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Bellows for the 6x6 Agfa Isolette/Ansco Speedex

and Large Format cameras

One of the first things I did when I began designing cameras was to make a set of bellows. Three in fact, as the first set was too thick, the second set too short, and only on the third attempt did I get it just right.

It takes a little practice to make a perfect set of bellows. The material has to be 100% lightproof and of just the right weight to provide the necessary level of flexibility and support. The card spacers must also be sufficiently rigid, but not too thick, since there is also a third layer of liner to add. The three layers together have to compress comfortably so that they will bed down easily when the camera is closed.

The Agfa Isolette range is famous for the high quality of its Agnar, Apotar, and Solinar lenses. Even the cheapest of them provides phenomenally sharp images with a good level of contrast. Unfortunately they are also infamous for the poor materials used to make the original bellows. They suffer particularly badly in the corners where constant opening and closing over the years leave tiny pinholes that eventually widen into slits. This is equally true of the Ansco Speedex cameras since these were rebranded Agfas made for export.

The brighter side of the Agfa Isolette design is that the bellows are easy to remove and replace, and given the quality of the lenses this is a worthwhile option.

 

The price is GB£29.00 for a set of normal Isolette/Speedex bellows, ready folded. Postage is an extra £5.00 for Royal Mail International Signed For, which includes insurance, or within the UK £3.00 for Second Class Recorded.

These are available in Burgundy Red, Bright Red, Dark Green, Navy Blue, and Black, though if there's a particular colour you want I can try to find it. I will send you full instructions on removing and fitting the bellows. If you prefer, I can fit the new bellows for an additional £10.00, plus the return insured postage for the camera.

You can contact me here for further details ...

sandehalynch AT yahoo DOT com

 

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