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!!

 

"eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
news:...
>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.

--
www.mattclara.com

 

From: "Matt Clara" <>
> "eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message news:...

>>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.
>
> --
> www.mattclara.com

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).
--
David Ruether

www.donferrario.com/ruether/
(note the address change)

 

Re: Can a PB-4 (or PB-5) Bellows be Used with a Nikon D100 or D200 Successfully?

"Matt Clara" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>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.
>
>

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"


--
www.mattclara.com

 

"David Ruether" <> wrote in message
news:es1pmo$9kl$...
> From: "Matt Clara" <>
>> "eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>
>>>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.
>>
>> --
>> www.mattclara.com
>
> 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).
>

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


--
www.mattclara.com

 

"Matt Clara" <> wrote in message news:...

> "David Ruether" <> wrote in message
>> 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).

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

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.
--
David Ruether

www.donferrario.com/ruether/
(note the address change)

 

Re: Can a PB-4 (or PB-5) Bellows be Used with a Nikon D100 or D200 Successfully?

On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:32:03 -0500, "Matt Clara" <>
wrote:

>"Matt Clara" <> wrote in message
>news:...
>> "eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>>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.
>>
>>
>
>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 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.

 

Re: Can a PB-4 (or PB-5) Bellows be Used with a Nikon D100 or D200 Successfully?

"eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:32:03 -0500, "Matt Clara" <>
> wrote:
>
>>"Matt Clara" <> wrote in message
>>news:...
>>> "eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>>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.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>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 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.


--
www.mattclara.com

 

"eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
news:...
>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!!

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

--
www.mattclara.com

 

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

"Matt Clara" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "eddie rukidding" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>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!!
>
> http://www.mattclara.com/misc/nikonbellows/
>
> --
> www.mattclara.com
>

 

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