Can the F5 be used with the Nikon PB4 Bellows?

I have a new Nikon F5 and would like to use it with a PB4 bellows. I

prefer this bellows because of the swings and tilts for perspective

and depth of field control, to other bellows. Is it safe to intall

them on the F5? The bellows have no electrical connection for a

shutter release does that rule out their use with the F5? Will the

meter work on the F5 with the PB4?

I just asked my PB-4 its opinion of your preferences. It says shift, yes, swing, yes, tilt, no. To get tilt, one flips the bellows on its side and does without swing.

It and my older Nikons are baffled by your reference to shutter release.

If one uses a Nikon lens with automatic diaphragm on a PB-4, one uses a double cable release (any make will do, I have an Olympus) and BR4 ring on the bayonet side of the lens. Works with lens facing either way.

No modern Nikon lens will focus to infinity on a bellows. I take it you intend to do close-up work.

Cheers,

Dan

You will need a PK-12 between the F5 and PB-4 for clearance. Watch when you install or rotate the body from horizontal to vertical so as to protect the finish. Before installing the camera rotate the rear bayonet of the bellows fully counter clockwise. The rear standard of the bellows also will need to be all the way to the back to install or change for horizontal to vertical. You could also use a PK-11a but there isn�t enough room for focusing with the body in horizontal format. For long lenses (180/2.8ED, 200/4.0 compact, etc.) or for high magnification consider the PK-13. The problem is the same as for an F2 with an MD-2 as I recall. You get used to it.

Other handy items are a BR-4 or BR-6 for semi-automatic aperture control, BR2a for reversing lenses, BR3 for 52mm attachments and a short lens hood for lenses on a BR2a. I prefer the BR-4 for it�s movements.

Hope this helps,

<em>"You could also use a PK-11a but there isnt

enough room for focusing with the body in horizontal format."

DHH<br>

</em><br>

This is macro not a monorail view camera and the bellows is a

duel rail so most often the camera body and rear standard is

moved for fine control of scale or image size and not often for

focus. The lower rail is used for focus. Still the PK-11a give

very little room for adjustments. <br>

<br>

Sorry I must be the worlds worst proof reader.