The bellows unit was part of the Vielzweck apparatus that was used for close-up and copying work with the Exakta. The parts were interchangeable and could be assembled in different configurations, a copying stand and a specialised microscope attachment were included.

Bellows and Focusing Slide

Early models of the Vielzweck bellows had a black crackle finish with levers to tighten the standards. Later versions had a blue hammer paint finish also using levers, late models have black plastic control knobs.

Swing Angle Top

Lens Reversing Ring

Tessar in sunk mount

The small bellows unit was a handy, easy-to-use, alternative to the Vielzweck equipment. The Autocouple rods were Ihagee's alternative to a double couble release, they fitted between the lens release and camera release to give automatic diaphragm operation.

The rings used to attach the bellows to the camera and to attach the lens are removable allowing the device to be used with a wide range of camera models.

A common accessory for use with bellows or other close-up devices was a focusing slide, the camera or bellows were mounted on the slide and could then be moved forwards or backwards to focus or frame the subject without altering the lens to film distance (which determines the magnification). On some bellows units the focusing slide was an integral part of the device. This example is also calibrated for use as a stereo device.

The rear standard moves along the twin-rails and clamps into position, the front standard moves by rack and pinion. A slide copying holder can be fitted to the front of the unit.

The twin-rail model was replaced by a model having a large single rail.

The field mask with the BALCOP shows the field outlines for various cameras. With a 50 mm lens a negative supplementary lens, which increases the focal length, was required for 1:1 reproduction. Around 1972 the BALCOP was replaced by the BALCOP-K which was slightly larger and compatible with the new BALSON-K bellows hood.

The X-SHOE flash bracket was intended for close-up work, it attaches to a flange which screws onto the front of the lens. An accessory shoe then carries the flash unit.

The extension tubes have the early bright finish, later they were black.

This comprises a set of bellows permanently attached to a reflex housing, total extension is 184 mm. The Blue-Book of 1956/7 shows the name as Proflex but it was probably sold under different names. Fittings for Contax and Leica were listed. The housing carries a label saying that it was made in West Berlin, US sector. The item is poorly made.

The viewing hood incorporates a magnifier, the mirror is released by the cable release and lowered by a wheel on the side of the housing. Retaining rings hold interchangeable attachments for the camera body and lens.

Optical Near-Focusing Device

In use the lens is secured to the unit by its bayonet, the focusing mount of the lens is not used. An optical wedge is aligned over one of the rangefinder windows and a mask aligns in front of the view-finder window. The latter automatically adjusts for parallax and reduction in field size but in use was not very precise due to the small finder window.

Pre-war Leitz made different versions of the device:

• Nooky (1935) for the 5 cm Elmar lens. In 1939 a reproduction scale was added.
• Nooky-Hesum for the 5 cm Hektor and Summar. In 1939 a reproduction scale was added and the engraving included the 5 cm Summitar.

The Macrophoto Coupler combines a short helical extension tube with a lens reversing ring. It was produced for different lens sizes (filter size).

Without an elaborate mechanism being incorporated in the bellows unit an automatic diaphragm would cease to function. To a lesser extent the same was true of extension tubes. A solution was to connect a double cable release to the normal shutter release and to the lens, normally the cable screwed to an intermediate ring attached to the lens mount, as on this example. On some lenses, such as the Edixa range, a cable release socket was built into the lens, a socket could also be part of the bellows unit.

Magnification and Exposure Tables

The tables above show the subject distance and image scale (magnification) for different bellows extensions. The figures are derived by the following formula:
E = Extra Extension
F = Focal length of lens
i = Image Distance
s = Subject Distance
M = Scale
EF = Exposure Factor
Subject distance = ((1 / (E / F)) + 1) x F
Image Distance = E + F
Scale = i / s
EF = (M + 1) x (M + 1)

The magnification is sometimes shown as a ratio as in the table above.