Macro work with Bellows

paulr

We read lots of information regarding macro lenses and which one to use, however, how many members still use bellows and of course a lens, not necessarily a macro lens to get images. Since Nikon seem to have lost interest in making bellows for their cameras, last one being the PB-6. Is this becoming a lost form of Macro Photography.


Nikon D810 PB-6 Bellows Nikon 105 Bellows lens

Image of a very small Tomato plant just starting to grow.

tganiats

Decades ago (pre-my Nikon days) I used a bellows, but lately I haven't had one, so I use extension tubes. They are very nice, just not as convenient as bellows...but more portable, less bulky, and a whole lot less expensive.

I look forward to reading what others think.

Inside a white rose, 20 mm extension

tganiats

Sorry for small photo...link to Flickr works, though

tganiats

Another thought/question. My understanding is that bellows all require manual exposure, where extension tubes can be automatic. Depends on your preference, but for me that is an advantage. Is that a limitation of bellows?

spraynpray

For me the biggest shortcoming of bellows is the huge light loss along them.

funtagraph

That light loss is the same with extension rings - or were you talking about extensions in general?

My only experience with bellows is large format. When I tried a bellows for 135 I found it somehow flimsy although I like the results. Maybe I should try one day.

paulr

Spraynpray said, " For me the biggest shortcoming of bellows is the lights loss along them".

Here is the solution.

Photobug

Yup, the ring lights address that short coming. I purchased an inexpensive ring light late last year and it works well with my macro lens.

I wonder if the bellows went the way of a lot of tools because of the complexity and lack of time to become an expert. A macro lens was so much easier to use...remembering from many many years ago. LoL

ThomasHorton

You can still get a good quality Pentax bellows and a nice reversible enlarger lens for not a lot of bucks.

I think my entire macro bellows was under $250 and I could have gotten it cheaper if I were not in such a hurry.

NoXiN

Before I switched to Nikon I had a nice bellow that was affordable and had a two cable release so it would actuate the shutter and stop down the aperture to get the right exposure. I look at the cost of a used PB-6 and feel it's pretty steep for how much I would use it. I'm still considering one of the cheap alternatives.

paulr

Taking bellows to the extreme.

Msmoto

@paulr

Difficult to see, but I can assume the lens is mounted in reverse, front element toward sensor?

paulr

Msmoto Actually no, It's the Nikon 105 F4 Bellows lens, the bellows has the PB-6E extension coupled to it and at that tine a Nikon 1 series camera, now sold