4×5 Bellows

The bellows of a view camera serve a very simple purpose - to allow the lens to be moved with respect to the focal plane, better know as focusing. On your 4x5 camera they allow this to be done while maintaining internal light tightness. The bellows are often produced in vinyl and leather materials and can be a very beautiful and organic component of a view camera but their purpose goes far beyond the aesthetic…

The lack of rigidity that a set of bellows offers is one of the things that makes a 4x5 view camera such a special photographic tool. The lens and the film plane can be moved vertically, horizontally and diagonally independent f the other. This ability gives the view camera photographer the ability to correct for or exaggerate optical anomalies in their photograph. This opens the door for some very creative experimentation.