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PENTAX Bellows Unit II (M42)

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4 20,776 Wed August 21, 2019
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $31.00 9.25
PENTAX Bellows Unit II (M42)

PENTAX Bellows Unit II (M42)
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PENTAX Bellows Unit II (M42)
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PENTAX Bellows Unit II (M42)
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Description:
This is a double-track bellows unit for M42 screwmount lenses and cameras for extreme magnification. Fully extended the magnification is 3x with a 50mm lens.

With this bellows unit inserted between your Asahi Pentax camera body and one of your Takumar lenses, you can take close-ups and macro-photographs continously at a wide range of magnifications. The range of magnifications, however, varies depending upon the focal length of the lens used.
While this unit enables you to take such extreme close-ups and macro-photographs as are unattainable with close-up lenses or extension tubes, when this unit is folded to its shortest length it is no longer than the Asahi Pentax extension tubes #1 and #3 combined.
The length of this unit when folded is 37mm, which is the combined length of the extension tubes #1 and #3.

Available for this unit is a slide copier attachment.

Not in production.
Price History:



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Pentaxian

Registered: December, 2007
Location: In the most populated state... state of denial
Posts: 1,848
Review Date: August 21, 2019 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: built like a tank, precise
Cons: M42 mount

I got one of these a few years back; very well built and useful for studio work.


The slide copier unit that comes with it has been what I use it for the most as seen below
The minimal distance (37mm) makes 0.8x magnification which covers 90% of a negative and is good enough for me.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: August, 2007
Location: Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Posts: 624

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: January 16, 2018 Recommended | Price: $40.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent Build, readily available used, easily adaptable to K body mount, uses economical M42 lenses, allows slide copier
Cons: No auto diapham function, the mounting points are awkward for balance.

The Asahi Pentax Bellows II (M42) (First production), packaged in the USA and Mexico as the “Honeywell Pentax Bellows Unit II”, is a well built, robust and versatile bellows unit. Unlike the Asahi Bellows Unit I, it can be fitted with the Pentax Slide Copier attachment.

With the dual extension rail construction, this bellows unit is ridged, stable and operates smoothly. With the bellows compressed, the lens extension is at 37mm, which is about the same as using a #1 plus a #3 extension tube. The maximum extension adjustment of the bellows is from 37mm to 180mm, and would give a magnification from 1 to 3 times life size with the “standard” 55mm lens. The front lens mounting board runs out very smoothly with a geared drive knob with a locking knob on the opposite side. The rear body mounting board is also moveable. By releasing a clamping lever, it will move forward and backward manually. This is not geared, with friction providing a smooth and easily adjustable movement. This bellows does not support automatic diaphragm operation.

The Camera Body Connector Ring is removable and is the easiest way to mount the camera body. Note that K mount camera bodies would require a Pentax Mount Adaptor K. The camera mount can be rotated within the rear board, allowing the camera body to be changed to vertical orientation. However the prism and grip protrusion on new digital bodies will not allow this unless a short (#1) extension tube is used to position the body further out to clear the rear board.

Leaving a short, non-auto, extension tube fitted with a Pentax Mount Adaptor K on the bellows gives you the advantage of a semi-permanent K mount conversion and avoids the finicky task of removing the adaptor from the body every time when you are finished using the bellows.

The tripod mounting surface is adequate, but has a small surface, and the primary one is on the rear movable board (camera mount) and is tapped with a single ¼-20 hole. There is also a second ¼-20 tapped mounting hole in the forward end of the bellows, but unfortunately the two mounting holes are not on the same plane, making it awkward to place a long rail under the bellows which would make it much easier to balance on a tripod. Neither mounting position by themselves provides a good balance point.

The dual rails are marked with reference points for extension and magnification for the “standard” 55mm Lens. There were five 55mm lenses made; the Takumar 55mm F2.2, Auto-Takumar 55mm F2.2, Auto-Takumar 55mm F1.9, SMC Super Auto-Takumar 55mm F2.0 and the more popular SMC Super Auto-Takumar 55mm F1.8.

This bellows can easily handle the extra weight and the longer length of lenses up to 150mm or even a 200mm F4.0. It is an excellent, bellows unit, and being produced over a long period of time it is readily available used.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2011
Location: Langwarrin Australia
Posts: 382
Review Date: December 13, 2011 Recommended | Price: $18.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: m42, very smooth operation, dual rails
Cons:

This is just a brilliantly engineered piece of kit with dual rails and dual distance markings on both rails and if like mine it came with a slide copier attachment.The operation is unbelievably smooth and being an m42 mount it makes it easy to mount any lens on it, I even use enlarger lenses and my Minolta MC & MD lenses on mine.The only problem is they are hard to find because they can be used on so many makes and models of cameras and with so many lenses.
   
Moderator
Site Supporter

Registered: June, 2008
Location: Florida Hill Country
Posts: 17,377
Review Date: August 13, 2010 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: well made and precision fit
Cons:

I acquired this including box and some of the papers over 10 years after I got the original Pentax Bellows. It differs mainly in having 2 rails and is slightly larger. If it has a down side, its m42. However, that can also be a positive if running multiple platforms. It also came with the slide copier attachment.
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