Ed (and others looking for single-digit "never-ready" cases),
Be patient and keep looking. If you are anywhere near a used camera dealer
that has some throughput of used Oly gear, "dumpster-dive" the used case
bin regularly. I've found some very good camera straps this way too. Scan
eBay and a half-dozen of the greater on-line used dealers (that list cases)
weekly. A leather OM-1/2/3/4 case will show up about once every 4-8 weeks.
Two the three described below were found from on-line dealers and stumbled
across the third in a used case bin. When they do show up they're gone
_quickly_.
To add to the general info on the leather "single-digit" body cases, and
what they seem to fit well, these are the ones I found after patient searching:
(a) Black "pebble-grain" semi-hard for OM-1/OM-2:
Attaches to the body with tripod screw (no lug straps) and has a clear
plastic insert for the base plate inside the case. Nose fits an
OM-1[n]/2[n] sugly _without_ the shoe 1/2/3/4 attached. Nose is very snug
on a 50/1.4 with lens cap and downright tight with a slim filter added.
Does not fit an OM-4 very well (prism and hot shoe) nor can you get the
nose over a 50/1.2 lens. A very durable case with good finish. Base is
hard but nose is semi-hard, however the leather is not thin. Hans' site
has a photo of this (upper left):
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/veluwen/om-sif/casegroup/semi-hard_cases.htm
(b) Light brown or tan (saddle leather?) hard case for OM-1/OM-2:
Hardest of cases I've found with thick, stiff leather and likely the most
durable. Does not show scuffs easily. Attaches with lug straps. Fits an
OM-1[n]/2[n] well, a bit snug with a shoe 1/2/3/4 attached. Can be used on
an OM-3/4 but nose does not fit as well as (c) because of prism and hot
shoe. Nose goes over a 50/1.4 better than (a) but still not over a 50/1.2
lens. IMO this is a beautiful case and the best I've seen for any 35mm
SLR. Hans' site also has a photo of this one:
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/veluwen/om-sif/casegroup/hard_cases.htm
(c) Dark brown (glove leather?) semi-hard case:
Stiffer than [a] but not as hard as [b]. Finest finish, scuffs easier and
thinner leather than the others, but otherwise durable (much more so than
the leatherette). Attaches with lug straps. Fits an OM-3/4 better than
[a] or [b] and is the only one with a nose big enough for the 50/1.2 lens
on an OM-4 body. There is also a dark brown leatherette versions of this
case, the finish of which is _not_ very durable (more like an OM-10 case),
and the nose of which has a "flap" on the top back. If you find a dark
brown one, examine it carefully to see if it is real leather. The two can
be confused easily. Hans' site doesn't show this case.
Notes:
There were a number of different noses made for various cases. Experience
with fit of the prism and hot shoe, and larger 50/1.2 lens may vary. You
will find the ubiquitous black leatherette OM-10 case everywhere and there
seems to be general confusion (intentional at times?) among sellers of them
that they are a "universal" OM body case. They are not. The base is
intended for the OM-10 and the squared-off ends are shaped for the OM-10
body. The OM-10 and OM-1/2/3/4 bodies are close enough in overall
dimension that you can put (push, wedge??) a single-digit body into one of
these, but you do risk eventually brassing the apex on both ends of the
body. Once you've put a single-digit body in a case designed for it, you
will notice a big difference in how well the base fits.
-- John
[who is still patiently searching for a 24mm f/2 lens hard case]
At 01:38 6/3/00 , Ed Brillhart wrote:
>I'm trying to find a camera case for an OM-1. Would anyone have one they
>would like to sell? I would like to get one of the brown colored hard type
>leather cases but would settle for a semi-hard black case. I've tried "the
>Olympus guy" and several other online stores but have had no luck finding a
>case. Please either contact me here on this list or email me at
>gebrill@xxxxxxxxxxx. I will send either a check or money order and
>naturally pay the shipping charges. Thank you.
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