Modern Classic SLR Series
Macro/Close-up Photography with Nikon F2 Series bodies
Nikon F and F2 Bellows and Slide Units

 

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In general, bellows units are difficult enough to use indoors that many people do not consider them portable. Although having a continuously variable extension (within limits) is quite tempting, extension tubes and double-helicoid mounts (as on most older Micro-Nikkors, e.g. 55mm f/3.5, 105mm f/4) provide more than enough flexibility for most people.But if you wish to go beyond image reproduction of 1:1, some specialized accessories may have to be use in conjunction with these lenses. The most common ones are extension tubes or Bellows unit. Besides Nikon only got around to incorporating a semi-automatic diaphragm mechanism on its last bellows, the PB-6, whereas many extension tubes are both meter and auto-aperture coupled. Michael has, compiled quite a complete set of information pertaining to older bellow made by Nikon, I have tried my best to acquire the correponding images for each of those oldies from various sources to help you visualize better with their respective looks.

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On the other hand, although bellows are bulky and fragile, they provide tremendous versatility and rigid extension. With at least one, the PB-4, you can get a few view camera-like movements (and for not that much more money, you can buy a cheap 4x5 monorail ...).

Bellows Types 2, 2A

These are the original bellows for the Nikon F-bayonet mount. The first bellows units ever made were in the S-bayonet (rangefinder) mount and were known as "Bellows 1". Both the front and rear standards may be moved; the front standard moves along a geared track via a rotating knob, and the rear standard is slid back and forth along the rails after unlocking a lever. The extension is continuously variable from 51.6 to 184mm on the Bellows 2 and 54.6 to 187mm on the 2a. Incidentally, these bellows have serial numbers.

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The 2 was upgraded to the 2a to accommodate users of Photomic finders. With the 2, these finders must be removed when changing the camera's orientation from horizontal to vertical because the rear standard provides insufficient clearance.
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The 2a's standard is extended by 3mm to clear these finders; this modification is present on serial numbers 106700 and higher.

Nikon has thoughtfully provided focussing scales for the 50f/2 and 135f/4 Bellows in normal position. There is a standard tripod bushing at the front of the bellows. The appropriate slide-copying unit is the otherwise unnamed "Slide Copying Unit"

Magnification Ranges obtainable with Bellows Model 2 (lens set to infinity, except where noted):

21mm f/4: 2.3-9x (normal position); 11-5mm working distance (normal position); 4.7-11.5x (reversed); 11-9mm working distance (reversed); image quality is best at f/8 and degenerates as lens is stopped down further (normal and reversed)

24mm f/2.8: 4.5-10.5x (reversed); 38-37mm working distance (reversed); image quality is best at f/8 and degenerates as lens is stopped down further (reversed)

28mm f/3.5:
1.6-2.8x (normal position)
; 7-0mm working distance (normal position); 3.9-8.8x (reversed); 42-38mm working distance (reversed); suitable for normal close-up photography but unsuitable for copying (normal position); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); image quality is best at f/8 and degnerates as lens is stopped down further (reversed)

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<<< --- Other than the close-up lenses, the cheapest alternative to enable close focus are using extension rings set with your existing normal lenses to increase the magnification ratio. Copyright ©-free Images collection 2000. leofoo ®

35mm f/2: 1.3-5.2x (normal position); 20-0mm working distance (normal position); 3-6.9x (reversed); 50-42mm working distance (reversed); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); image quality is best at f/8 and degnerates as lens is stopped down further (reversed)

35mm f/2.8: 1.3-5.3x (normal position); 20-0mm working distance (normal position); 3-6.9x (reversed); 48-40mm working distance (reversed); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); image quality is best at f/8 and degnerates as lens is stopped down further (reversed)

35mm f/3.5 PC:
1.3-5.3x (normal position)
; 25-3mm working distance (normal position); 3-6.9x (reversed); 55-47mm working distance (reversed); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal and reversed)

50mm f/1.4:
0.8-3.7x (normal position)
; 52-9mm working distance (normal position); 2-4.8x (reversed); 62-48mm working distance (reversed); suitable for normal close-up photography but unsuitable for copying (normal position); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); corner image quality degenerates at low magnifications (reversed)

50mm f/2:
0.9-3.7x (normal position)
; 68-26mm working distance (normal position); 1.8-4.4x (reversed); 68-49mm working distance (reversed); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); at high magnifications, corner-image quality degenerates somewhat when the lens is stopped down further than f/8 (reversed)

55mm f/1.2:
0.8-3.3x (normal position)
; 69-15mm working distance (normal position); 1.9-4.4x (reversed); 76-47mm working distance (reversed); suitable for normal close-up photography but unsuitable for copying (normal position); since corner-image quality is poor, it is advisable to stop the lens down as far as possible (normal position)
corner image quality degenerates at low magnifications (reversed)

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55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor

Perhaps one of the most versatile lens among the Nikkor family and easily one of the best companion lens for bellow use. 0.8-4.5x (normal position); 66-15mm working distance (normal position); 1.8-4.5x (reversed); 68-50mm working distance (reversed); image quality is best at f/8 and degenerates as lens is stopped down further (normal and reversed). This Micro Nikkor-P Auto shown at left is one of the older version where it even has various macro magnification and extension range engraved onto lens.

85mm f/1.8: 0.7-2.3x (normal position); 210-88mm working distance (normal position); 0.6-2.2x (reversed); 190-80mm working distance (reversed); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); corner image quality degenerates at low magnifications (reversed)

105mm f/2.5:
0.4-1.9x (normal position)
; 330-160mm working distance (normal position); inf-1.2x (reversed); inf-120mm working distance (reversed); the further the lens is stopped down, the better the image quality (normal position); image quality is good a high magnifications but corner image quality degenerates at infinity (reversed).

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Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm |
Standard
Lenses -
45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm |
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Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |
Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
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MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm |
35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm |
100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

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Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

About this photographic site.

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Copyright © 2000. leofoo ®. MIR Web Development Team.

In memory of my friend Com. Augusto Staut, Brazil, 1971-2000.

Credit: Chuck Hester, US for his patience, encouragement and help to setup the various content in this site; Robert Johnson for some of his original images on the F2H-MD appeared in this site; my ex-staff, KiaSu for his superb 3-D logo appeared in this Nikon F2 site; Marc Vorgers from Holland who generously provide me with some of his images of F2AS; MCLau®, who has so much time with me to re-edit the content in this site and not to mention buying a Nikon Coolpix 990 just for this site. Keat Photo, Kuala Lumpur for providing their Nikon F2A to take some images for this site; again, Mr Edward Ngoh the great camera collector who provides us his collection of F2AS with MD-2; hawkeye.photographic.com for their images on the Speed Magny film backs; Sean Cranor for his image on Nikon F2 25th Anniversary Model; Ted Wengelaar®, Holland for his continuous flow of input on some of the early Nikon bodies; CYLeow ® , photo editor of the Star newspaper, Malaysia for some of his images used in this site. Ms Rissa Chan, Sales manager from Shriro Malaysia who has helped to provide some of the very useful input. HiuraShinsaku®, Nikomat ML, Japan for some of his images on various F2 models; my staff, Wati, Maisa, Mai and my nephew, EEWyn®, who volunteered and helping me did so many of the film scanning works. Contributing photographers or resellers: Jen Siow, Foo KokKin, Arthur Teng, Mark Fallander, John Ishii, Ed Hassel, YoonKi Kim, Jean-Louis, M.Dugentas (Dell Corner.com.), Mr "Arsenall" and a few images mailed in from surfers with no appropriate reference to their origin. Dedicated to KU Yeo, just to express our mutual regrets over the outcome of a recent corporate event. Made with a PowerMac, broadcast with a Redhat Linux powered server.

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