Leather Cases
Dec 7, 2011 12:11:51 #
Remember when almost all photographic equipment came with nice leather cases? My first "good" camera was an Agfa, with a case. Then I got a couple of Mirandas and a Nikon F. I had a Minox C, and the camera and all the accessories had little leather cases.
The nice thing about the case, aside from the protection, was that you could remove the front and leave the basic case attached. The camera would be protected on four sides, would have a neck strap, and was ready to shoot.
Even accessory lenses came with nice cases. Now we get a plastic bag with suffocating warnings in ten different languages.
The nice thing about the case, aside from the protection, was that you could remove the front and leave the basic case attached. The camera would be protected on four sides, would have a neck strap, and was ready to shoot.
Even accessory lenses came with nice cases. Now we get a plastic bag with suffocating warnings in ten different languages.
Dec 7, 2011 12:17:48 #
Quote:
Now we get a plastic bag with suffocating warnings in ten different languages.
That is tehnological progress your talking about, "careful big brother is watching". :lol:
Dec 7, 2011 12:21:00 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
Pretty, but useless. They were bulky, got in the way and slowed down loading. No wonder they were called 'never-ready cases'. I sure as hell don't miss 'em.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
Dec 7, 2011 13:24:43 #
Quote:
No wonder they were called 'never-ready cases'. I sure as hell don't miss 'em.
That all depends, on what kind of photography you are into. If you are the run & gun street photographer, then you might call them never-ready.
But for the average Joe, they offered great on the go protection, without the bag hanging on your shoulder. They were also, not really that slow to get into action. How long does it take to drop the front of the case, with one snap?.
And did I mention, with the reduction of quality to the plastic bags. The quality of the product has also declined.
The old cameras, and lenses were built ballistically . They were strong, and their construction and finish reflected quality. You cant say the same for today's products. If something is not broke or bent when you get it, it soon will be. Or maybe that just speaks for the decline in the human product, to a generation of klutzes. :-)
Dec 7, 2011 13:29:34 #
Used to be, you could spot the advanced amateur among the tourists because he was the only guy without an "ever-ready" leather case on his camera.
Now everyone with a naked DSLR thinks they are a semi-pro. (including me)
Now everyone with a naked DSLR thinks they are a semi-pro. (including me)
Dec 7, 2011 13:46:20 #
Well its not the size of the gun a man is carrying, its how well he can shoot it. A naked camera proves nothing, except you don't have a case for it, and never did.
Just like black cameras, got associated with professional photography. I supposed if a pro picked up a silver camera, he would be reduced to the proficiency of a duffer.
But the real reason for black cameras, is a different story. In the beginning it had nothing to do!, with being marked as a proffesional. It had to do, with not getting shot. :)
Just like black cameras, got associated with professional photography. I supposed if a pro picked up a silver camera, he would be reduced to the proficiency of a duffer.
But the real reason for black cameras, is a different story. In the beginning it had nothing to do!, with being marked as a proffesional. It had to do, with not getting shot. :)
Dec 7, 2011 13:46:51 #
steve40 wrote:
quote No wonder they were called 'never-ready cas... (show quote)
I gotta agree, Steve. I just cant imagine today's digital equipment holding up to the "war zone" use/abuse like the old stuff did. I dont see a plastic, swivel screen, pot metal buttoned, "NikCanOny" surviving more than a day in the jungle humidity in SE Asia, or the mud and dust in El Salvador, or even the streets and police in Chicago in '68. I know all of my bodies and lens hoods had dings and dents and scratches that would turn any digital into a high end paperweight. And those were just from local sports and personal shoots. Planned obsolescence is alive and well.
Dec 7, 2011 13:57:50 #
Not to mention that now that cases are considered accessories and not part of the purchase there opened a market - or an after market as it were.
Dec 7, 2011 13:59:38 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
steve40 wrote:
Well its not the size of the gun a man is carrying... (show quote)
It doesn't really prove that you never did have a case for it. I could find cases for M-series Leicas and Nikon Fs somewhere in my cupboards, but I soon gave up using 'em.
As for the black cameras, yes, I've heard that too, but I wonder how true it is: shiny black is still shiny. My suspicion is just that they're prettier.
The thing is, if I'm taking pictures, I'm taking pictures, and the less I have to fiddle with, the better. And for me, removing an ERC to change film is large-scale fiddling. Protection? Most of my cameras are tough enough to stand up to reasonable wear and tear -- including, despite frequent claims to the contrary by people who are afraid to use them, my digi-M Leicas.
Cheers,
R.
Dec 7, 2011 14:05:32 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
arphot wrote:
Not to mention that now that cases are considered accessories and not part of the purchase there opened a market - or an after market as it were.
Looking at my 1963-64 Wallace Heaton Blue Book (a dealer's catalogue), ERCs were often extra-cost accessories then too. The Zorki-6 (GBP 20:11s:6d) came with a case but the case for the Contarex (GBP 246:4s:0d) was extra at GBP 10:8s:8d and cases for most Japanese cameras were four or five pounds.
Incidentally, most Leica lenses still come with leather cases, though not the Summarits which come with pouches (a much better idea) instead.
Cheers,
R.
Dec 7, 2011 14:11:41 #
Yes planned obsolesce is alive, and well. And it has influenced, the way the modern consumer views his buying.
I bought a Canon G12 last spring, and am very happy with it. Is it perfect, are there no improvements that could not be made, is it completely glitch free, the answer is "no".
But on another forum, a person was discussing, buying one of the high end compacts. He named a few including the G12, and followed that with "although its a little outdated". (at one year old?)
Well wait a minute, used to be if a product performed well, it never became dated. The Nikon F, which was the pros choice in 35mm, never became dated. In fact I would not be a bit surprised, if more than you would guess; are still in use today.
So not only is planned obsolesce alive, and well in our products. All the "good little sheepel", have been programmed into accepting the thought. And marching right into the slaughter! of mass marketing. :(
I bought a Canon G12 last spring, and am very happy with it. Is it perfect, are there no improvements that could not be made, is it completely glitch free, the answer is "no".
But on another forum, a person was discussing, buying one of the high end compacts. He named a few including the G12, and followed that with "although its a little outdated". (at one year old?)
Well wait a minute, used to be if a product performed well, it never became dated. The Nikon F, which was the pros choice in 35mm, never became dated. In fact I would not be a bit surprised, if more than you would guess; are still in use today.
So not only is planned obsolesce alive, and well in our products. All the "good little sheepel", have been programmed into accepting the thought. And marching right into the slaughter! of mass marketing. :(
Dec 7, 2011 14:27:22 #
Quote:
As for the black cameras, yes, I've heard that too, but I wonder how true it is: shiny black is still shiny. My suspicion is just that they're prettier.
You must not, have read the whole story. The black used then was soot and friction tape, there was no shiny to it. And was self applied. Later the manufactures picked up on it, and began to make "pro series" cameras; that were shiny black.
Then if you wanted to make a pro statement!, you could buy yourself a black camera. Did that make you a pro?, well ..... that's debatable.
Hey!, can you imagine putting soot and friction tape, on a wimpy digital camera. :lol:
Dec 7, 2011 14:41:59 #
steve40 wrote:
quote As for the black cameras, yes, I've heard t... (show quote)
I can remember buying my first new, not hand me down SLR Minoltas. The black SRT 101 was more expensive by about $20-$30 (enough back then to make me choose silver :) ) It did what I needed it to do, and $20 to a "starving" student was a fortune.
Dec 7, 2011 15:02:34 #
Well I remember my first look (purchase), at/of an all black camera. Outside of my old Kodak folder, hand-me-down.
I thought it was really ugly, and plain looking. I liked all that Crome & Leather, is was ritzy looking compared to the drab black! looking things. :) Well I guess teens had something in common with those of today, even if it was only very infinitesimal.
I thought it was really ugly, and plain looking. I liked all that Crome & Leather, is was ritzy looking compared to the drab black! looking things. :) Well I guess teens had something in common with those of today, even if it was only very infinitesimal.
Dec 7, 2011 15:30:16 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
steve40 wrote:
quote As for the black cameras, yes, I've heard t... (show quote)
No, I don't think so. That sounds like a highly embroidered tale to me. Remember that in the 1930s black paint used to be the standard finish and that chrome cost extra.
Soot just ain't gonna stick to chrome, so that's clearly untrue, and I'm not sure what you mean by 'friction tape', but most tapes (except gaffer tape and some library tapes) exude glue around the edges and the last thing any sane person wants is a sticky camera.
If this romantic tale were true, there'd be some pictures of these soot-and-tape cameras in use, and accounts by photographers who created/used them. There aren't, so I think someone embroidered the story a bit.
Cheers,
R.
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