Bellows replacement

bcunning · Jun 28, 2007

I recently had to replace a bellows on an Seneca Improved (8x10). On recommendation of a friend, I ordered it from Mark Kapono
(www2.hawaii.edu/~mkapono/bellows.htm.). It wasn't an easy fit, but Mark did an outstanding job and the bellows are excellent--will certainly last the rest of my life.
Just wanted everyone to know about this great source.

matt miller · Jun 28, 2007

I need to replace the bellows on my Rittreck. I am leery about doing the job myself. For those of you who've replaced your own. Is it a tough job, or relatively simple?

Who can do the job for me? I've been in contact with Richard Ritter, but I think he's very busy with other things. Who else does it? Does Mark Kapono replace them, or just build them?

ragc · Jun 28, 2007

matt miller said:
I need to replace the bellows on my Rittreck. I am leery about doing the job myself. For those of you who've replaced your own. Is it a tough job, or relatively simple?

Who can do the job for me? I've been in contact with Richard Ritter, but I think he's very busy with other things. Who else does it? Does Mark Kapono replace them, or just build them?

Mark did a great job with my Japanese wood field camera's bellows, which I installed myself. If you send the camera he will install them for a small fee. The information is on his website; http://www2.hawaii.edu/~mkapono/bellows.htm

I highly recommend Mark's work.

Mark Kapono's work at Replacement Camera Bellows in Hilo, Hawaii

User Removed · Jun 28, 2007

www.camerabellows.com is who I would suggest.

Curt · Jun 28, 2007

I recently had to replace a bellows on an Seneca Improved (8x10). On recommendation of a friend, I ordered it from Mark Kapono
(www2.hawaii.edu/~mkapono/bellows.htm.). It wasn't an easy fit, but Mark did an outstanding job and the bellows are excellent--will certainly last the rest of my life.
Just wanted everyone to know about this great source.

Not being Paris Hilton, just had to get that one in, would you be able to tell us what you paid for the bellows? Do you think Mark charges the same for each bellow of the same kind and size or does he do a separate estimate for each job?

I have an 8x10 Seneca that is nearly completely restored, less the bellows, I have the materials to do it but I saw this thread and was wondering what it cost you to get one. I know that Camera Bellows would be in the range of $500 or more for an 8x10 with 30 plus inches of extension.

Thanks
Curt

kjsphoto · Jun 28, 2007

I just had some made by www.camerabellows.com out of the UK. I am blown away by their quality.

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 28, 2007

Curt said:
I know that Camera Bellows would be in the range of $500 or more for an 8x10 with 30 plus inches of extension.

Thanks
Curt

I suspect Mark Kapono will be less than Camera Bellows, but have you actually gotten an estimate on that? My 11x14x34" bellows was under $500 from Camera Bellows UK.

ragc · Jun 28, 2007

My extension is a bit less than 23". The camera is half-plate size, with a 5x7 back. The back frame is around 8" x 8", the front about 3 1/2" x 4".

I was one of Mark's first customers, so his price may have gone up with demand... I paid $105.00 for the bellows shown in the photo in my previous post. I have been using the camera for at least 6 months with Mark's bellows and have nothing but good things to say about his work.

Curt · Jun 29, 2007

The closest to "factory" would be Camera Bellows, that is my first choice, if I had to get it made by another person then I would make it myself. I have done it before and it is labor intensive. The work is in layout, assembly and getting the proper fit. It is not for the impatient or one who just wants to save money alone. If you have the money then Camera Bellows is the ticket.

Curt · Jun 29, 2007

This is a sample that I made recently. The first picture is the outside and the second picture is the inside. I didn't work very much at smoothing the light proof material out and working the corners, I was checking for compression depth in this sample. The inside black liner has not been put in this sample at this stage. The 30" bellows will compress to the required size to fit in the Seneca camera. It will be a tapered bellows, I made one previously and it's not a problem. Making and placing the stiffeners takes the most time. The original stiffeners were made of a fiber reinforced paper, mine are going to be polyester. The interior medium will be thinner also, although the original doesn't use an interior medium, just an outer layer and an inner layer with stiffeners.

photomc · Jun 29, 2007

David A. Goldfarb said:
I suspect Mark Kapono will be less than Camera Bellows, but have you actually gotten an estimate on that? My 11x14x34" bellows was under $500 from Camera Bellows UK.

I agree David, shipped the 7x11 bellows off for replacement by Camera Bellows last week (it arrived in the UK today - Yeah!!). The price quoted to replace was less than $500. I looked around/shopped and decided that if Camera Bellows was good enough for Canham cameras, they were good enough for the old Kodak.

Curt · Jun 30, 2007

I have a 5x7 Canham bellows, new, that I am going to use when I get the camera built. If Camera Bellows makes Canham bellows then do they use a material on the outside that's cloth like the one I have? The reason I ask is that I find that the cloth is a dust magnet. The older bellows, non leather, were made of a smooth synthetic material that is easily cleaned. I prefer that to the cloth material. The function and durability is probably close to being the same though.

Curt · Jun 30, 2007

It's funny that no one will actually state what their bellows cost, even when asked.

ragc · Jun 30, 2007

Curt:

I did. Re-read my post. Everyone seems to be focused on the more expensive bellows because of brand name, as usual.

I gave you my cost at Replacement Camera Bellows, a photo of the bellows, and the website for Mark Kapono where you can read a lot of information, see photos and contact him. I am truly trying to get Mark more business because I believe his service and product deserve the attention. You will not find him a camera snob like so many. His material is synthetic, not cloth: it doaes not retain dust. He folded them and had them back to me in one week.

$105.00 plus shipping at Replacement Camera Bellows, Mark Kapono, Hilo Hawaii.

bliorg · Jun 30, 2007

I'm glad to see this thread. Mark's building me a new set of bellows for my Seneca 5x7. If they're not here today, they should be here this coming week!

Curt, my bellows were on the order of $150 plus S/H, IIRC. A little less than camerabellows.com, but (a) I know him through forums, so I wanted to go with someone I'd already established a relationship with, (b) I've actually heard some sketchy things from someone about camerabellows.com, (c) camerabellows.com were definitely lacking on congeneality when I contacted them, while Mark is friendly and courteous to a fault. Made it an easy decision for me, YMMV.

Curt · Jun 30, 2007

Sorry, I was trying to get some idea of the Camera Bellows prices for different sizes, it looks like Mark makes very good bellows. The bellows in the picture looks very clean, straight and very well tapered, nothing there to complain about there. The price seems low too.

Curt

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 30, 2007

I think mine was around $350 plus shipping from Camera Bellows UK (11x14x34"). I sent them the frames and had it back in two or three weeks. With shipping time, I doubt it spent more than a couple of days in the shop.

Service was excellent and efficient in my experience with Camera Bellows UK, and I have no reservations about using them again, but travel often brings me to Hawai'i, so I may try Mark Kapono next time for my 7x17" Korona, since it would give me an excuse to visit the Big Island, and I like the idea of handling it in person and supporting local craftsmen while I'm there.

Harrigan · Jun 30, 2007

Mark makes a nice product I have seen some samples and the difference is he wants your buisness where cam bellows uk is quite content with their current clients and fails to provide the service you can get when dealing with one person such as Mark.

Also cam bellows are considerably more expensive and the end product will take considerably longer to get with alot higher shippings costs to boot. Mark responds to my requests immediatly while cam bellows can take up to a week or more to respond. Ritter never even responded to my request for bellows construction on my 14x17.

Jim Fitzgerald · Jul 2, 2007

I got a quote from Mark a while back for my 8x20 bellows. 36" extension that will be about 385-400 plus shipping. He sent me a sample of the material and I'm just waiting for some$$$$ to have him build one for me. Turn around time was about two weeks.

Jim

herb · Jul 4, 2007

I had Mark Kapono remove the old bellows and make and install a new one on my Horseman VHR 6x9, a very tricky operation. I spent a few hours trying to just remove it and was bumfuzzeled. I sent him the camera and he did the whole deal for a tad over $100, shipping included.

These medium format cameras don't have much room for error because the bellows has to fold up quite well for the camera to close. He managed that.

Herb

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