Konica Auto Bellows AR/slide copier manual and EOS interface

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

Hi,

New user here. I have come into possession of a Konica Auto Bellows AR with slide copier and Hexanon 57mm f/1.4 lens. I'm wondering if anyone has manuals for the bellows and/or slide copier. I did find an old posting by Craigclu from December 2019 that indicated he had one and could be pm'd for a copy but, as a new user, I am unable to PM anyone.

I have this attached to a Canon T8i and have been attempting to get the slide copier working. I am able to focus on the slide with the bellows completely closed but can only get about 1/3 of the 35mm slide image in frame. I'm guessing it is because of the AR/EOS adapter I'm using that has some glass in it and adds additional extension between the sensor and lens.

The main reasons I bought the bellows/lens/slide copier was: a) it was really cheap, b) to copy my late father's transparency collection of a few thousand slides from the 50's to 80's and c) I'm getting into macro and extreme macro and eventually want to mount a microscope objective and reverse mount an enlarger lens, which was the main reason I went looking for a bellows.

Any assistance with a manual or insight to using the slide copier with a digital camera would be much appreciated.

Steve in Vancouver

AgX · Jan 30, 2022

Welcome!

The idea for using an optical element in a lens/body adapter is to have a solution for those cases where a lens should be nearer to the focal plane, to achieve infinity-focusing, than the flange-focal distance of the body allows. It is a mechanical problem solved optically so to say.
As infinity-focusing is a typical requirement and as lesser distances mayb be affected too, using such optical element in an adapter is typical in such mount-adapting cases.

However in case of a bellows I do not see this reqirement, unless just at the bellows fully compressed is the focusing you need in your case.

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

That is sort of what I figured. However, it is the only adapter I can find online. Last night I found an STL file for a 3D printed AR to Canon EF adapter ring that I will try printing at work this week. Hopefully that will solve my problem. Still looking for manuals, though, just because I like to have manuals for all of my old (and newer) gear.

MattKing · Jan 30, 2022

The crop sensor in your camera is too small for what you need to do. You need a shorter focal length lens, which in turn may require a shorter bellows.
I went down the same path with an Olympus unit and Olympus macro lens. I couldn't make it work with either an APS-C Canon body or an Olympus micro 4/3 body, and I have the camera adapters for both of those.
You probably need a full frame digital camera to make this work.
The alternative might be a ~ 30mm macro intended for bellows work, but even then the bellows might not compress enough.

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

MattKing said:
The alternative might be a ~ 30mm macro intended for bellows work, but even then the bellows might not compress enough.

That's what I'm thinking might work. I'm going 3D print a new AR to EF adapter and try to fit a 28mm Takumar lens to the bellows. Hopefully that will work. If not, I'll figure out a different solutely for copying the slides and focus back on setting up the bellows for 3 to 4:1 macro with a reversed enlarger lens.

Steve in Vancouver

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

Matt, where in Delta are you? I'm actually in Richmond close to the tunnel.

Steve

MattKing · Jan 30, 2022

The problem with a 28mm Takumar lens is that it is probably a retro-focus design, which will make the problem worse!

MattKing · Jan 30, 2022

Stevemopolis said:
Matt, where in Delta are you? I'm actually in Richmond close to the tunnel.

Steve

South Delta - not far from the border.

gorbas · Jan 30, 2022

Hi Steve, You will need 75 or 80mm enlarger lens to use APSC sensor camera on most bellows and adapter between the bellows and camera body, with out correction lens.
Please do not waste your time with shorter lens, you are hading to the wrong side. I'm using Nikon Bellows with 75mm lens and Nikon D7000 for about ~8 years now and it works.

MattKing · Jan 30, 2022

gorbas is cortect, if there is enough distance available between the lens and the slide.
But if you are using most purpose designed slide copying units, that distance won't be available. That is the challenge with the slide copying equipment.
This is the equipment that I have: http://www.alanwood.net/olympus/slide-copier.html

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

gorbas said:
Hi Steve, You will need 75 or 80mm enlarger lens to use APSC sensor camera on most bellows and adapter between the bellows and camera body, with out correction lens.
Please do not waste your time with shorter lens, you are hading to the wrong side. I'm using Nikon Bellows with 75mm lens and Nikon D7000 for about ~8 years now and it works.

I am going to 3D print a new adapter this week. I have a Nikkor EL 50mm f/2.8 enlarger lens that I plan on reversing on the bellows, possibly with some extension tubes. I have a friend who uses this solution with a crop frame Nikon on a Nikon bellows and it works well. I guess I'll find out when I get it put together. Still waiting for some adapter rings to arrive from China so I can mount the enlarger lens.

Steve in Vancouver

MattKing · Jan 30, 2022

Does the slide copier part of your unit offer a way of extending the distance between the lens and slide?

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

MattKing said:
gorbas is cortect, if there is enough distance available between the lens and the slide.
But if you are using most purpose designed slide copying units, that distance won't be available. That is the challenge with the slide copying equipment.
This is the equipment that I have: http://www.alanwood.net/olympus/slide-copier.html

The enlarger lens is not for using the slide copier but for doing higher magnification macro. The slide copier came with bellows and is not my primary application, just a bonus if I can make it work. If not, I have other solutions for copying slides.

Steve in Vancouver

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

MattKing said:
Does the slide copier part of your unit offer a way of extending the distance between the lens and slide?

Yes, it does. There is a short bellows between the front of the lens and the slide holder.

Steve in Vancouver

MattKing · Jan 30, 2022

Stevemopolis said:
The enlarger lens is not for using the slide copier but for doing higher magnification macro. The slide copier came with bellows and is not my primary application, just a bonus if I can make it work. If not, I have other solutions for copying slides.

Steve in Vancouver

Ah, so it is okay if the slide holder can't be used to digitize the slides.
In that case, as long as you have other ways to hold the slides, you can use that instead for the slide digitization project, and the rest of the other intended uses should work fine.
In my attempts I was trying to get the benefit of the slide holder attachment. It worked great with a borrowed full frame digital!

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

MattKing said:
Ah, so it is okay if the slide holder can't be used to digitize the slides.
In that case, as long as you have other ways to hold the slides, you can use that instead for the slide digitization project, and the rest of the other intended uses should work fine.
In my attempts I was trying to get the benefit of the slide holder attachment. It worked great with a borrowed full frame digital!

If I can get close with the new, non-corrected adapter then I just may borrow or rent a full frame DSLR to copy the slides as it will be much faster, easier and higher quality than using the little USB slide copier that I have kicking around. I have a couple thousand slides to copy.
In the meantime, I'm keeping my eyes open for a local, used full frame Canon DSLR with a reasonable shutter count and price. I'm in no rush and can afford to be patient.

Steve in Vancouver

AgX · Jan 30, 2022

Stevemopolis said:
The enlarger lens is not for using the slide copier but for doing higher magnification macro.

The classic enlarger lenses in their optimum range do not include scale 1/1. However Schneider once stated that their advised range starts at 1/1,
Then there are the Apo enlarger lenses wich even go beneath 1/1. And the process and the macro lenses.

Stevemopolis · Jan 30, 2022

AgX said:
The classic enlarger lenses in their optimum range do not include scale 1/1. However Schneider once stated that their advised range starts at 1/1,
Then there are the Apo enlarger lenses wich even go beneath 1/1. And the process and the macro lenses.

I should get the magnifications I'm hoping for when reverse mounted on the end of a bellows and/or extension tubes.

Steve in Vancouver

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