ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK

I bought a Canon Auto Bellows on eBay to use with my Canon 80D and I’m having trouble with the camera refusing to trip the shutter because it does not see the lens. I have a Canon 50mm FD lens on the bellows and an FD to EF adapter ring to connect the bellows to the 80D. The other oddity is that Live View does not work. The mirror locks up but the screen stays black. I can use the viewfinder to setup the shot, but I would prefer live view.

I’ve looked through the menus for the selection to allow the shutter to release without a lens, as other Canon EOS camera have, but it’s not there on my 80D

Does anyone have any suggestions?

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

May not help much but: an FD len is mechanically linked to the camera. EOS electrically linked. There is a bellows avalible for EOS, but that would not solve the problem. The FD and EOS systems are incompatable.
Bill

ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK

So if the camera can’t see an EFS lens it won’t work? I tried to buy an EOS bellows, but could not find one. There is an aftermarket bellows that claims to work, but it looked horribly flimsy. Apparently Canon has abandoned the macro market. Very disappointing.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

This is a puzzle.

Maybe you are doing this already, but what should work here is to switch to manual on the camera (M), and use an electronic shutter release cable plugged into the camera body. Many times I have used my older EOS camera (t5i) with non-electrical helical extension tubes, fully manual lens, and I just press the shutter on the body or an electronic shutter. The camera takes a picture.
I don't expect you would see anything in the viewfinder while mirror lockup is on. But I have not used that setting for years so I don't remember what I saw.

ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK

I do have it on manual, and live view may not be working because I have the exposure way under exposed. But even if I have the exposure way off, the shutter should still trip. The information display shows f/00, which I expected. I’ve seen extension tubes for EOS cameras that don’t have electrical contacts, so I really expected this to work.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

My Sony A7RIII has an option in the menu system to allow shutter release without lens. I have a 500mm mirror lens that attaches via a T mount. Either aperature priority or manual works fine. Your Canon should have something similar.

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

New to me. I did the search for getting shutter release without lens and so far its all about doing that with mirrorless cameras. But here is the protocol for that anyway: https://hk.canon/en/support/8202418700 You can see others too, but all mirrorless for some reason so far.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

On my T2I the functions P thru A-DEP function without reading a lens. Not being familiar with an 80D, I cannot say that, but I would believe that all EOS function similarly.
In live view you need a LOT of light in some cases. Try with the lens wide open.
With an FD lens you must stop down off the camera. It will not.
But it will if you attach an end cap. Drill a large hole in the cap, put it on. You can now adjust stop. Find a clear circular filter of proper size. Press inside the cap. Use a bit of hot glue if needed.
I shoot Canon. A 5D, two T2I and two AE1P, one color, one B/W.
I mix and match for macro.
The other way is to use a Vivitar bellows. It has M -42 fittings, so you need those. This works, but a pain.
There are many ways to reach an end with this. I have tried a lot of them, mostly because they are inexpensive. You need only a few rings and adapters.
Bill

ejones0310 Loc: Tulsa, OK

I’m embarrassed to report that it was working all along. I switched to live view to eliminate vibration and forgot that live view simulates the exposure. Since I had not set the exposure yet, all I got was a black screen. When I tripped the shutter, I did not hear anything because my old hearing isn’t good enough to hear the shutter. Once I slowed the shutter way down, it all fell into place.

I must be slipping.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I've had the 500mm mirror lens for several years & used it on my Alpha 850 prior to acquiring the A7RIII. It's not something peculiar to mirrorless cameras.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

In the menu there is "live view" on/off selection or "allow live view" and there should be a "live view" button near the right side of the viewfinder, at least that's on my 60D and 7Dii.