Author Topic: PB-4 Bellows  (Read 2082 times)

charlie

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PB-4 Bellows
« 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?

Akira

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2018, 01:20:00 »
A piece of black Permacel or acetate tape might work.
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charlie

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #2 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.

benveniste

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #3 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.

bobfriedman

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2018, 12:25:18 »
i would look for another on eBay.
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Bruno Schroder

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #5 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.
Bruno Schröder

Macro_Cosmos

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #6 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.
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Ann

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Re: PB-4 Bellows
« Reply #7 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.