Found Wista bag bellows

[tom williams]

Greetings. Wista made a bag bellows for wide angle lenses, part nuimber 4541, and a complementary lens board, part number 4544. I'm looking for the bag bellows, with or without the lens board, for a Wista 45 SP. I'd like to find a bellows that is at least serviceable. I don't know if there are third party parts, but am willing to consider such. Thanks.

 

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[tom williams]

To clarify: I've learned that the part number 4541 applies to two bellows: one intended to screw onto the lens board assembly pictured in my original post, another that attaches directly to the front standard,without screws, just as the standard bellows does. I've also run across a relevant video on youtube here. It seems to me that the bellows + lens board assembly will significantly reduce front standard movements, which is in conflict with the flexibility that I hope to gain from a bag bellows.

I don't know with certainty how to distinguish between the two varieties of part 4541, or if the bellows intended to work with the lens board assembly can mount directly to the front standard, without screws, as the standard bellows does. In any case, until advised by more informed folks, I think my interest lies with the bellows that will mount directly to the front standard, and not in the bellows + lens assembly version.
cheers
Tom

 

[quine666]

Sorry, I can't help with part numbers or leads on items for sale, though I have seen these show up on the auction site from time to time. B&H apparently sells them new, but they are not inexpensive.

The bellows that attaches to the lens board has a large threaded ring on the inside of the circular opening in the front that screws into a corresponding ring on the lens board. Either of the bag bellows will attach to the back of the front standard, but the threaded ring reduces the size of the opening slightly: it's possible that this would be an issue with larger lenses. No screws are involved in either case, just the large rings for the special lens board. I don't think that the special board reduces movements because the back of the board is positioned where the front standard would be on a regular lens board, and the front standard is physically larger. It is true that it moves the lens off of the pivot axis of the front standard (akin to a top hat board). Finally, note that the bag bellows without the screw will mate flush with the special lens board, but you would need to supply something to hold it in place: IIRC, I did this with rubber bands once without getting any light leaks, but YMMV.

 

[tom williams]

Sorry, I can't help with part numbers or leads on items for sale, though I have seen these show up on the auction site from time to time. B&H apparently sells them new, but they are not inexpensive.

The bellows that attaches to the lens board has a large threaded ring on the inside of the circular opening in the front that screws into a corresponding ring on the lens board. Either of the bag bellows will attach to the back of the front standard, but the threaded ring reduces the size of the opening slightly: it's possible that this would be an issue with larger lenses. No screws are involved in either case, just the large rings for the special lens board. I don't think that the special board reduces movements because the back of the board is positioned where the front standard would be on a regular lens board, and the front standard is physically larger. It is true that it moves the lens off of the pivot axis of the front standard (akin to a top hat board). Finally, note that the bag bellows without the screw will mate flush with the special lens board, but you would need to supply something to hold it in place: IIRC, I did this with rubber bands once without getting any light leaks, but YMMV.

Thanks for the tips. "Not inexpensive" is an understatement. I assume that the two retaining levers on the back of the front standard will turn down to capture the top edge of the bellows (the bellows not intended for the special lens frame), just as with the standard bellows, thus fixing the bellows to the standard. Does this agree with your experience?

I have located and am purchasing one of the bellows not intended for the special lens board.

cheers
Tom

 

[quine666]

Yes, correct: the bag bellows connects just like the folding bellows.

 

[tom williams]

Yes, correct: the bag bellows connects just like the folding bellows.

Thank you. Kumar has supplied the bag, along with the same assurance.