Tachihara bellows

[campy51]

The bellows appears to be a bit long on my Tachihara as you can see the sag. Would it be stupid of me if I tried to glue 4 or 5 pleats to the rear section to shorten it or should it be removed and then shortened? Or just leave it.

 

[Barry Kirsten]

I'd leave it... you need flexibility in folding the camera, and 4 or 5 pleats glued together would reduce this. If you're concerned with vignetting when using a long lens or in close-up work, you could raise the bellows by putting something under the sag when you expose. A good old rule: "If it ain't broke..."

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Many cameras have bellows with a ring on a tab on the edge of one of the pleats. This fits over a pin on the back to shorten and tighten the bellows when sag is a problem. It wouldn't be too hard to rig up something like that for your camera. Alternatively, you could just prop up the bellows with something when shooting; a sponge or the like comes to mind.

Best,

Doremus