Nikon PB-6 Bellows
in [35mm]
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From: Paul Furman on 16 May 2007 17:12 Who was it who had the page about compatibility of old bellows with newer cameras? One page I found described the PB-6 as having aperture coupling so that means it can stop down AI lenses as well as open up G lenses for focusing? Will I need an extension ring to mount it on a D200? Is it strong enough to hold a big heavy lens? One review described this model as notoriously wobbly. Does the PB-6 have swing & shift? Here's a page with a decent summary of various bellows: <http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/michaeliu/cameras/shared/ff2macro/ff2bellow.htm> PB-6 Bellows A twist of the knob lets you vary the lens extension at will, producing frame-filling images of the most minute subjects. Provides continuously variable extension from 48mm to 208mm. For motorized bodies or newer built in AF cameras, the Bellows Spacer PB-6D enables moving a Nikon F5, F4E, F4s or F3 with MD-4 on the PB-6 rail without interference. * Note: An Auto Extension Ring is required when the PB-6 is used with the F5. Thanks, -- Paul Furman Photography http://www.edgehill.net/1 Bay Natives Nursery http://www.baynatives.com
From: Matt Clara on 16 May 2007 17:48 "Paul Furman" <paul-@-edgehill.net> wrote in message news:itK2i.29116$Um6.10669(a)newssvr12.news.prodigy.net... > Who was it who had the page about compatibility of old bellows with newer > cameras? One page I found described the PB-6 as having aperture coupling > so that means it can stop down AI lenses as well as open up G lenses for > focusing? Will I need an extension ring to mount it on a D200? Is it > strong enough to hold a big heavy lens? One review described this model as > notoriously wobbly. Does the PB-6 have swing & shift? > > Here's a page with a decent summary of various bellows: > <http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/michaeliu/cameras/shared/ff2macro/ff2bellow.htm> > PB-6 Bellows > A twist of the knob lets you vary the lens extension at will, producing > frame-filling images of the most minute subjects. Provides continuously > variable extension from 48mm to 208mm. For motorized bodies or newer built > in AF cameras, the Bellows Spacer PB-6D enables moving a Nikon F5, F4E, > F4s or F3 with MD-4 on the PB-6 rail without interference. * Note: An Auto > Extension Ring is required when the PB-6 is used with the F5. > > Thanks, > That was me, though it doesn't cover the PB-6. No, you won't need an extension ring for the D200 unless you have the battery pack on it (MB-200?), it's strong enough for anything up to a 70-200 f2.8 (though why you'd want to use one of those, I don't know, but I did try mine on a PB-5, and it worked). I believe only the PB-4 has swings and shifts, though I could be wrong. These bellows are great fun. I hope to aquire a PB-4 here, eventually. -- www.mattclara.com
From: Paul Furman on 16 May 2007 18:08 Matt Clara wrote: > "Paul Furman" <paul-@-edgehill.net> wrote in message > news:itK2i.29116$Um6.10669(a)newssvr12.news.prodigy.net... > >>Who was it who had the page about compatibility of old bellows with newer >>cameras? One page I found described the PB-6 as having aperture coupling >>so that means it can stop down AI lenses as well as open up G lenses for >>focusing? Will I need an extension ring to mount it on a D200? Is it >>strong enough to hold a big heavy lens? One review described this model as >>notoriously wobbly. Does the PB-6 have swing & shift? >> >>Here's a page with a decent summary of various bellows: >><http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/michaeliu/cameras/shared/ff2macro/ff2bellow.htm> >>PB-6 Bellows >>A twist of the knob lets you vary the lens extension at will, producing >>frame-filling images of the most minute subjects. Provides continuously >>variable extension from 48mm to 208mm. For motorized bodies or newer built >>in AF cameras, the Bellows Spacer PB-6D enables moving a Nikon F5, F4E, >>F4s or F3 with MD-4 on the PB-6 rail without interference. * Note: An Auto >>Extension Ring is required when the PB-6 is used with the F5. > > That was me, though it doesn't cover the PB-6. No, you won't need an > extension ring for the D200 unless you have the battery pack on it > (MB-200?), it's strong enough for anything up to a 70-200 f2.8 (though why > you'd want to use one of those, I don't know, but I did try mine on a PB-5, > and it worked). I believe only the PB-4 has swings and shifts, though I > could be wrong. These bellows are great fun. I hope to aquire a PB-4 here, > eventually. > > -- > www.mattclara.com Cool... but... where is that page? So yes, it'll control aperture on G lenses? I would like to try the 300mm f/2.8 for hand held bee, butterfly & dragonfly closeups that fill the frame... maybe entirely impractical? They run away from 200mm & the +2 diopter closeup lens degrades image quality. To be of any use on a tripod, I'll need a much sturdier tripod but the rig I'm looking at has a slide holder which I could use to hold little flowers & such... and duplicate my old slides. I suspect I'll need a special bellows lens for that configuration though, my 105 macro lens is awfully long. -- Paul Furman Photography http://www.edgehill.net/1 Bay Natives Nursery http://www.baynatives.com
From: Matt Clara on 16 May 2007 18:39 "Paul Furman" <paul-@-edgehill.net> wrote in message news:zhL2i.8337$2v1.1836(a)newssvr14.news.prodigy.net... > Matt Clara wrote: >> "Paul Furman" <paul-@-edgehill.net> wrote in message >> news:itK2i.29116$Um6.10669(a)newssvr12.news.prodigy.net... >> >>>Who was it who had the page about compatibility of old bellows with newer >>>cameras? One page I found described the PB-6 as having aperture coupling >>>so that means it can stop down AI lenses as well as open up G lenses for >>>focusing? Will I need an extension ring to mount it on a D200? Is it >>>strong enough to hold a big heavy lens? One review described this model >>>as notoriously wobbly. Does the PB-6 have swing & shift? >>> >>>Here's a page with a decent summary of various bellows: >>><http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/michaeliu/cameras/shared/ff2macro/ff2bellow.htm> >>>PB-6 Bellows >>>A twist of the knob lets you vary the lens extension at will, producing >>>frame-filling images of the most minute subjects. Provides continuously >>>variable extension from 48mm to 208mm. For motorized bodies or newer >>>built in AF cameras, the Bellows Spacer PB-6D enables moving a Nikon F5, >>>F4E, F4s or F3 with MD-4 on the PB-6 rail without interference. * Note: >>>An Auto Extension Ring is required when the PB-6 is used with the F5. >> >> That was me, though it doesn't cover the PB-6. No, you won't need an >> extension ring for the D200 unless you have the battery pack on it >> (MB-200?), it's strong enough for anything up to a 70-200 f2.8 (though >> why you'd want to use one of those, I don't know, but I did try mine on a >> PB-5, and it worked). I believe only the PB-4 has swings and shifts, >> though I could be wrong. These bellows are great fun. I hope to aquire >> a PB-4 here, eventually. >> > > Cool... but... where is that page? http://www.mattclara.com/misc/nikonbellows/ > So yes, it'll control aperture on G lenses? That I don't know; however, considering the PB-6 is older than G lenses, I doubt it (I'd certainly check with Nikon before I bet the bank on it). > > I would like to try the 300mm f/2.8 for hand held bee, butterfly & > dragonfly closeups that fill the frame... maybe entirely impractical? They > run away from 200mm & the +2 diopter closeup lens degrades image quality. > If you could pull that off, you could be a professional athlete of the first magnitude! No way you can handhold a bellows setup. I've used mine with a beanbag, and that came out ok, though you really need two bean bags, one for the bellows and one for the camera. Annika1980 has gotten some nice images such as you describe using a 400mm f5.6 on a 20D with a monopod--manual focus, no less... -- www.mattclara.com
From: Paul Furman on 16 May 2007 23:13
Matt Clara wrote: >Paul Furman wrote >>Matt Clara wrote: >>>Paul Furman wrote >>> >>>>Who was it who had the page about compatibility of old bellows with newer >>>>cameras? One page I found described the PB-6 as having aperture coupling >>>>so that means it can stop down AI lenses as well as open up G lenses for >>>>focusing? Will I need an extension ring to mount it on a D200? Is it >>>>strong enough to hold a big heavy lens? One review described this model >>>>as notoriously wobbly. Does the PB-6 have swing & shift? >>>> >>>>Here's a page with a decent summary of various bellows: >>>><http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/michaeliu/cameras/shared/ff2macro/ff2bellow.htm> >>>>PB-6 Bellows >>>>A twist of the knob lets you vary the lens extension at will, producing >>>>frame-filling images of the most minute subjects. Provides continuously >>>>variable extension from 48mm to 208mm. For motorized bodies or newer >>>>built in AF cameras, the Bellows Spacer PB-6D enables moving a Nikon F5, >>>>F4E, F4s or F3 with MD-4 on the PB-6 rail without interference. * Note: >>>>An Auto Extension Ring is required when the PB-6 is used with the F5. >>> >>>That was me, though it doesn't cover the PB-6. No, you won't need an >>>extension ring for the D200 unless you have the battery pack on it >>>(MB-200?), it's strong enough for anything up to a 70-200 f2.8 (though >>>why you'd want to use one of those, I don't know, but I did try mine on a >>>PB-5, and it worked). I believe only the PB-4 has swings and shifts, >>>though I could be wrong. These bellows are great fun. I hope to aquire >>>a PB-4 here, eventually. >> >>Cool... but... where is that page? > > http://www.mattclara.com/misc/nikonbellows/ > >>So yes, it'll control aperture on G lenses? > > That I don't know; however, considering the PB-6 is older than G lenses, I > doubt it (I'd certainly check with Nikon before I bet the bank on it). Following the links on your page I found this: <http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=900&p_created=1050073583&p_sid=Z6z3HLBi&p_accessibility=0&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NCZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9zZWFyY2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MSZwX3NlYXJjaF90ZXh0PXBiLTYgYmVsbG93cw**&p_li=&p_topview=1> "For full exposure control the preferred lens will be a Nikkor lens with an aperture ring. The G-type lens does not provide aperture control for this application." :-( I did also find out about a coupling cable device that allows stopping down: <http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/other/close-up_macro/macro_images/F3_PB6_55.jpg> <http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/nikon_articles/other/close-up_macro/macro_8b.html> "With the plunger-assist automatic aperture control lever activated, the bellows work just like a normal camera body with the little aperture control lever on the lens mount holding the aperture blades wide open. This lever is release only when the shutter is triggered, activating the mechanical plunger on the bellows column to automatically stop-down the aperture blades to the pre-set aperture settings" .... but they end up concluding that the double cable stop-down doo-hicky just introduces camera shake & better to stop down manually... "If only one single cable release is available for the camera body only, the aperture control on the bellow�s column must be disengaged by means of the manual lock provided on it. In such a situation, the aperture should be left wide open (i.e. smallest available f/stop number) during focusing and composition to allow the brightest possible view through the viewfinder. The aperture should then be stopped-down to the desired f/stop number prior the taking the shot." >>I would like to try the 300mm f/2.8 for hand held bee, butterfly & >>dragonfly closeups that fill the frame... maybe entirely impractical? They >>run away from 200mm & the +2 diopter closeup lens degrades image quality. > > If you could pull that off, you could be a professional athlete of the first > magnitude! No way you can handhold a bellows setup. I've used mine with a > beanbag, and that came out ok, though you really need two bean bags, one for > the bellows and one for the camera. Annika1980 has gotten some nice images > such as you describe using a 400mm f5.6 on a 20D with a monopod--manual > focus, no less... On a 300mm lens, a 50mm extension is not that extreme (I think) and even less with a 1.4 teleconverter (420mm f/4). It might just get me a little closer to these skittish creatures, I'm hoping. OTOH I did take a peek at John Shaw's Closeups in Nature and he suggests a short extension tube is more appropriate for what I'm talking about. Also, thanks to your page I got some answers about slide duplicating: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00H0Hy Which basically says I need an 80mm enlarging lens with a custom adapter... or the special "short-mount" 105 macro, which as best I can tell is what this rig was designed for. My 105 will get close enough to dupe slides, it's just a matter of a copy stand/focusing rail that's lacking. One disparaging review of the PB-6: http://www.imagepower.de/IMAGES/imgEQUIPMENT/PB6.htm More discussion of lens choices & diffraction: http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000LX3 (my 35mm f/2 AI might be useful reversed) Nikon specs: http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/en_GB/products/broad/277/overview.html Suitable lenses: 20mm - 200mm Bellows extension: 48mm - 208mm Support movement: 180mm -- Paul Furman Photography http://www.edgehill.net/1 Bay Natives Nursery http://www.baynatives.com |