extension bellows

photographic device

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

In photography, an extension bellows is a pleated, flexible component that connects the lens to the camera body. This device allows the camera to focus on very close subjects, enabling close-up and macrophotography. By extending the distance between the lens and the film or sensor, the bellows facilitate larger reproduction scales, revealing fine textures and details. This is particularly useful for specialized photography like fingerprint recording or certain medical imaging. The bellows can be made of metal or plastic and function similarly to a hand bellows by expanding and contracting to adjust the camera's focus for near distances.12

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technology of photography
Close-up and macrophotography
Extension tubes or extension bellows or both or “macro” lenses of extended focusing range are used for the macro range of distances. For optimum image quality macrophotographic lenses specially corrected for large image scales may be used or the camera lens reversed back to front.
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Extension tubes or extension bellows or both or “macro” lenses of extended focusing range are used for the macro range of distances. For optimum image quality macrophotographic lenses specially corrected for large image scales may be used or the camera lens reversed back to front.
Read More