Leica M Bellows

The Leica M Bellows is an M accessory that dates back to the age of Leica film M cameras. Often used in conjunction with the Visioflex accessory, the bellows was used for macro photography

I was lucky to have come across one at a seemingly irresistible price on eBay, only to discover later that it lacked two things — the M lens adapter (which allows M lenses to be mounted) and a spacer of sorts (which I discovered tonight)

What I found particularly interesting about these bellows is that, using the correct adapter, I would be able to not only use M lenses, but older LTM (Leica Thread Mount aka m39) lenses, and m42 lenses as well. Since my game plan was to use the bellows with my 90mm Macro-Elmar lens (a new personal favorite — how I got along so far without one surprises me) or with the 50mm APO-Summicron.

Earlier this evening, I was all ready to get up close and personal with some nuts (no, really. I was planning to shoot some macros of cashew nuts) and tried to put everything together. On went the Macro-Elmar, and then I tried to put the M246 onto bellows. I was close to snapping the bellows into place when I realised that the bellows plate completely covered the lens release button on the Monochrom. Oops.

Right.

Maybe the Macro-M adapter could be used as a spacer so that I could get to the lens release button.

Nope. No bueno.

The lens release button on the Macro-M adapter was getting in the way of the bellows plate, preventing correct fitment, and I wasn’t going to force it.

Damn.

So a bit of Googling turned up this: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/208005-warning-m-typ-240-and-bellows-ii/

Turns out that I need to get a Leica OUFRO extension tube or risk having a royal time getting the bellows off the body.

So now I’m $160 poorer and waiting for it to hit my UK mailbox.

Guess those nuts will have to wait.

I wonder how they’d fare with a bottle of Aberlour a’bunadh batch 49 whisky.