Recommended bellows for Canon/BH2 combo?

Simon W · Post by **Simon W** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:39 am

Hi, I've read quite a few long threads on bellows alternatives, but a few of them are 2-3 yrs old, so just in case....

There are quite a few $50 bellows around Ebayworld, are they as good as Charles' Vivitar ones? I've seen a brand new Canon one for about $150 as well. As you guys say, they need to allow movement of the camera at the rear in particular, so I don't poke fly eyes out if I eventually go portable. But for now, I just want to sit my 40D & bellows above the trinocular.

Any recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

Simon

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:11 am

Simon,

Are you contemplating mounting the camera on a separate stand (with no "hard" microscope contact), or directly onto the microscope trinocular tube?

Either way, one other feature I strongly recommend trying to get is the ability to rotate the camera so as to facilitate effectively composing photographs.

Simon W · Post by **Simon W** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:18 pm

Charles, since even just breathing can cause subject movement ( I was having to Change focus constantly, wondering why, until I held my breath!), I'd prefer to go down your route and separate the cam. Unless you think the vibes will be so low with its shutter feature?

Had my first wow moment last night. Just a dead fly, but just at 40x the image was amazing, so bright and clear, quite scary up close. Marvellous.

Craig Gerard · Post by **Craig Gerard** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:09 pm

Simon,

A couple of pictures.

This particular approach permits mounting of the camera and orientation of the image, but lacks fine focus capability when attempting to fine tune the in-focus image on the sensor and the viewing eyepieces.
I found the bellows alone to be too 'course' for such 'tweaking'. The bellows in these images is a Nikon PB-4.

Other members have better solutions for parfocal viewing, so I hope they will upload some images.

*Another point worth mentioning, the stage of your BH2 can be positioned at various orientations. The silver thumbscrew at the front of the stage is used for such adjustment.

Craig

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:15 pm

Simon,

With a 4OD (and other EFSC Canon bodies) it is now a reasonable option to mount the camera to the microscope. Is it as good overall (from the vibration standpoint) as a separate stand? No, not really, but if you are aware of the concerns the image quality need not suffer. In fact I just made up an adapter to put the camera directly on the microscope, and put the stand in the garage. I'm not 100% sure I'll keep it this way, but it is more convenient and takes up less table space.

Simon W · Post by **Simon W** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:19 pm

Ok, thanks sirs. As I'm realising, I'll start with the simplest method first, then IF I can get that constently good but still need improvements, I'll use the separate stand. I have real room constraints, so I'd prefer a direct connection anyway.

Sorry, but how on earth do I directly connect the 40D to the scope then?! Never having such a scope I have no idea at all.

Ta muchly!

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 11:39 pm

Simon,

If you can track down an Olympus Photomicro Adapter L and then get an eBay OM-to-EOS mount adapter that's the easiest way.

The Olympus trinocular head has a proprietary 38mm OD dovetail mount. So it is actually easier to use a stand if you don't get the right components.

Simon W · Post by **Simon W** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 1:10 am

Cool, There's one in UK eBay right now, but am awaiting confirmation that they can send to Oz. Gotta bid though..

One of your earlier posts mentioned the adapter, I see it here, it doesn't mention BH but I assume it's still the same dovetail mount?

Just walked home from work, pulling leaves off plants along the way to view later. This hobby changes your perspective![/url]