Richard I think you are right, there might be a material or quality issue, but there is also a design issue with the Technikardan bellows. Regards Ralph W. Lambrecht http://www.darkroomagic.com On 2005-11-30 22:58, "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Frank Filippone" <red735i@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 12:46 PM > Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Light Leaks with Large Format > > >> Re: [pure-silver] Re: Light Leaks with Large FormatYours >> failed in the >> corners. Mine failed with the rubberized gook on the >> outside of the >> material flaking off. >> >> I once asked, and the gang here in the US think that 5 >> years is about the >> life expectancy... At least that is what I remember.... >> >> $600 every 5 years.... must be a professional point of >> view.. us amateurs >> ( the ONLY customers left for LF) do not count! >> >> BTW, someone just posted elsewhere ( I forget where) that >> he had a bellows >> made by Camera Bellows and it was done very well. He >> thought the material >> used was like the original.... >> >> Why would any self respecting person get new material as >> bad as the original >> when there are other choices? The Canham material, while >> not time tested as >> much as a Linhof, is certainly pliable and has the >> potential to not have the >> feature mode that I experienced.... So that is the way I >> am going... new >> Canham material put on by Camera Bellows of Birmingham.... >> >> >> >> Frank Filippone >> red735i@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> > > Camera Bellows, of England, is the only bellows maker > that will make bellows of leather. However, it is probably > not the exact identical leather used by whoever makes > Linhoff bellows. There are also other factors such as the > adhesive used on the Linhoff bellows that may contribute to > the short life. I have noted a number of complaints about > the focusing hoods on some Linhoff cameras also rotting > early. There is likely a connection here. > There are synthetic materials that mimic the appearance > of leather pretty well and are at least as pliable. As far > as practical use and long life they would be a much better > choice than leather. Another factor is the material with > which the inner liner is coated. The old material was rubber > but rubber is notoriously vulnerable to polutants which > these days are everywhere. Synthetics are again a much > better choice. I think a bellows made of modern, long lived, > material can be as good looking and certainly as pliable as > the traditional ones but one must be sure the maker > appreciates the desire for good appearance. > > --- > Richard Knoppow > Los Angeles, CA, USA > dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > ============================================================================== > =============================== > To unsubscribe from this list, go to www.freelists.org and logon to your > account (the same e-mail address and password you set-up when you subscribed,) > and unsubscribe from there.