Can a PB-4 Bellows be Used with a Nikon D100 or D200 Successfully?

I have a PB-4 bellows unit and own both a D100 and D200 DSLR.

Is it safe to mount either camera to the PB-4?

If so, will I be able to get any type of metering, using a manual
focus and aperture type lens and realizing I will have to manually
stop down the lens?

The more I read on websites on this, the more confused I get and I
fear damaging my cameras in the process.

Any help appreciated!!

 

I'm sorry, I could not find a definitive answer on the web. I use a PB-5 on
a D200 to good effect. [some hours of googling later] I just found out
Nikon says I shouldn't do this (though not why I shouldn't do this) and
mirs.com says it will damage the autofocus electrical contacts. Hmmm... I
did it for years with a D70 with no ill effects, and several times now on a
D200 with no ill effects. I'm going to try to contact Nikon and ask them
directly.

Ok, I called them, and they don't know. What a crock that was. He said,
"It doesn't say, so if you're mounting it without any problems, I wouldn't
worry about it." I wonder whether that individual ever used a Nikon before?

I've just submitted an Ask Nikon a Question form. They said they'll get
back to me within one business day. I'm not expecting anything definitive.

 

Nikon says my 28mm f4 PC of my serial number cannot
be mounted either, but I say, "Nonsense!" ;-) The bellows
units and early (non-AI) PC lenses may nudge the body
meter tab a bit, but if there is no serious deformation of
the ring it is attached to, and if the rear of the bayonette
itself cannot contact the electrical contacts, I don't see what
the problem could be (other than misplacing the tab a bit,
giving an incorrect exposure, but making sure that the tab
is back in its normal rest location around the mount after
the lens/bellows is mounted takes care of this).

 

And Nikon's reply:

"Hi Matt,

The only bellows we can recommend using on the D200 or the D70 is the PB-6
bellows. Using any of the other bellows may damage the camera and we cannot
support it.

Thank you for contacting Nikon.

From
Michael H"

 

Thanks David--mind if I quote you on my website? In context, of course.

 

Sorry, the above has too many "ifs" and I no longer have my
PB-4 - and my memory is too poor to be sure the above is
correct with the bellows if the "ifs" are removed...;-(
BTW, all my web pages have new addresses - you may want
to change mine on yours by adding a "don" in front of the
"ferrario" on all pages (they then are updated...). Thanks.

 

Thanks for your interest in this topic.

I read the page on your website regarding bellow use on a d200 and I
decided to send my PB-4 to Mr. White to get his opinion on possible
issues with mounting the unit on a D100 or D200 and to see if it can
be modified if necessary. He had converted a few Nikkor lenses for me
in the past.

I'll send feedback on his findings if you are interested.

 

Yes, very much so. Thank you.

 

http://www.mattclara.com/misc/nikonbellows/

 

Obviously you need to use the lens in stop-down mode, and just as obviously
you can really only use old-style lenses with a manual f-stop ring. That
being said, the D200 meters excellently in that mode.

Toby

 

PB-4 definitely works with a D40 and D90

We recently acquired a PB-4 and tried it with both the Nikon D40 and D90. The bellows definitely added a new level of versatility to our macro photography efforts.


Sincerely,
RainyDayInterns

 

Yes you can!

Hi, I'm faced with same issue (PB-4 on Nikon D3). Done some further digging as not satisfied either with Nikon's replies... You may find this of interest/help. All you need is a mounting ring which is 'modern' and so not going to interfere with the electrical contacts on the body..
Check out Nikon Bellows Focusing Attachment PB-4 #2 on Flickr

Proof if ever you need it that it does work...

You can buy suitable, inexpensive extension tubes (£9.99 including postage) at:
Amazon Electronics

Good luck!

Dave

 

I think it should be ok