Jump to content

Visoflex Bellows Lens?


Recommended Posts

I have a 90mm 2.8 Elmarit, the type you can unscrew the lens from the focusing mount.  With this you can focus from infinity to about a 4:1 ratio.  Just be sure to have the proper adapter for the bellows.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Acmineiro,

 

I use a Visoflex and bellows quite a lot.  As this set up is usually on a tripod I use a Viso 1 and the lens head from an f/4 135mm Elmar.  I find this very convienient, more so than a Viso 3 and its bellows. 

 

The Viso 1 is usually cheaper than the 2's or 3's, but the image on the ground glass is very bright.  Unless you also want to use a screwmount camera I suggest you get the bayonet version and the correct double cable release to go with it; the bayonet ones have a collar with black ring on one cable and the standard Compur tapered thread on the other.

 

The whole outfit would comprise: M7 + Viso 1 [OXZOM (16482)] + Magnifyer [PEGOO (16487)] + Cable release [OZTOM (16491)] + Bellows [uXOOR (16555)] + Lens adaptors [uOOYW + UOOVH] + Lens + Hood

 

The two lens adaptors are usually supplied with the bellows, and sometimes one can buy the whole lot as a single purchase.  As you can see I don't use the bellows lens shade (as I haven't got one!)  This little lot  will focus from infinity to life size on the negative.

 

 

For horizontal pictures:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

and vertical pictures

 

This is the above set-up, but with my M2 rather than the M9 I usually have attached.

 

Hope this is on some help.

 

Susie

Edited by Susie
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

For a number of years this was my most used bellows setup, or I could use the 135/4 Tele-Elmar...either worked well for nature work. If I wanted to use my Nikon DSLR instead of the M4, I had an adapter which fit between the bellows and my Nikon bodies which worked fine.

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

I favoured using the 135/4 Elmar v1's lens cell (which unscrews from the lens body) with a Visoflex III and Bellows II.  The 135/4 Elmar gives good reach for a macro set up and produces excellent pictures; the v1 (the silver version) is inexpensive compared to other macro lenses.  The Elmar's lens cell screws directly into the 16472 (OTSRO) adaptor and the 16471 (OTRPO) adaptor for even closer focus for use directly on the Visoflex when using the Bellows II is inconvenient.

 

Pete.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

This is one of the wonderful things about the Leica system - there are so many ways of using it everyone should be able to find a solution that suits them. 

 

Of course there is always the old joke along the lines that Leitz is (or was then) a firm that makes adaptors - oh! and they make rather good cameras too.

 

Susie

  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks guys. I have a 135/4 Elmar but I am not sure it will unscrew from the barrel I have tried but I don't want to break it. So far I haven't been able to unscrew it. How can I tell if it will unscrew. I think it was made in the mid 60's.

Link to post
Share on other sites

As far as I'm aware, only version 1 of the 135/4 Elmar, which is silver, has a head cell that unscrews.  I'm not aware of any of the version 2 (black) lenses where the head cell unscrews but I am happy to be corrected.

 

Pete.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Acmineiro,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

The E46 filter size version does NOT unscrew & come apart.

 

I think ALL of the 135mm, F4  lenses with E39 filters come apart. Whether Elmar or Tele-Elmar.

 

This does NOT include all 135mm F4.5 lenses or all 135mm F3.4 lenses.

 

BUT:

Sometimes the lenses that were built to come apart are stuck from overtightening or for other reasons.

 

USUALLY all that you have to do is: Hold the lens by the barrel in 1 hand & use the other hand to unscrew the lens elements AS A COMPLETE UNIT by putting your other hand on the lens head & HOLDING THE LENS HEAD BY THE "F" STOP RING & THE LENS HEAD ABOVE IT.

 

Then: Firmly, but gently, rotate the lens head COUNTERCLOCKWISE when looking into the front of the lens.

 

If this does not release the lens head from the lens barrel please get back to us here.

 

If it does release the lens head please let us know.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Michael - It has been several years so I'm not sure...perhaps you can tell from this picture right before I sold it

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Michael - It has been several years so I'm not sure...perhaps you can tell from this picture right before I sold it

 

Yes that's the same as mine:  a version 1 with the removable head cell that can be used directly on the Bellows II or on the Visoflex II or III with a 16464 focussing mount and 16472 adaptor.

 

Pete.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...