Alpsman
Well-known
I'm opening a thread here for the old Nikon Compartment Cases.
Be it for the Rangefinder or for the SLR.
Most of them are made of leather, but there are apparently also some made of imitation leather.
No matter whether it is almost new or heavily used or damaged.
These types of bags are almost no longer made these days.
Please no new bags made of nylon fabric!
And if at all possible, please also include the type number/type designation so that you can orientate yourself better.
So go ahead, show off your hoarded treasures
Greetings: Dieter
Be it for the Rangefinder or for the SLR.
Most of them are made of leather, but there are apparently also some made of imitation leather.
No matter whether it is almost new or heavily used or damaged.
These types of bags are almost no longer made these days.
Please no new bags made of nylon fabric!
And if at all possible, please also include the type number/type designation so that you can orientate yourself better.
So go ahead, show off your hoarded treasures
Greetings: Dieter
Alpsman
Well-known
I'll start with the FB-5 Case.
The special feature of this bag is that the lenses are locked in a plate with bayonet connectors. There is another version, FB-8, in which the three bayonets are arranged in a row.
The one-piece fasteners of the lid which opens away from the body.
The inside with the bayonet-plate and filter holders in the lid.
And filled with F2 and mounted 50mm f 1.4.
In the bayonet-plate a 85mm f 1.8, 20mm f 3.5 and 200mm f 4
The special feature of this bag is that the lenses are locked in a plate with bayonet connectors. There is another version, FB-8, in which the three bayonets are arranged in a row.
The one-piece fasteners of the lid which opens away from the body.
The inside with the bayonet-plate and filter holders in the lid.
And filled with F2 and mounted 50mm f 1.4.
In the bayonet-plate a 85mm f 1.8, 20mm f 3.5 and 200mm f 4
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Nylon or canvas are far better bag materials. Leather is a fungus breeding ground and is incredibly bad for your gear, especially lenses.
Alpsman
Well-known
A link to pacific rim camera who have a brochure about Nikon Compartment Cases
Alpsman
Well-known
That may be true, but that's not what this thread is about.
fungus can also grow on leses even if they are not stored in leather cases.
GMOG
Established
And also far more boring to people who are interested in collecting vintage Nikon leather cases.
I have lenses from the 1930s that have been stored in their original Leather cases from the time they were new- No Problems.
Fungus- if you are in a humid environment, that is a breeding ground for it. I bought a collection of Nikon RF, Contax RF, Nikon SLR, and Pentax SLR: fungus started when the equipment was stored in a non-humidity controlled Safe by the widow of the owner. That is when the Fungus started. I disassembled and cleaned all the pieces, got to all but one before any permanent damage started. No difference between lenses, cameras, viewfinders stored in or out of the Leather cases. Also put all the equipment and cases under UV light for days, for lenses do not use UV-C.
SO: Recap, dozens of cameras and hundreds of lenses all stored in Leather cases, in the house, for decades: no problems. Do not store in Humid conditions.
I have 3 FB-5 cases, the older ones are Brown and newest is black. I bought an FB-8 new about 30 years ago. The "Leatherette" dry rotted. The vinyl finish cases - almost all of mine suffer dry-rot, got rid of them as Plastic was getting onto the lenses and cameras.
Fungus- if you are in a humid environment, that is a breeding ground for it. I bought a collection of Nikon RF, Contax RF, Nikon SLR, and Pentax SLR: fungus started when the equipment was stored in a non-humidity controlled Safe by the widow of the owner. That is when the Fungus started. I disassembled and cleaned all the pieces, got to all but one before any permanent damage started. No difference between lenses, cameras, viewfinders stored in or out of the Leather cases. Also put all the equipment and cases under UV light for days, for lenses do not use UV-C.
SO: Recap, dozens of cameras and hundreds of lenses all stored in Leather cases, in the house, for decades: no problems. Do not store in Humid conditions.
I have 3 FB-5 cases, the older ones are Brown and newest is black. I bought an FB-8 new about 30 years ago. The "Leatherette" dry rotted. The vinyl finish cases - almost all of mine suffer dry-rot, got rid of them as Plastic was getting onto the lenses and cameras.
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A later model Nikon Rangefinder compartment case.
Alpsman
Well-known
Same problem with old lens cases covered in synthetic leather, the "leather"surface crumbled.
Or the foam in larger lens cases for example 300 f 2.8, the foam starts to crumble.
But I did'nt start the thread to talk about the pros and cons of leather cases and now I get caught doing it myself :-(
. . . . .
I knew there was a song :-=
The tubes - dont touch me there
the smell of burning leather as we hold each other tight . . . .
Austrian version from Drahdiwaberl
I found this at a Photorama show some 20 years ago- a Nikon FB-11 with a Canvas Case FOR the FB-11.
I've not seen this in the Nikon/Nikkormat Manuals. Would be interested if anyone knows about it. Was it an Option, ordered separate, or included with the FB-11?
I've not seen this in the Nikon/Nikkormat Manuals. Would be interested if anyone knows about it. Was it an Option, ordered separate, or included with the FB-11?
Alpsman
Well-known
Looks interesting your canvas cover!!
Never seen anything like it.
Custom-made by a tailor at the customer's request?
Never seen anything like it.
Custom-made by a tailor at the customer's request?
Alpsman
Well-known
Former item numbers of cases:
Screenshots from older Nikon F brochures with CC. . . and Modell . . . item numbers than FB-. . . .
Screenshots from older Nikon F brochures with CC. . . and Modell . . . item numbers than FB-. . . .
I had not thought that is was custom made, but that makes sense.
Nikon made some odd accessories.
Nikon made some odd accessories.
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And with this- I am making this thread "Sticky" so that it stays near the top of the forum.
I'm going through closets- and when "the BIG One" is on schedule for a future rainy weekend, I will post more pictures of "Gadget Bags", fitted cases, and some of the accessories. Which are usually in cases. I have the Panorama Head in the Leather Case and the Nikon Bubble to go with it.
Alpsman
Well-known
What made me think it was custom made was the plastic zipper. All leather Nikon bags I've seen have a metal zipper.
(Except for these nylon fabric bags, but we don't want to talk about that here.)
I've even seen an old Nikon bag repaired with a plastic zipper instead of a metal one.
OK, the end justifies the means, but still . . .
And if the cover were truly a Nikon original, it would most likely have the Nikon logo on it somewhere.
Regardless, you have something that not everyone has ;-)
The Zipper is Metal- made me look! The reflections in the picture made it look white, probably picking up the canvas.What made me think it was custom made was the plastic zipper. All leather Nikon bags I've seen have a metal zipper.
(Except for these nylon fabric bags, but we don't want to talk about that here.)
I've even seen an old Nikon bag repaired with a plastic zipper instead of a metal one.
OK, the end justifies the means, but still . . .
And if the cover were truly a Nikon original, it would most likely have the Nikon logo on it somewhere.
Regardless, you have something that not everyone has ;-)
Alpsman
Well-known
Ah
My girlfriend has already remarked with envy that I have more camera bags than she has handbags.
I already have my sights set on this panoramic head.
But you just reminded me, the zoom viewfinder for the rangefinder also has a cute little leather pouch.
Alpsman
Well-known
Ah - OK, white painted metal zipper at least.
Normally such bare brass zippers were sewn on.
Anyway - the more I look at your cover the more I like to have one. Next occuring problem - I dont have an FB-11 . . . .
Maybe designing one for my FB-7.
Alpsman
Well-known
Nikon FB-7 Compartment Case
Designed exclusively for Motor Drive users.
It holds two F cameras with F36 Motor, one of them with cordless battery pack and attached lens
or one F2 with Motordrive and Battery pack and a second F2 without motordrive.
There is also room for two additional lenses up to 200 mm.
Outer and inner of the case
A small detail: the little bag buckle that secures the zipper from opening.
The outside pocket with snap fastener and zipper
And what the bag swallows.
Sorry, I have only one F with motordrive :-(
Designed exclusively for Motor Drive users.
It holds two F cameras with F36 Motor, one of them with cordless battery pack and attached lens
or one F2 with Motordrive and Battery pack and a second F2 without motordrive.
There is also room for two additional lenses up to 200 mm.
Outer and inner of the case
A small detail: the little bag buckle that secures the zipper from opening.
The outside pocket with snap fastener and zipper
And what the bag swallows.
Sorry, I have only one F with motordrive :-(