NikonGear'23

Gear Talk => Other => Topic started by: charlie on May 20, 2018, 01:12:32

Title: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: charlie on May 20, 2018, 01:12:32

My PB-4 Bellows has some holes in it and I was curious if anyone here has had to replace theirs and might know where to source a replacement?

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: Akira on May 20, 2018, 01:20:00

A piece of black Permacel or acetate tape might work.

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: charlie on May 22, 2018, 06:19:25

I'm not opposed to repairs as needed but was curious if replacements are out there seeings how it will only get worse over time.

Thank you.

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: benveniste on May 23, 2018, 02:41:52

If money is no object, I'd try this company first:  http://nabell.com/optical-bellows.html

Looking at my PB-4, I think the biggest challenge would be to remove the old bellows and adhesive before attaching a new one.  Horizontally, there's lots of room, but vertically it's a tight fit.

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: bobfriedman on May 23, 2018, 12:25:18

i would look for another on eBay.

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: Bruno Schroder on May 23, 2018, 13:14:53

Black liquid latex?

I thought about that for my own tatty PB-4 but have not tried it as I found an almost like new for next to nothing.

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: Macro_Cosmos on June 27, 2018, 14:25:56

3 options:
1. Gaffers tape, I've tried it, works.
2. Black latex thingy. Repaint the bellows. Works.
3. Get something better than the fragile imprecise PB-4. A PB6 is a great start.

Title: Re: PB-4 Bellows
Post by: Ann on June 27, 2018, 16:07:02

As a fairly impoverished Photography student (subsisting on a much-too-tight Allowance!), I once made my own bellows for an ancient mahogany technical camera.

They were made from brown paper with cardboard stiffeners for each pleat. Black fabric formed the lining and I painted the exterior with several coatings of black latex paint. Those bellows were entirely light-tight and functioned perfectly.

I can highly recommend black latex paint for bellows renovation.