michele_pesta Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Any suggestions as to what I should be looking for ? Thanks, Michele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 As I recall, some of the Graflex press cameras came with red bellows and all of them are able to shoot 120 rollfilm with the appropriate back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vatovec Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Why the hell do you want a red bellows? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele_pesta Posted August 25, 2002 Author Share Posted August 25, 2002 Because they are pretty. LOL Michele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_haykin Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Wasn't Red Bellows a hog caller on Grand Old Oprey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wim_van_velzen Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 A mamiya RZ and some lipstick will do the trick.<p>HTH, <a href="http://www.fotografiewimvanvelzen.nl">Wim</a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele_pesta Posted August 25, 2002 Author Share Posted August 25, 2002 Bunch of comedians here !!! LOL Here is the whole story about why I want a red bellows camera. I found a Graflex Century Graphic on Ebay. What a beauty !! I fell in love with it, but it is way out of my price range. So I figured maybe there are other pretty camera's with red bellows. Wise guys !!! LOL Michele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j._mose Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 A Century Graphic (made by Graflex) has red bellows most of the time (there were versions that didn't or they were replaced with black bellows). This is a 2 1/4 X 3 1/4 press camera that is usually reasonable in cost. It hasn't been manufactured since 1973 but it is a workhorse. 120 Roll film backs are available in 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9, along with 220 and 70mm sizes. Just make sure you get a back that advances the film with a level rather and a knob (the knob versions are pre mid 1960's and don't hold the film as flat -- film was thicker 40+ years ago). Look at www.graflex.org and Ebay. Do your homework and wait for a camera in exc. condition or better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 <a href="http://www.manfredschmidt.com/kodak.html">Kodak No. 2 Folding Brownie Model A - Red bellows, wooden lens board, circa 1904, uses 120 film, ....excellent ++ $130.00 </a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele_pesta Posted August 25, 2002 Author Share Posted August 25, 2002 Thank you Kelly, I emailed the person about that camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_hamley Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Michele, Manfred Schmidt had a recent bad post as a scammer. It's also posted in photo.net community. http://www.photo.net/neighbor/view-one?neighbor_to_neighbor_id=164125 Thanks! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter k Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Michele, I have a Agfa Isolette 2, 1954 with a brand new red Bellows. It is totally overhauled CLA, with a Agfa Solinar 75mm f 3.5 Lens. The Lens is Clear and unmarked. The Camera is working just like new. It has a range finder but you must set the lens to the indicated distance manually. It is for Sale. Please E-Mail me if you are interested. Regards Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_hamley Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Michele, Almost forgot, if you have a folder, this fellow can overhaul it and put a nice red, blue bellows on it. Check out the second site for more. They all use 120 film and used ones can be had reasonably. http://www.foldingcamerasrestoration.com/ http://www.cleanimages.com/articles/MediumFormatInYourPocket/folders.htm Thanks! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_chong Posted August 25, 2002 Share Posted August 25, 2002 Stay far away from Manfred Schmidt. The price on every camera they sell is 2 or 3 times what it is supposed to be. And the rapair "fellow" is less than stellar, despite the undeserved cult following he has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele_pesta Posted August 25, 2002 Author Share Posted August 25, 2002 I appreciate all of the responses I got from this thread. I will take my time, and try to find a reasonable priced red bellows camera. The Graflex Century Graphic's on Ebay is $499, which is way out of my price range. But it is a beauty !! Michele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel_brown1 Posted August 26, 2002 Share Posted August 26, 2002 Michele, I have to agree, the red bellows does has sex appeal! But, you know, they're best suited for enhancing red objects with b&w infrared film. (Just kidding...) Now, if you were to bend a bit and decide that making beautiful photos is more important than having a beautiful red-throated camera, I just may have what you need! My grey-bodied 2x3 Century Graphic has a "professional black" bellows, a side-mounted rangefinder, top-mounted optical finder, spring-loaded ground-glass back for use with 2x3 film holders (none included), two rollfilm backs (a 120 and a 220), another 120 insert that can be preloaded and used with either film back. The 100mm f/5.6 Symmar has clean glass and its shutter works flawlessly, right down to 1 second. It also has a Graflex left-side grip with a cable release, a swiveling ball-type flash shoe and a pair of spirit levels mounted top-side. Cosmetic condition is an honest 8.5. All that comes in a foam-padded case, ready to travel. I have everything you want (except that doggoned sexy red bellows). You also get a 30-day return privilege. The first offer of $300 plus shipping (U.S. only) takes the entire kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_haykin Posted August 26, 2002 Share Posted August 26, 2002 Michele: does it have to match your bag and shoes? Now I have some lovely bellows in mauve, puce, and taupe, but you'd better hurry....they're simply walking out of my shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele_pesta Posted August 26, 2002 Author Share Posted August 26, 2002 Art, no it doesn't have to match my bag and shoes. Just my toenails !! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffrey_abelson Posted August 26, 2002 Share Posted August 26, 2002 I've seen a Graphic View with red bellows - though you'd need a roll-back for that. I've seen older "box"(?) cameras (Kodak Pony?) with a red bellows - but those take sheet film. I've seen a few B&Js (no puns, please) with red bellows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan brewer Posted August 26, 2002 Share Posted August 26, 2002 Michelle and everybody else.......................Stay away from Manfred Schmidt!!!!!! I ordered a supposed 'mint' Mamiya TLR hood from him for $60.00, the hood I got had a third of it cracked off!!!! A piece of metal not native to the original hood had been sloppily attached in a botched effort to fix it, creating a gap you can stick your finger through!!! The day I got the hood I shipped it back to this guy along with an e-mail that this hood was an insult. This guys 'con' is to insist that you didn't send him the same hood that he sent you!!!!!!! My $60.00 is gone, but I hope this doesn't happen to anybody else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin carron Posted August 27, 2002 Share Posted August 27, 2002 Michele, What shade of red are your toenails? Kodak and other 'red' bellows cameras vary a lot from almost pink down to nearly black. I would hate to think of you laying out a lot of money only to find you will have to change your nail polish too. The Vest Pocket Kodak No 1 (not 1A) is the original 120 roll film camera and many models from 1897 to about 1910 have red bellows. Red bellows went out when film which was more sensitive to red light came along. So if you shoot color you will get a nice pink cast on your pictures from both the bellows and the red window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele_pesta Posted August 27, 2002 Author Share Posted August 27, 2002 Colin, thanks for the info. I am sure a Kodak would be in my price range, so now I just have to find one. Michele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc4fox Posted August 27, 2002 Share Posted August 27, 2002 Buyer beware. I purchased an little folder for $300 from someone who is known to work on them, restore them and CLA them. I asked for a $300 working camera and I've had to send it back a number of times. When I got it, focus was off and there were light leaks. I sent it back, it came back FARTHER out of focus, and a light leak. I paid to have the focus adjusted correctly and the little camera started taking very nice pictures, but I had to send it back for the light leak. A $300 camera has cost me $36 in shipping, $60 for a columnation, 8 test rolls of film, including developement, or nearly $500. Get an agreement between you and the seller that you aren't going to pay shipping for returns and that the little thing is guanteed to work or else they'll cover your test films, if at all possible. Good luck! The pictures that I've taken that weren't terribly light stained or out of focus are very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_chong Posted August 28, 2002 Share Posted August 28, 2002 Jeff: Name names! Put your testimony in the user recommendations section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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