Bellows replacement

[Bruce Osgood]

I'm fishing around to find the cost of replacing the bellows on my 4X5 Bush with a new one. Any idea who does this in the U.S.. I've emailed an info request to http://www.camerabellows.com/ in the U.K.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Bellows

Richard Ritter 802-365-7807 He's the best there is-hands down-not always the fastest but his workmanship is the best.
Regards, Peter

 

[jp80874]

I bought a replacement bellows when I purchased my Linhof Technikardan used a two years a go. I knew nothing about bellows and LF, having moved up from MF. They talked me through the process by email. I mailed my credit card # and the old bellows so they could use the frame work. Well within the promised delivery time the new one showed up. Then they sent email instructions of how to avoid the mistakes of the former owner. Price was less than half of a factory bellows. Camera Bellows is working in a world economy. I'm in Ohio. I bought the camera on eBay from a police photographer in Scotland. The process couldn't have gone better if Camera Bellows was next door.

Thanks to them.

John Powers

 

[Bruce Osgood]

Thanks Peter and John,
I'll wait to hear from camerabellows in the UK and then contact Richard Ritter.

 

[shyguy]

Then they sent email instructions of how to avoid the mistakes of the former owner.

I have the same camera. Do you think you could share with us what they said? It would be useful to know how to maintain them.

Thanks
S.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Another vote for Richard Ritter. He replaced the bellows on my 5x7 Deardorff last year. Excellent work, excellent service!

 

[Donald Miller]

I found that replacing bellows on a couple of 8X10 Deardorfs to be easy. I had the replacement bellows built by Western Bellows. Their workmanship was very good.

 

[jp80874]

I have the same camera. Do you think you could share with us what they said? It would be useful to know how to maintain them.

Thanks
S.

S.

Happy to. For those who don't know, on the Linhof Technikardan 45 and 45S the standards turn 90 degrees so they parallel the rail when you close it down to its most compact form. Camera Bellows said this is when the damage or creasing of the bellows is done. It is a simple matter of flipping some levers to remove the bellows. When I travel with the camera I carry a shallow hard plastic box that holds the wide angle bellows and or the standard. The rest of the time the standard bellows stays on cranked out 4-6 inches. I leave the last used lens on.

Hope this helps. Ask questions if I have not been clear.

John

 

[shyguy]

thank you. i figured out some time ago that folding it up would cause damage. i always leave it setup for a shot. i don't leave a lens on it very often however. depends on how likely i am to take another shot in a short period of time.

mine is about 2 years old now, and as far as i can tell, it is holding up very well. I shoot outside with it daily. over all i am quite happy with it.

S.

 

[mark]

Western Bellows is great and cheaper than the UK bunch especially when you factor shipping. The replaced the bellows on my galvin and I had it back quick. I would not hesitate sending them another camera to do.

 

[Changeling1]

Check out Turner Bellows right there in NY. 4x5 bellows are around $90 (custom made) and they will put them in your camera for an additional $50 if you don't want to do it yourself. http://www.turnerbellows.com/ Beats the outrageous prices charged by Lee Filter (THE UK makers) or Western Bellows out here. And Turner is a woman owned and run company lest you should have to explain the expenditure to a significant other of the fairer sex.