Preserving Analogue Film Photography For Future Generations Episode Four - Repairing Camera Bellows!
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- Опубліковано 19 сер 2024
- Preserving Analogue Film Photography For Future Generations - Episode Four - 'Checking, Repairing and Restoring Camera Bellows!'
Future episodes, in this series, will look at how to flock a camera and replace light seals, fixing sticky shutters, correcting jammed focusing and more!
Be sure to watch the previous episodes
Episode One. 'Why We Need To Learn Basic Camera Repair Skills'
Episode Two. 'Right Tools For The Job'
Episode Three. 'Checking and Cleaning Lenses'
Please Note: All the classic analogue, vintage film cameras, shown in these episodes, are owned and used by myself. I shall be reviewing each of them, and many more, very soon.
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I hope that these methods of repairing or restoring camera bellows will prove as useful to you as they have for me. If you have any questions please ask them below and I will do my best to answer them.
You do an excellent job. Congratulations. I love old cameras and I am starting to become fond of restoring them, to give them a second life. I consider them works of engineering that do not deserve to be thrown away. I find your videos very interesting and I hope I can learn a lot from you. Greetings and thanks for the time spent in recording these videos.
Many thanks for your kind comments, they are appreciated. I agree, it is good to keep these lovely cameras working. Very few film cameras are being made and we need to keep what we have functioning. They are also beautifully made machines
Thank you for putting these resources together! It's the only resource I can find on UA-cam for the old cameras. I am whelmed at the idea of removing the bellows from an old Kodak 616 camera I have. They don't seem very easy to remove
Many thanks for your comment Aaron. I am very pleased you find this series useful. I will be putting up further episodes soon. As to removing the bellows of your Kodak 616. I found this link to someone who has built a tool that you may be able to create yourself. Follow the thread to see the other images. Many Kodak cameras have their bellows fitted this way. I hope this proves useful for you and please let me know how you get on. - the link is here www.flickr.com/photos/photoplastic/5572622630
As mentioned, that is the common way the 620 and 616 cameras have their bellows attached into the body. When unbending the tabs just remember to only open them as far as is necessary as they are easy to break off especially when reattaching the bellows.
@@allensmithphotography This is good advice, thank you Dragon Kin
@@ChristopherJohnBall no problem.
Thank your for this wonderful video and information. I’ve beautiful old vintage are deco Kodak that has some pin holes in the bellows . Now I hopefully repair them and use it and get some lovely 6x9 results .
Hi Clive, many thanks for your kind comments. I hope you can get your art deco Kodak bellows fixed. These old cameras still have a lot of life left in them and can produce really creative results. If you have any questions, when you start on your camera, just ask. Take care, Chris
Hi Christopher, thanks for the informative video, just got my hands on a british made myna but I can't seem to extend out the bellows through the guide rail anymore, the guide rail extends the tiniest bit and then gets stuck, no amount of force moving it😅
Hi, many thanks for your message. Sorry to hear of your issues with your Soho Myna camera. You could try the following. Use a stiff brush to brush away any possible gunge on the rails. You could also use a blunt table knife and pass it through the rails. Often it is simply some dust/gunge blocking the rails. I have used this method to smooth up movement along rails. A little bit of lubricant can also be used. Once freed, gently open and close the camera along the rails a few times to free up the mechanism. Let me know how you get on.
Oh, that liquid electrical tape seems like the perfect tool
It really is useful. Mixed with Naphtha (lighter fuel) it can rescue camera bellows.
@Christopher John Ball is the naphtha used so you can apply a thinner coat? I have tiny pinholes on the corners. Would it be better to dilute and qtip on or use a pointed applier and place a tiny drop on the hold?
Hi, sorry I missed this question. Yes, the dilution is so that you can apply a thin coat. It is far too thick a solution to apply straight out of the can. Yes, you can apply it via the methods you suggest - this is especially useful for pin holes in the bellows. I would use a pointed application tool like a pin rather than Qtips as the Qtip may leave hairs behind. Putting a small amount on a pin and drawing it carefully through the hole is one method that has been used by repairers for successful fixes.
Hello Christopher. Thanks to your time and effort and the your willingness to pass on your knowledge , I’ve just resurrected the bellows on a voightlander Perkeo 1 today using the liquid insulation tape method . So far it’s very good and no sign of the light leaks and after cleaning out the lenses and viewfinder it’s now all set for me to run a film through it . Next to tackle my old Art Deco Kodak , unfortunately with that I tried the liquid black gasket method over a year ago , so need to remove that first before trying the liquid insulation tape method . Thank you so much Christopher . You are a gentleman.
Next I’d like to learn how to remove the bellows form the camera body and re-attach them to the camera body .
Many thanks indeed for your kind comments Clive. I am hoping to set up a community where we can all share our experiences and help each other. I am delighted that your Perkeo 1 is now in a position where you can put film through. The more cameras we can keep working the more we can enjoy our art. It makes me very happy to hear of your experiences.
Yes, the liquid black gasket method can be very messy indeed. It can work if you use a pin to put a tiny amount into a pin hole in a bellows but it can make a mess for large scale repair. Though it is possible to make the gasket material less tacky or sticky by applying a 'light' dusting of talcum powder. You should be able to remove the gasket material by very gently rubbing it off with your fingers. It is a messy job but it will peel off. Be careful of getting the waste into the camera. It is often best to do it with the camera lens facing down so the waste drops off and away from the camera.
With regard to removing bellows safely. It varies from camera to camera - some being easy and some very difficult. For cameras that have the bellows 'glued' to the body - you can try lightly wetting them at the glued section. Not too damp as the bellows will fall apart, but where the end section of the bellows are glued. It often helps to use warm, not hot, water.
Please keep me posted on how you get on and share with others your experiences.
Hi, I like your videos,good job! How about just use leather to make bellow ? I know that hard to make it
Good job! How about just use leather to make bellow ? I know that is not easy
Hi, you can indeed make bellows out of thin leather - indeed many were made from leather. They still need support card struts and a second layer etc . I have used leather to replace bellows on some cameras. If the bellows only have minor damage, such as pin holes, I tend to try and repair in situ so that I can keep as much of the original camera as possible. Leather bellows actually tend not to suffer from that much damage - if the camera has been looked after. But yes, if the bellows can be made to still fit and allow the camera to close - thin leather can be perfect.
Great video, what is the best way to maintain the bellow?
Many thanks. A lot depends upon what the bellows are constructed from. The most notorious of bellows are the ones found on many Agfa models. IF, and it is a big IF, the bellows on an agfa camera are OK, then it is best to keep them out of prolonged UV - so no keeping them open and out on display. Most other bellows can be kept in good order by lightly brushing them with a very soft brush. Exercise the bellows once in a while by gently opening and closing the camera. Always be careful when opening and closing the camera. Allow the bellows to fold back into their creases, don't force the camera shut, and don't let the camera spring open. It is always best to open the camera gently. Sometimes the springs on the camera opening can be a bit strong. That is all you really need to do. It is possible to use an appropriate product, such as beeswax - again depending upon what the bellows are made of. But it is possible to overdo leather dyes etc. Whilst the outer leather is OK, if too much moisture gets through it can start to destabilise the adhesives holding the layers together or cause the ribs to fall apart. So I would refrain from this. A light, soft brushing is often all that is needed and being careful opening and shutting the camera.
@@ChristopherJohnBall I have a kodak no.2 folding autographic brownie. The bellow looked pretty good but after the light test there was one small leak a tiny pin hole. I used a small amount of leather dy on a qtip to close it. The camera looks pretty good so I hope this will last for a longer time otherwise I gonna try the fabric paint.
I tried the liquid tape. Made a mess and eventually peeled. Spent 2 hours removing peeling tape with tweezers. Sounds like a great idea but it sucks.
Hi Jack. Many thanks for your comment. I am sorry you didn't have success with this method. It has a long history of being used in camera bellows repair with many having success but it has to be done carefully. I suppose it can also vary according to the make of liquid tape but did you dilute the liquid tape as suggested? How did you apply it and what camera were you repairing the bellows on?
I'm going to attempt this with a 1908 Kodak Brownie. Does it matter what side you cut the old bellow framework on? In my case the bellow has lots it's shape a little, it sags. Will that affect anything? Thanks
Hi Dennis, many thanks for your question. A lot depends upon the condition of your bellows and what type of repair you are trying to do. If the framework is still secure, i.e. the ribbing - then use that as a guide and build around them but without seeing the actual state of the bellows on your camera, it is hard to say as I let the existing bellows guide me. I would always advise going slowly and steadily. Are you thinking of 'recoating' the existing bellows or using what is left as a template?
@@ChristopherJohnBall Probably using the existing bellows as a template. Is there a way to send you a pic?
@@dennisleavell3580 Hi Dennis - yep - go to my about page and at the bottom you will find my email address.
Thanks for this tutorial. I have a bellow of Mamiya 6 to repair or replace. I tried the "Liquid electrical insulating glue", but it became hard, and when I pulled it out, the tiny holes became big holes. I was wondering if with your solution the bellow doesn't become too thick to close it.
Hi John. Many thanks for your question. Did you dilute the 'liquid insulating tape' before applying? Different manufacturers of the liquid tape have slightly different formula. Also, different folding cameras have bellows built to different tolerances and one has to adapt to suit. When repairing bellows with this method it is best to dilute the liquid tape, paint a thin covering and let it dry for a while before folding the camera. I would also dust the bellows very, very lightly with talcum powder or chalk powder to ensure they don't stick. If the holes are very tiny pin holes, you can get away with putting a small amount of liquid tape on a pin and gently use the pin to put the liquid on that area. I have used liquid tape to successfully repair lots of bellows without issue but you do have to look at each camera individually
@@ChristopherJohnBall The ingredients of my liquid tape are : asphalt, resin, filler, curing agent. Anyway, after this liquid tape experience, my bellow is no longer usable (big holes). So, I have to buy another one or make it, because I love my Mamiya 6, and my enlarger Durst M601 is waiting for the negatives...
@@johnleehooker1009 I am not near my tools/equipment to check the formula of my liquid tape to compare formula. Did you dilute the liquid? This is an old tried and tested method that has proved successful for many. I am sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience on this occasion. I have not worked with a Mamiya 6 but I hear that they are great little cameras with terrific lenses. Let me know how you get on with replacing the bellows
Did 'analogue' photography exist before digital cameras?
How thin recover material? 1mm is enough?
Hi, many thanks for your question. I take it you are recovering a set of bellows? If so, It all depends upon the camera you are repairing. 1mm should do for many cameras but thinner still would be better. It has to be able to fold back into the camera body and also be light tight. If you are building a set of bellows then 1mm should be fine - again, ensure the material is light tight.
@@ChristopherJohnBall thanks!
Christopher, the bellows on my Selfix 420 have become detached from the camera body. What product would you recommend to reattach the two, please? Any pearls of wisdom will be gratefully received. Thank you.
Hi Russel. Many thanks for your question. Without seeing the damage it is difficult to be specific but you could try using a hot glue gun and some black glue sticks. These are readily available and I often use them to do quick fixes of pinholes in bellows and to reattach bellows to the camera body. The black glue sticks have the advantage of blocking light and sealing uneven areas. It is a cheap and easy fix. Without seeing the damage that would be my first thought.
@@ChristopherJohnBall Many thanks for taking the time to reply. I should however, have been less vague and explained that there is zero damage to the bellow's contact surface - in fact these are in excellent shape but have simply come clean away from the camera body. I was hoping to reattach them with an adhesive sealant or light proof tape of some description.
@@russellsprout2223 Hi Russell, no problem. Happy to help and why I set up the channel. I have a lot more videos coming over the year. Given what you have said about the bellows I would suggest an impact adhesive such as EVO-Stick. Lightly brush- use a brush rather than direct from the tube - a thin coating on both the bellows edges to be attached and the camera body. Let it dry and then fix. Tape has a tendency to come away over time. Let me know how you get on or if I can help more in anyway. Take care, Chris
@@ChristopherJohnBall Thanks again Christopher, I'm sincerely grateful to you. I will of course heed your advice and in the meantime, have become your latest subscriber. Atb. 👍
Is there anything we should use to condition the bellows to keep them from drying out? I have a few on display and I'm thinking I should treat them with something.
Hi Ben, many thanks for your question. Camera bellows are best kept out of UV and it is really best to store the camera folded away. This keeps the bellows folded neatly. It is UV that will impact the bellows. If they are on display, out of sunlight, then simply dusting them very gently with a soft brush will suffice. Some people will use products like Armorall or a leather polish made for antique furniture. The problem with Armorall, and many other such products, is that they can accelerate UV damage. Also, the glues and coating used 'back in the day' can be destroyed with modern cleaning products. It is easy to over saturate the material and it can fall apart. Some bellows look like leather but are simply coated paper layers. I have seen far too many bellows ruined by cleaning with modern products. Personally, if they are in good order, simply brush them gently, occasionally close the camera to restore the folds and keep them out of sunlight.
@@ChristopherJohnBall Will do! thanks for the reply.
For US viewers, don't use a torch. 😁
Can you fix my camera bellows?
Hi Dave. Many thanks for your question. I'm sorry but I don't take in cameras to repair. I only repair my own. Also, I am in the UK and you are in the USA. Perhaps I can advise you though on how to repair the camera you have. What is wrong with your bellows? Which camera model is it?
I have one for sale
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ผมเป็นช่างซ่อมกล้องโปราณฟิล์มอยู่ประเทศไทยครับ ผมชอบผลงานคุณมากที่สุดเลย
I'm sorry I can't speak/read Thai and so have used Google translate which gives me 'I want to know the name of the fabric that the water covers. I am a camera repair technician in Thailand. I like your work the most.' I do hope that is correct?
Am I correct in assuming that you are asking what fabric can be used in bellows repair or manufacturing? If so, you can use very thin leather or a thin light proof cloth. You can also use the black material that is often used in making hard back book covers . I often use book cover making material as it is thin enough to fold and fit into the closed camera body. Have I understood your question correctly? I apologise if I have not.
thank you for knowledge I'm following you I really like the process of explaining you.❤😊😊