Where to buy a new bellows for my korona 5x7?

Robert T. McCarthy · Jan 21, 2008

Hi:

Does anyone know where to buy a 5x7 bellows for this field camera?

Regards.

Bob

PHOTOTONE · Jan 21, 2008

You are not going to find a "ready made" bellows for your Korona. You will have to have a custom made bellows. Any of the popular bellows makers can craft one for you. Western Bellows in California, Camera Bellows in England, I think there is a Bellows maker closer to you on the East coast, by the name of Turner Bellows, although I am not sure they are still in business. You could do a google search. In every case, you would be required to send in your old bellows WITH attached bellows frames (front and back). They will use your old ruined bellows as a pattern to make the new bellows and mount it to your bellows frames. There was no standard to bellows design, each camera had a different size, or fold number, etc., and sometimes this changed over the life of the camera model.

Erik Hartmann · Jan 21, 2008

Camera Bellows in England was asking 110 GPD for a new bellow to my Plaubel Pico 13x18cm.... that is reasonable

niels-erik

mark · Jan 21, 2008

Western bellows has had a few hits to their reputation ut you won't here that from me. I had them make one for my little galvin and it is a fine piece of work. It was done in a very timely manner and the cost was lower than turner and camera bellows.

This was several years ago and the bellows has been through a lot since then, including a long time covered in garden deluxe wine and sitting in the evidence room of the local PD. The booze cleaned off and the smell finally went away. So, whatever material they used was pretty damn tough.

Ria · Jan 21, 2008

mark said:
... and the bellows has been through a lot since then, including a long time covered in garden deluxe wine and sitting in the evidence room of the local PD. The booze cleaned off and the smell finally went away.

I would sure like to hear THAT story.
Ria

photomc · Jan 21, 2008

Turner Bellows was still in business this past summer, as I contacted them then. Ended up using Camera Bellows for the project but the response and price from Turner was very good. Wish I could find the link, would post it, but they makes bellows for 'other' product as well so do not think they are in any danger of going out of busines - here is the link. And they are in the right town for making camera bellows...

Nathan Smith · Jan 22, 2008

I used Western Bellows a couple of years ago and they did do some fine work for me ... but very slow. I know others have had this experience as well. In my case it didn't matter, but if you're in a hurry it could be a problem. I don't recall the price for sure, I think it was around $180 for a 5x7 Eastman 2D.

If you go with Turner, or anyone else for that matter, please add a note to this thread to tell how it went for you. Turner's site looks good, and their advertised price of $95.00 to $375.00 sounds fairly in line with what I've seen elsewhere.

There was a fellow in Hawaii that was doing great work fast at great prices, but last I heard he'd disappeared - without settling up with a few people waiting for their bellows. Anyone know if that was ever resolved?

Nathan

Nathan Smith · Jan 22, 2008

Nathan Smith said:
There was a fellow in Hawaii that was doing great work fast at great prices, but last I heard he'd disappeared - without settling up with a few people waiting for their bellows. Anyone know if that was ever resolved?

Mark Kapono was the name of the guy in Hawaii I was asking about, and here's another thread with a bunch of links to bellows makers:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Nathan

ragc · Jan 22, 2008

Mark Kapono made some outstanding bellows for me. I would like to know if he has been located again. He is a great communicator, fair businessman, and very good and bellows folder, and I would love to do business with him again.

As for the Korona, maybe another Korona from eBay might be a cheaper way to obtain bellows. My 5x7 Korona View has the original bellows, still in pristine form.

Jim Fitzgerald · Jan 22, 2008

Jim at Western Bellows did my 8x20 bellows. He is slow, so you need to remind him on a regular basis. The work is top notch and he is local for me. Mark Kapono has left the planet! I almost went with him. He has left many people hung out to dry. He has been spotted at the university of Hawaii but refuses to contact anyone. What's up with that?

Jim

imazursky · Jan 23, 2008

I second a nod for Tuner Bellows.
They did my 12x20 Korona. They did a very nice job in half the time they quoted.
UPS damaged the camera but the bellows where nice

My grandfather just gave me his 5x7 Korona. He used it for 20 or so years in his studio.
It had sat idle for the past 30 years on display in the front office.
There are more holes in it then swiss cheese but its still a beauty.
So I will be sending it to Turner for a bellow replacement. I think they quoted me $175.
For an extra $50 (i think) they will install it. A great deal.

About 2 years ago he gave me his Crown Graphic. That was the wedding and event workhorse.
Its funny. Only a couple of pinholes. The Korona bellows are made from a papery material where the graflex is a rubber...I think.

Where to buy a new bellows for my korona 5x7?

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