BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Extension tubes broke down - looking to replace with a bellows. Number of makers (thought they all look the same). Any thoughts on one over the other? I'm kind of leaning toward Neewer.

rmpsrpms Loc: Santa Clara, CA

What camera and lenses will you use with it?

rmpsrpms Loc: Santa Clara, CA

My preference is to have the bellows be M42 mount. It's easy to adapt M42 to any camera, and easy to adapt M39 lenses to M42. But if you're using a Nikon or Canon or ?? bellows lens, it might be best to get the bellows in that mount.
Best M42 bellows is the Pentax Auto Bellows.

Qbert Loc: Virginia

For Nikon, The Nikon PB-4 offers a few features most do not.
200mm extension
Front standard focusing
Rear standard focusing
Focus rail
Front standard swing and shift
Landscape / Portrait camera body rotation

I also use the Nikon PS-4 Slide Copier attachment for 35mm digitizing

Some good reading here on this bellows
http://www.throughthefmount.com/articles_tips_bellows.html

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

cameras - Nikon D810, 750 and 7100
Lenses -60mm macro, 105mm macro - given bellows capability likely will experiment with others

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Its features are intriguing but I don't know that I'm willing to pay over $300 when all of the others are less than $100, albeit with less features. I've also read that Nikon's unit has difficulty with current cameras.

rmpsrpms Loc: Santa Clara, CA

You have about $5000 invested in your cameras...why put them on an inferior bellows? I'm not a great fan of the PB-4, but I do like the PB-6.

Qbert Loc: Virginia

I am able to directly mount and use the D40, D5000, D90-without grip and D800-without grip.
I use a small extension tube on the D3 for clearance. You cannot use any of these bodies in portrait orientation and use rear standard focus. Front or main rail use is not limited.

This is a manual bellows so you must stop down the lens manually. This may limit its usefulness to anyone who does not already own any older Non-AI, AI or D lenses. I have some of these leftover from the film days so its a non-issue.

I paid $250 shipped, not that long ago for both the PB4 and PS4 in like-new condition, with the boxes and manuals. My only concern is the age of these units. Look carefully at the condition of the paper bellows before purchasing or buy from a reputable used dealer like KEH.

Before I bought the PB4 I used the Nikon Bellows 2 and my favorite basic bellows, the Nikon Bellows 3. These are very basic, lightweight units only good for small/light lens combinations, but handy in the field when packing light.

The PB-6 is a great bellows, better in some ways in fact: more rigid, more precise gears, cost less. I just love the old school multiple round rails of the PB4! Its just a real joy to use.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Nikon PB-6 bellows currently on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=PB-6+bellows&ghostText=&_sacat=625

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The longer the bellows the better ( more options). Lighting will be less challenging if you use an enlarging lens which has a smaller profile than camera macro lenses. You can also use a tilt/adapter on the front of the bellows which can provide enhanced DOF under the right circumstance.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Thanks guys - looking at both the PB-4's and PB-6's on eBay

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

Qbert, are you using the slide copy tube on a full frame camera for 1 to 1 reproduction? I don't know if there is adjustment in the system to work on a crop sensor?

Muddyvalley Loc: McMinnville, Oregon

I've been looking for a while now to replace the bellows I had for my Pentax back in the 60's. All Nikon here now.
I opted for a PB-6 for $200.00.
I also ordered a Fotodiox Aperture Control on Amazon to put on the front of the reversed lens. It is reputed to be well made, metal not plastic.

Qbert Loc: Virginia

Yes, I mainly use the D800 for digitizing with the Nikkor 55 f/3.5 micro lens mounted normally.
I just tried a D90 DX body and had to use the Nikkor 35-70 at about 65mm to get full frame copy. the 55mm lens had some crop but really not too bad, but the zoom worked nice.

The DX setup for the PB-4 /PS-4 is: Bellows fully closed, lens at 65mm with focus at infinity, PS-4 slid all the way into the bellows mount and then move both front and rear standards together to achieve frame and focus. then close the gap between the PS-4 and the lens with its bellows. Note the PS-4 bellow was about at its limits.

PB-4/PS-4 with D90 Full Frame Slide Copy

(Download)

jbmauser Loc: Roanoke, VA

Thanks, I will look into this equipment. scanning slides with a scanner is a pain. This looks faster