• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Replacement bellows

Latest Gallery

Palacio de El Capricho

Palacio de El Capricho

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
The Chicken

A
The Chicken

  • 3
  • 4
  • 84

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
203,241
Messages
2,851,931
Members
101,745
Latest member
Jlmatt
Recent bookmarks
0
I don't know about bellows. China made film reels, sold by these folks. I wasn't impressed by the single reel I tried. FWIW
 
I've bought bellows from etone. As I recall, they were well made and easy enough to fit. Mostly I've bought from a guy named Rudy (also in Hong Kong) whose ebay handle is "ecbuyonline". His work is excellent and communication was always very good (he did some custom work for me a few years ago). Sandeha Lynch, in the UK, also does fine work.
 
I have had good, no! Great experience from Sandy Lynch.
Sandy is my first choice, go to guy whenever I want bellows. I have several 4x5 or 5x7 cameras with his bellows.
Makes me want to buy another project camera so I can get another set of bellows from Sandy!

Arthur
 
AgX said:
In find it weird to buy from a firm without a proper business name, moreover not even knowing where in the world they are located.
Click to expand...

These bellows and other products come from Chinese manufacturers who have been around for some years now. I guess my only quibble would be we don't know where they are based but more importantly there's probably not the protection of using Ebay and Paypal when buying from China.

I'm more than 100% certain that the same bellows are available from an Ebay seller I've used for over 10 years, ecbuyonline2008. But ebay fees add up so setting up your own store makes more sense, I'm not assuming it's the same person or people as others sell the same items.

Ian
 
My point was not about possible manufacturers, but the selling firm itself.
 
I’ve bought from them, twice. Both times from their eBay sites and both times the deal was flawless. Once shipped from Kentucky; other time from China, I think.
 
Tel said:
I've bought bellows from etone. As I recall, they were well made and easy enough to fit. Mostly I've bought from a guy named Rudy (also in Hong Kong) whose ebay handle is "ecbuyonline". His work is excellent and communication was always very good (he did some custom work for me a few years ago). .
Click to expand...
Ive bought two bellows recently by this seller, one off the shelf size and one custom. The custom bellows took a bit of to and fro communication until we both new what was required. Both fitted perfectly and were excellent quality. Making was quick as well as postage.
I will note that when fitting make sure you have the corners correct before gluing.
 
Premo 8x10 2 by terry, on Flickr
This is the custom bellows Rudy made for me. It's a 1901 ROC Premo 8x10 camera. Extension is over a meter. If you look closely you'll see that he included a cloth tab with a d-ring that hooks into a hanger inside the box and supports the bellows in the middle so it doesn't sag. He did a phenomenal job.
 
I've bought from both Sandeha Lynch and ecbuyonline/whatever they call themselves. Both do quality work. It's nice to have something to agree on, on this board sometimes!
 
Cannot go wrong with Custom Bellows in UK. This is in-house bellows manufacturing and I only had great experience with them. They do quality and they mean it.
 
VTLD said:
Cannot go wrong with Custom Bellows in UK. This is in-house bellows manufacturing and I only had great experience with them. They do quality and they mean it.
Click to expand...
I second that. Custom Bellows do amazing work and are an absolute pleasure to do business with.
 
markbau said:
I second that. Custom Bellows do amazing work and are an absolute pleasure to do business with.
Click to expand...

I third it. The only drawback is that you typically need to send the old bellows to him as a pattern, and the shipping cost to get it to the UK from the US is only a bit less than the cost of the new bellows.

I once tried getting a bellows from some Chinese seller on the auction site (don't recall seller's name). It was an absolute nightmare. They couldn't get the size right, even with detailed drawings. And the bellows material wasn't even fully opaque. All my business goes to Custom Bellows now..
 
thuggins said:
I third it. The only drawback is that you typically need to send the old bellows to him as a pattern, and the shipping cost to get it to the UK from the US is only a bit less than the cost of the new bellows.

I once tried getting a bellows from some Chinese seller on the auction site (don't recall seller's name). It was an absolute nightmare. They couldn't get the size right, even with detailed drawings. And the bellows material wasn't even fully opaque. All my business goes to Custom Bellows now..
Click to expand...
This happens when bellows are non standard. With common production cameras not the case, but that comes up in first communication.

When I inquired about Linhof Technika 70 he wanted old bellows, but not for size, just to fit new bellows to original mounting frames to be sure it is all correct, and all I would have to do is screw it all back in place.
 
Another vote for Custom Bellows. I ordered a new bellows for a Deardorff V8 I was restoring and am very happy with the outcome.
Sent him the old bellows and frames and received the new installed bellows in less than 3 weeks (UK to US). Everything fit back into the camera perfectly.
Great communication and while not the cheapest, the quality and level of service was excellent.
 
An update might be in order. Changed some very friendly emails with Sandeha who said: "I am not making any large format bellows now, only small medium format folders, and also I am not making any new designs."
So ordered a nice red one from etone with measurements, arrived quite swiftly to my letterbox.
Scraping the old adhesive off I wonder what is this stuff originally used fixing the bellows in the frame - shellac? I'll probably use contact adhesive. Will post pics later, too many projects at the same time.
 
Etone replacement bellows final assembly. I'm glad i chose red, it's more subtle in reality.
ICA 1s.jpeg
ICA 2s.jpeg
 
Thank you, Tel! Next weekend I'll hopefully found out its picture making capabilities...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:
Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom