Case Overload

Helge · May 21, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
All my cameras are stored in my dedicated Camera Room, on shelves, in the open where I can see them and pick them up at a moment's notice. I don't want my cameras hidden in cases. I don't want to walk around with a camera inside a case.

I'm an engineer. I appreciate all aspects of the design of the camera itself. The case - not so much. Yet I keep them because the case and camera have lived their whole life together.

You will die at some point, or want to sell on your cameras.
Since you have so many cameras, most will be in very good useable condition by that point (you can’t wear them all down). Chances are your collection will be spilt up and people will want to use and/or display these cameras, and have different wants and desires.

In your mollycoddled display room, and taking them out to play once in a blue moon, nothing bad will happen to them.
But once, even when a responsible careful person hangs the camera around his neck or has it in his bag, it will lightly bump against things or accidentally be pressed against something hard. Such damage is what the case was designed to prevent.
Don’t take that out of the world or away from future users, by simply tossing the cases.

The reason why your cameras came to you in good condition without too many scratches and dents, is because people used to be good at taking care of their stuff, and they used their cases during transport or storage.

I also find it hard to believe that you can’t at least appreciate the art and skill that went into the design and manufacture of these cases.
They might not look like much when in disrepair, but with a little work many of them can be brought back to looking good and being functional.

Helge · May 21, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Likewise, I have cases for 1950's German cameras, Contax, Retina, Rolleiflex, Voigtländer, etc., where the "leather" is cracked and will soon separate or the straps will soon break. Many of these straps seem riveted to the case.

Drill out the rivets and rivet on something else.

AgX · May 21, 2019

Helge said:
I also find it hard to believe that you can’t at least appreciate the art and skill that went into the design and manufacture of these cases.

I got quite some cases; some for principle reason (to get it complete or contemporary), some because they are really nice, some for non-photographic use.
But the majority of cases are rather boring.

Helge · May 21, 2019

AgX said:
I got quite some cases; some for principle reason (to get it complete or contemporary), some because they are really nice, some for non-photographic use.
But the majority of cases are rather boring.

There is a charm to even the supremely generic and bland, but well made.
I have an Nikkomat FT case that is very "normal" looking, but is really very very nicely made and just exudes quality in a very subdued way.
Other cases like the Rollei cases are almost overproduced, but that again has their own obvious charms.
Even cases that has a deliberately consumer/mass produced feeling, like my Nikon AF35D bag or Yashica Samurai case has oodles of charm when well taken care of.
I can't really think of a case from a major camera manufacturer that would not be worth keeping if it was in good condition or salvageable.

Theo Sulphate · May 21, 2019

Helge said:
You will die at some point, or want to sell on your cameras. ...

My cameras will come with me, inside the pyramid in my back yard.

...Since you have so many cameras, most will be in very good useable condition by that point (you can’t wear them all down). ...
... In your mollycoddled display room, and taking them out to play once in a blue moon, nothing bad will happen to them...

They are all in excellent working condition. I use every one of my cameras. I'm using my cameras all the time. For the last week I've been making photos with two of them. So, not "in a blue moon".

But once, even when a responsible careful person hangs the camera around his neck or has it in his bag, it will lightly bump against things or accidentally be pressed against something hard. Such damage is what the case was designed to prevent.

I would consider that "honest use". There is also a certain aesthetic in a well used tool; cameras used by photojournalists reflect this, as do cameras used by artists and street photographers. However, you are totally unaware of just how careful I am. My cameras have no nicks, dents, or damage unless I bought them that way. A half-case serves to protect the camera well. If I were forced to walk around with a camera inside it's case, opening it only when I see an opportunity, I would rather throw the whole thing into the river.

Don’t take that out of the world or away from future users, by simply tossing the cases...

I've already stated twice that I've saved the cases.

The reason why your cameras came to you in good condition without too many scratches and dents, is because people used to be good at taking care of their stuff, and they used their cases during transport or storage.

Here are several cameras, which I bought new over 25 years ago and used extensively. They are in mint condition. No dents, no scratches. I take care of what I have.

Here is how I transport my cameras:

I also find it hard to believe that you can’t at least appreciate the art and skill that went into the design and manufacture of these cases.

I do appreciate it. I appreciate the cameras more. I simply have no interest in doing anything further with the cases.

Kino · May 21, 2019

Cases like the OM series that begin to powder and shed their outer lining should definitely be thrown out.

Just use some common sense; if it is repellent and shedding material, toss it.

This whole "cameras and accessories are holy and to be preserved at all cost" attitude professed by some is ridiculous. If you take very good care of your cameras and keep them mint-like, I salute you, but most of my cameras came to me in an advanced stage of disrepair and damage. I enjoy the process of cleaning and repairing them almost as much as using them, but they don't cure cancer or turn water into wine...

Luckless · May 21, 2019

Even if the case itself is so far gone that it isn't safe to use or even repair, it may still serve as a template for a reproduction case.

I've seen a few people who store such cases with all the stitching ripped out so they can open them up into flat sheets to store a bunch in a stack, and even some of their 'to repair' cases in such a form.

Of course care needs to be taken against stacking synthetics that might deteriorate even more to the point of contaminating the stuff they're stacked with.

Helge · May 21, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
My cameras will come with me, inside the pyramid in my back yard..

Think of the inevitable grave robbers.

They are all in excellent working condition. I use every one of my cameras. I'm using my cameras all the time. For the last week I've been making photos with two of them. So, not "in a blue moon".

Lets say you have a hundred, with twenty favourites. You use two of these every two weeks in a continuous cycle. That's not a heck of a whole lot of use.

I've already stated twice that I've saved the cases.

It's dawned on me that you are not the OP, but never mind. In that case, good on you.

Here are several cameras, which I bought new over 25 years ago and used extensively. They are in mint condition. No dents, no scratches. I take care of what I have.

View attachment 224009 View attachment 224011 View attachment 224010

Here is how I transport my cameras:

View attachment 224008

Personally I wouldn't put them on a wire-mesh, but very nice! And yeah, a larger box-case is really indispensable if you want to use more than two lenses and need space for flash, filters and film.

I do appreciate it. I appreciate the cameras more. I simply have no interest in doing anything further with the cases.

Again, I made my case clear on this already. But think about how much else you might keep from cameras you don't use, but is part of the history and interest of the camera. Like manuals, kit lenses, eyepiece protectors, straps, hoods etc.

David A. Goldfarb · May 21, 2019

If the case is likely to cause more harm than good, because it is moldy or deteriorating, I would toss it. If it's in good condition and protects the camera, I'd keep it, or if you don't have space, gather the good ones you don't want and sell them as a lot to a collector.

Living in small apartments for the past few decades, I've decided that I can't be a collector of cases that don't actually hold equipment. Once I bought a vintage guitar with its original case from the 1930s, and thought that maybe I should keep it to retain the collector's value of the guitar with its original case, but the case wasn't really well fitted to the guitar--it was just the one the manufacturer sold with all the guitars of about that size in that era. I'd still need to buy a good case, which I did, and I sold the original case on eBay to a collector. I've never regretted it.

For a while I was accumulating nice saddle-leather Perrin cases, which were really premium camera cases in their day (like Billingham, but all leather), and I still use them, but if one of them starts to deteriorate and leave leather dust on the contents, I usually first downgrade them to tool bags and then toss them.

Kodachromeguy · May 21, 2019

Matt a few days ago made the key distinction. If the case is true leather, it is probably worth keeping unless it is just rotting away. But the camera cases from the mid-1970s on are hopeless. Many were that terrible black plastic covered cardboard meant to look like leather. Most that I have seen are peeling and shredding. Definite discard.

Bud Hamblen · May 21, 2019

Keeping a camera in an unlined leather case long term might be bad because of corrosion.

Theo Sulphate · May 21, 2019

Helge said:
Think of the inevitable grave robbers.

The pyramid and vessel that will transport me and my cameras to the afterlife will be protected by a powerful curse. I would hate to have to buy these all over again.

Lets say you have a hundred, with twenty favourites. You use two of these every two weeks in a continuous cycle. That's not a heck of a whole lot of use.

I know. I didn't intend for my gear acquisition syndrome to get out of control. I admit I need help.

Personally I wouldn't put them on a wire-mesh, but very nice!

Those are old photos. The cameras are now on nice wooden shelves. I didn't like the mesh either.

...
is part of the history and interest of the camera. Like manuals, kit lenses, eyepiece protectors, straps, hoods etc.

Right - exactly - which is why I can't toss them out. Some of the cases, such as for my Contaflex Super, are in excellent condition and evoke a time period where a camera case was special:

CMoore · May 29, 2019

AgX said:
Luckily in the case of 70s onwards cases the issue often dissolves literally due to the PU coating turning into a mess.

AgX said:
A german photographer once made bra's from two cups of leather ever-ready cases.

Case Overload

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