Bellows vs Tubes

topcatproduction

topcatproduction

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Couldn't find a thread on this already, I have some cheap tubes and whilst they do their job- would bellows be easier to adjust the length, or are they more of a pain in their own cumbersome way? Also what ones are good to get?
 
Whilst bellows will give you a variety of extension possibilities, they are quite bulky and cumbersome to use compared to extension tubes.

I have both but find myself using the tubes the majority of the time. About the only time I use the bellows is if I want to extend beyond the capabilities of the stacked tubes.
 
I use tubes in the field but prefer the infinite flexibility of bellows in a 'studio' setting.

With your 40D, I'd recommend a set of Canon FD Autobellows with an EOS/FD converter at the body end and a good old FD macro lens at the other.

Macro_rig.jpg


Bob
 
Not as far as I'm aware.

The only thing that puts me off bellows a little is that when using them not extended very far you have the rails sticking out the front maybe further than the lens which could cause problems with the very short focussing distance with extreme magnification... Would some of the cheap ones from ebay be ok? They don't actually look that bad!
 
topcatproduction said:
Not as far as I'm aware.

The only thing that puts me off bellows a little is that when using them not extended very far you have the rails sticking out the front maybe further than the lens which could cause problems with the very short focussing distance with extreme magnification... Would some of the cheap ones from ebay be ok? They don't actually look that bad!
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There's no electrics on the ones shown.

Both carriages move on the bellows so you can move the rear carriage forwards and avoid the front rail being stuck out infront of the lens.

Not sure about the Ebay ones but a set of FD's like the ones above usually go for around £30-50.

Bob
 
Ah that sorts that problem out then! I think I'm going to have to order a set, its my birthday on tuesday- why didn't I think of asking for these whilst there was still time and when people were still bugging me with "what do you want" questions :lol::lol:
 
If you already have extension tubes then you probably know about the vastly reduced DOF but this problem is even more compounded with bellows and added to that the loss of light increases even more the difficulty in focussing.

Also CA can be a real problem if a lens is working far outside its normal parameters.
 
Canon Bob said:
There's no electrics on the ones shown.

Both carriages move on the bellows so you can move the rear carriage forwards and avoid the front rail being stuck out infront of the lens.

Not sure about the Ebay ones but a set of FD's like the ones above usually go for around £30-50.

Bob
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I reckon that with a set of bellows and one extension tube and some ribbon cable, it should be possible to cobble together a set of bellows with full electrical connections.

As Bob has said above, I would be happy carrying a set of tubes in the bag but bellows are a bit more fragile so are probably best kept somewhere relatively safe, unless you actually NEED the adjustability they give.
 
Nod said:
I reckon that with a set of bellows and one extension tube and some ribbon cable, it should be possible to cobble together a set of bellows with full electrical connections.

As Bob has said above, I would be happy carrying a set of tubes in the bag but bellows are a bit more fragile so are probably best kept somewhere relatively safe, unless you actually NEED the adjustability they give.
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Well I definitely WOULD NOT try "cobbling together" anything to do with the electrical connections on a camera.

I don't know what would happen if you shorted the wrong contacts together but I have a feeling it would not improve the camera at all!
 
My Novoflex automatic bellows keep all electronic contact between the camera and lens, allowing full aperture focussing and AF and aperture adjustment.#

Not cheap though! and they will not fit a 1D series body without a 12mm ext tube.
 
petersmart said:
Well I definitely WOULD NOT try "cobbling together" anything to do with the electrical connections on a camera.

I don't know what would happen if you shorted the wrong contacts together but I have a feeling it would not improve the camera at all!
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Sorry, my post did sort of assume a certain level of competence with a soldering iron. TBH, getting the relevant mounts off the tube and securely (and lightproofly) mounted to the bellows would be more complicated.
 
EdBray said:
My Novoflex automatic bellows keep all electronic contact between the camera and lens, allowing full aperture focussing and AF and aperture adjustment.#

Not cheap though! and they will not fit a 1D series body without a 12mm ext tube.
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At about £350-£400 definitely NOT cheap - and the maximum extension of 135mm means that with a 50mm lens you'd have to be REALLY close to the subject!

You've got to be REALLY good to even use that system!
 
The rig pictured above has a 20mm lens on it and will produce 18x lifesize (with no DoF whatsoever)

Bob
 
Bellows are great, best thing is being able to use enlaging lenses which are flat field and specifically designed to work relatively close up. Cheap too! EOS-M42 adapter and 42mm-39mm drop down adapter.

Some massive mqgnifications are possible with bellows.
 
Canon Bob said:
Do you not find that there's a focus shift when you stop down if you've focussed wide open?

Bob
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I haven't really noticed it, will do some test shots tomorrow.

Perhaps any difference is being taken up by the additional DOF?
 
Nod said:
I reckon that with a set of bellows and one extension tube and some ribbon cable, it should be possible to cobble together a set of bellows with full electrical connections.

As Bob has said above, I would be happy carrying a set of tubes in the bag but bellows are a bit more fragile so are probably best kept somewhere relatively safe, unless you actually NEED the adjustability they give.
Click to expand...

I've actually read a guide in the past to do exactly this for the Canon mount. Not sure where though....

I think he used an old/broken lens however.:thinking:
 
Canon Bob said:
Do you not find that there's a focus shift when you stop down if you've focussed wide open?

Bob
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Okay Dokey, some silly tests with 100L Macro (IS Off on tripod)

First shot 100L @ 1:1 f2.8

belno100f28.jpg


100L @ 1:1 f32 focus ring untouched from 1st image

belno100f32.jpg


12mm Extension tube (to clear base of 1Ds3), bellows full extension, 100L @ f2.8 @ MFD

bellows100f28.jpg


12mm Extension tube (to clear base of 1Ds3), bellows full extension, 100L @ f32 @ MFD focus ring untouched from previous image

bellows100f32.jpg


Well they seem okay to me, so I don't think there is too much of a focus shift just by closing down the aperture. I had to bump the ISO up a lot for the bellows shots though to get enough light as I just used a bounced 580 EX II. I will now have to make some sort of macro bracket for my pair of 580s.
 
Thanks for trying that Eddie, it looks like it's something that happens when the magnification gets higher. The bellows length will be having a much greater effect with a 20mm macro lens than a 100mm lens. I'll have a play now and see what magnification level it starts to show itself.

Bob
 
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