks for all the information sir.
@@hopeallwell7228 The 55mm micro Nikkor will only get you to 1:2. You need a PK-13 extension tube to get to 1:1.
@@hopeallwell7228 As far as 6x6. You would need a light source. Also a way to get to 1:1 and something to hold the slide or negative.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 I meant to say using the 55mm micro with the PB-4, I think I can make it 1:1, yes? I haven't touched film for some time but the last I did it wasn't a good experience or it was just bad luck. So perhaps I can try to have some control over the scanning part. Thank you sir for your reply.
Can this work with wide angle , manual focus, manual aperture F-mount lenses?
@@scottbrunner9831 Yes you can, but you will have very little working space between the lens and your subject. Reversing the lens allows you to achieve very high magnification. Thanks for watching.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 . Thanks. I am concerned that for wide angle (Arch and Landscape) the bellows would be too narrow and may block the light to the sensor on Full Frame cameras. I was considering using this for non-macro work.
@@scottbrunner9831 You will not be able to focus to infinity with most lenses mounted on the bellows. Nikon made a short amount 105mm lens that will but most others won’t.
The bellows is designed for close up and macro photography. For landscape and architecture your best bet is a tilt/shift lens.
@@julesvuottosphotofocus4696 Thanks. That is what I am learning. I have a Nikkor 24mm TS but there are a few occasions where an additional shift beyond the 10mm (?) would be just about right. I know Fotodiox and others have TS adapters but I found none designed for F-Mount camera and F-mount lenses. They seem to be more designed for adapting 'other' lenses to your camera.
con que se limpia el fuelle por fuera ?
Use a leather cream. Use very little and be very gentle when you apply it. Thank you for watching.