Lenses for a macro bellows setup with focal length of 135-150mm

[Birna Rørslett]

It's the last version of the Bellows-Nikkor Q 135mm f/4. Your serial no. is about 200 units away from mine

The "tail" of the letter Q is rather small on the engraving and over time, accumulated dirt might hide it to make the letter look like "O".

[MEPER]

I was also more or less 100% sure it is a Nikkor-Q...…
It seems not many "long mount" was made and only produced for about a year.
Considered it is not very common the price level is not extreme…...but high enough…..and on ebay there are still some for sale.
For pure photographic use the short mount would be a better buy.
It was advertised that a plastic box for the lens is included. Will se what that is......if it is just one of the usual "bubbles" with F-mount built in to hold the lens.   

[Birna Rørslett]

It usually is the "bubble" type container, yes. I got my RF Bellows-nikkor in one of those.

With the mount adapter on the RF lens, one winds up more or less the same as having the F-mount long-sleeve version. Actually the latter is better in one regard as there is no wobble from RF to F mount.

[Birna Rørslett]

I'd like to add that there is a possibility of putting an "S" (RF) external mount on the front standard of a bellows. In that manner one can really get a compact setup with the original rangefinder version of the Bellows 135/4. RF(S)-m43 adapters are not hard to find, pretty cheap as well,  and you just remove the front and voilá there is your S-mount.

[the solitaire]

Taking the RF to F adapter out of the equation does sound interesting.

Will need to look at those mentioned adapters to see how that would work
So you just unscrew the S mount bajonet and find a way (drilling some holes I guess) to screw that in the place where the F mount bajonet of the bellows is, storing the F bajonet carefully to fit that back when needed?

[the solitaire]

Even with the Nikon PN-11 and PK-13 I have a lot of fun with the 13,5cm f4 bellows lens.
The PB-4 is on hold at the customs office given the global situation.

First, the 100% crops

Socke 1 by Plan B Photography, on Flickr

Socke 2 by Plan B Photography, on Flickr

Socke 3 by Plan B Photography, on Flickr

And the complete picture

BFK_7056-Edit by Plan B Photography, on Flickr

[Erik Lund]

http://mkoptics.net/a/product_info.php?cPath=22_27&products_id=6943

Very nice and he has a lot of knowledge, the NikonGear crew usually shop there when we visit NL  Fair prices,,,

[MEPER]

Now I got my Nikkor-"Q"? 135/4 long mount bellows lens.
It is in near mint shape…..so may have been sitting on a collectors shelf…...and maybe I should get a "user" myself and let this nice lens be sitting on the shelf :-)

The funny thing about the "Q" is that it looks like a "O"  …..so I may be the only only one having an "O" variant......even that lens itself must be a "Q".....
The lens itself is longer that expected. Rear element is about 3 cm from the F-mount.
What do you think when looking at the pictures…...a "Q" or an "O"?

[Birna Rørslett]

Engraving error. So the lens might be worth a fortune

[MEPER]

Do you think it is like stamps.....that there is a collector market for "variants"? :-)
The lens must have passed the quality control which is surprising as it seems relative few of these lenses has been made.

[Birna Rørslett]

Nothing surprises me when it comes to collectors' whims ... There has been a marked for variations of regular items whether the deviation is intentional or not, for a long time.

For the two main models of the 135/4 Bellows Roland's pages list production figures totalling approx. 3.500 units. So this lens is not *very* rare.

[the solitaire]

Now I got my Nikkor-"Q"? 135/4 long mount bellows lens.
It is in near mint shape…..so may have been sitting on a collectors shelf…...and maybe I should get a "user" myself and let this nice lens be sitting on the shelf :-)

The funny thing about the "Q" is that it looks like a "O"  …..so I may be the only only one having an "O" variant......even that lens itself must be a "Q".....
The lens itself is longer that expected. Rear element is about 3 cm from the F-mount.
What do you think when looking at the pictures…...a "Q" or an "O"?

That one really looks fresh out of the box. Combined with the misprint, I am sure that with some patience, this purchase should not be your loss.

Personally I never minded having nice looking gear, but some items look so brand spanking new that I feel awkward using them the way I do. I generally look for slightly used but fully functional lense, because in the end, these were made to be used by photographers and it would be a shame to have them gather dust and fungus unused.

[the solitaire]

BFK_7139-Edit by Plan B Photography, on Flickr

Bellows arrived

BFK_7147-Edit by Plan B Photography, on Flickr

And a first attempt to align the focal plane to the Nikon prism plate.

I must say that I am quite happy with this combo. More ambitious photos will follow in due time

[MEPER]

Nice F-prism…...do you shoot film?

[bobfriedman]

Nikon D3 ,Nikon Bellows-Nikkor-Q 13.5cm f/4.0
1/25s f/4.0 at 135.0mm iso200