New bellows for fuji gs645

[meandihagee]

Hello,

I have a rather good deal on this folder and it looks to me as the perfect camera for my needs.

However, in the future it will need some service and new bellows. As I read the original ones are doomed and some circuits need to be looked at also.

Do you know a good spot in Europe that deals with this Fuji problems?

Thanks

 

[jnoir]

I'm based in Spain, and I can replace the bellows on your Fuji with new ones made out of leather.

A sample:

Another one with bellows in white is on the bench now, will post results when completed. I can do them in red, also.

I don't know of any other source apart from CustomBellows in the UK, and AFAIK their bellows are synthetic, not leather.

 

[Maiku]

jnoir does great work. I bought two folding cameras from him. The bellows are amazing.

 

[batterytypehah!]

I recently noticed a new (I think) ebay seller from Hong Kong offering the bellows for $70 shipped. The part only, not installation. Seller ID is ecbuyonline2008 (not connected, no personal experience).

I'm about to cave in and have this done myself. Here in the US, the name that always gets mentioned is Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz in Virginia. I haven't contacted him yet but it's good to know there is a source for the part.

 

[jnoir]

That seller frequently has bellows for large format cameras, and I was tempted to purchase one for my Linhof (actually, they were off duty due to Chinese New Year, but the seller wrote me a couple of days ago telling me they resumed production).

I contacted a few users, and their opinion was that they were not worth it, and that original Linhof replacement, although more expensive, has far better quality and will last, while the chinese copy won't. So now I'm saving for one of those original bellows (which I'm told may run for about 300$)

But, it may be different for medium format bellows, I'd be much obligued if you can share with us your thoughts once you get them.

For comparison purposes, my replacement bellows, made out of leather, run for about 85$. And replacing bellows on a GS645 is as easy as removing 12 screws.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Maybe I'll check postage to and from Spain, jnoir! That sounds very reasonable for real leather, versus the "waterproof nylon" that the ebay seller has.

You may find it easy but every time I look at it, I'm intimidated by all those complex and fragile linkages. I do my own work on many cameras but this one scares me.

 

[jnoir]

Perfectly understandable... I won't touch a GS645 but to replace the bellows. Mechanical parts, I can cope with them and understand how they work. But, when electric components are around...

If you have worked on other cameras, you shouldn't be afraid of replacing them on your own. The only tricky part is that the screws for the rear part of the bellows must be accessed from inside the bellows, and they are tiny, but nothing that good tools and good light cannot help you to achieve. There was even a video on youtube showing the process overview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBwYWJHDm80

BTW, 85$ shipped (that's 65 Euro ;-)

 

[batterytypehah!]

Hmm, not much of a video, and it looks like that guy did mess up some screws in the process. But I'll think about it...

 

[jnoir]

Basically the first four screws for the front standard can be removed with the camera closed, opening the rear door and you will be able to see them.

Next, you need to remove one screw at each side of the shutter assembly, where one post is linked (they are visible with the front door partially opened: since you removed the front screws, bellows will remain collapsed, or due to degradation they may be sticky and you will need to remove it gently).

When you remove those two screws (as said, one on each side) the shutter balances freely, but it is still locked in position by the two big-headed screws at each side which requires a double-pinned screw driver, or a spanner wrench (with pointed tips, that's what I use).

When those screws are removed, the shutter and lens assembly can be taken out of the way, but they are still linked by cables, so be careful and don't pull with too much force. Only 4 more screws are left, which can be accessed from inside the bellows.

Clean it very thoroughly before installing the new set of bellows. Then put everything back, and you're ready to go.

I should have made a video by myself, didn't thought it may become useful... :bang: But I think I have some pictures at home that may be of help to identify exactly which parts I am referring to.

 

[kuzano]

I recently noticed a new (I think) ebay seller from Hong Kong offering the bellows for $70 shipped. The part only, not installation. Seller ID is ecbuyonline2008 (not connected, no personal experience).

I'm about to cave in and have this done myself. Here in the US, the name that always gets mentioned is Frank Marshman at Camera Wiz in Virginia. I haven't contacted him yet but it's good to know there is a source for the part.

The only contact that really works with Frank is to pick up the telephone and call him. No web site. Email...??? not too good.

However, hell of a man on the GS645 bellows, and he has his own well accepted fix for the grossly poor design Fujica did on the shutter linkage. Very reasonable rates. When you talk to him confirm whether he has inventory on bellows. He usually buys them in quantity because he does so many of these. I've had him do three. Usually checks out the camera and can do complete CLA if you like.

I purposely buy bad bellows GS645s never paying over about $250 so I can have Frank work his magic.

Be very carefull to follow the instruction to set the focus on infinity when closing the camera. As I recall, that's what tweaks the original shutter linkage, and damages it.

Get a manual. Load film tight, and follow the rules.

Great camera, but when I found that it really wasn't much smaller than the Fuji GA645Zi with Zoom and all the Automation, I switched.

Frank:



169 Pleasant Hill Road


Harrisonburg, VA 22801-5775 map

Phone: (540) 434-8133

 

[wallace]

My GS645s gets regulary service here:

http://www.loisachtal.net/gerhardt/

He works alone, assisted by his wife.

It was Fuji Repair Service in Germany who had told me that all their spare parts had been given to him. I have found prices reasonable. Communication was always good though I don't know if they understand English. I could help with translation..

Thomas

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47154683@N00/

 

[batterytypehah!]

@ jnoir - Thanks, it's very kind of you to share your trade secrets. Sounds like I could do that. Please PM me with your payment info.

@ kuzano - Yes, now I remember where I heard about Frank in the first place. Must have been from you, in a previous thread. I'm always very careful with the folding mechanism and haven't had any issues. So I think I'll only replace the bellows.

 

[meandihagee]

Wow so much useful information. Thank you very much everyone. I could actually get this camera and not worry about stuff (as i thought before).

Leather bellows sounds like the real deal, but I guess ideally would be to get a full CLA (shutter linkage). But I don't know if Frank will send it back to Europe. Then again maybe the camera will be fine with a healthy shutter (any way to test this?)

Thankyous

 

[jnoir]

@meandihagee, just today a friend came to collect, among other things, a white set of bellows for his GS645, which is to be repaired in a different place. They will do the repair (some screws cannot be removed, and an overall CLA) and, since they do not have a bellows provider, my friend will give them the bellows I have made, and they will install it at no extra expense. Maybe you can consider that, for bellows made by me or by anyone else, if they do not have spare bellows at the place where you send your camera for a CLA.

@ jnoir - Thanks, it's very kind of you to share your trade secrets. Sounds like I could do that. Please PM me with your payment info.

Far from being trade secrets, I don't do this for a living. I do it for my own cameras, and I don't mind taking comissions once I have broken mines a few times in advance 😉 So any information that I know of and that may be helpful, I'd be more than happy to share it. Actually, I have a printed copy of the service manual I can probably photocopy it and send a copy to you together with the bellows, if you wish.

Don't worry about payment (unless you really want to do it now), I don't stock bellows so I have to manufacture them for you. I'll PM you with other details (such as your color of preference 😉

 

[batterytypehah!]

I like your spirit jnoir. OK, let's keep sharing information. The four screws from the inside were easy. Next, I think you mean these two screws (per side), right?

The Phillips head was easy but my available tools won't move the big one. Looks like a 4.5 or 5 mm Minispan wrench would be best but those are pricey... Looking at the SP1 from Micro-Tools, is that what you use?

 

[Chris Bail]

I've had to adjust the rangefinder, re-glue the semi-silvered mirror and re-solder a broken hot shoe wire on my GS645, but at least the bellows are good.

If anyone needs any guidance in those areas, I might be of assistance.

 

[jnoir]

I like your spirit jnoir. OK, let's keep sharing information. The four screws from the inside were easy. Next, I think you mean these two screws (per side), right?

The Phillips head was easy but my available tools won't move the big one. Looks like a 4.5 or 5 mm Minispan wrench would be best but those are pricey... Looking at the SP1 from Micro-Tools, is that what you use?

Exactly so, you got it.

My spanner is the T-132 with 7-D tips for those big screws. Not sure if SP1 would work (it closes up to 12mm, and I don't know the distance between both little holes) but I prefer T-132 because it is more versatile. If you are going to do more camera repairs in the future, this set is pretty useful: http://www.micro-tools.com/store/P-T-132-346/Spanner-Wrench-Set-w-A-B-And-D-Blades.aspx

There are people who just use a Dremel to file a slotted tip wide enough to cover the distance, maybe that's a cheaper and faster option for you.

 

[batterytypehah!]

I think I'll take my Dremel but not to mutilate the screw (who knows, I may want to sell the camera at some point). Rather, I'll see if I can cut a screwdriver blade to match.

Sooner or later I will need a lens spanner, though. I have some lenses to work on, too. So thanks for the recommendation.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Ha! It worked. A 1/4 inch screwdriver ($1 for two at Wal-Mart) and 5 minutes with the Dremel and cutting disk made the right tool. Those screws had Loctite on them, by the way.

I found everything exactly as you said, jnoir. So, for the record, post #9 above is the gospel truth, folks. I took some pictures along the way which I'll post if there is interest.

The old bellows is out, leaving behind a mess of rotted foam that I'll attack another time. Do I need to build that foam back up?

 

[jnoir]

Yeah, sorry, English not being my first language, sometimes my explanations are not clear enough... :bang: When I said "file a slotted tip", I meant what you did, take a screwdriver and file the blade. Whenever possible, drilling screws is not the recommended way to go, unless as a last resort.

This friend of mine I mentioned in an earlier post took the bellows because a couple of months ago he gave me the camera to replace the bellows, but those two screws could not be removed (don't know the english term, simply you can turn the screws all day and they won't come out at all...). Some previous repairman or owner did a bad job... and now the screws must be drilled to try to remove them.

About the foam, clean it thoroughly. I'd recommend you to replace that foam, but for comparison purposes I have replaced the bellows of one without replacing the foam, and after more than one year, it works exactly the same than it did with the old bellows and the foam, and exactly the same than others that I have repaired and included the foam.

My guess is that Fuji realized their bellows were so poor they made up for a way to minimize light leaks from there.