[LargeFormat] infrared-safe bellows?

[Clive Warren]

At 15:23 21/05/2004 -0400, Michael Sullivan wrote:
>Dear List,
>
>I was testing a Betterlight large format digital back with my Linhof 
>Standard and discovered that the bellows is not infrared "safe".
>
>Other than wrapping the camera in some infrared-safe fabric every time I 
>take a picture, I was wondering if there were some pliable coating that 
>could be applied to the bellows itself?
>
>Any ideas?

Hello Michael,

Unfortunately some synthetic bellows materials allow infrared light to pass 
through as you have discovered. I'm surprised that the Linhof bellows 
behave in this way. You could carry out a quick sanity check using a 
camcorder with a low light setting - many of the Sony camcorders have this 
option. The setting removes the wide band infrared blocking filter from the 
light path. Simply use a Wratten 87C or similar on the front of the 
camcorder and set up as for a pinhole test. This will let you know if it is 
the bellows that really are at fault.

If the bellows are the culprit then the easiest solution is to have Camera 
Bellows UK to make up an infrared light tight set of bellows for your 
camera. They probably made the bellows you already have fitted as they are 
reputed to supply the factory.

A cheaper option would be to use silver foil (the cooking variety) wrapped 
around the bellows - easy to wrap with a bit of clear tape to hold in place 
and throw away after use.

There is a link to camera Bellows at http://www.f32,net/links.html

Cheers,
             Clive