From: "Robert Mueller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ############################################################################ ############## > ".................never..................." > On the philosophical side, sometimes we can beat nature. That is what much > of technology is all about.
> I do not have anything to offer as a good substitute for the bellows but I > do see ways to make a better bellows than the ones we fold from paper or > plastic or leather. A well designed molded bellows could be more compact > and rugged. In fact, these are made but mostly in excessively thick > form. The problem is only that it is not practical for the one-off bellows > and that it lacks the beauty of the nicely made hand-folded product. > > We should not give up hope; somebody will someday think of a different and > pleasing replacement unless the need disappears! > Bob > > _______________________________________________ Hi Bob, a lens is the closest that we get to the eye, in nature. Bellows is the closest we get to the skin around our joints.. Sure, it doesn't mean that a lens doesn't have advantage over the eye (and the opposite!) My point is that bellows is so well adapted to its purpose that there is hardly anything that could beat it. Lighter they could hardly be, more flexible neither. Flexible vents proposed elsewhere are rounded - they waste space around a rectangular standard... are havier, , have too much drag, longer they are not self supporting etc. Make them rectangular and you came back to - bellows... The reason why amateurs try to replace bellows is for the most not their bad function but the fact that not every amateur is able to make them well. Once learned the art of their making, there is hardly anything better. Maybe, once their material could improve, but for what purpose?? George _______________________________________________ Cameramakers mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://rmp.opusis.com/mailman/listinfo/cameramakers
