Got fungus? On using a leather case...

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gdi

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I have been using a half case on the M8 but recently started thinking about the possibility of moldy results. I never put lenses in leather, but what about bodies?

Anyone ever had a problem?

I like the protection and handling with the case, but if I give it up I'll have to get a grip I suppose. And maybe grip tac .

Thanks
 
Leather alone wouldn't cause fungus. You need constant humidity more than leather, so, unless you live in a very humid place (with high humidity in the air 24 hours per day), you're safe with a half case.
 
It is a good idea to store cameras in bags with dessicants. I re-use the small ubiquitous packets that come with many products. I keep a few in the bottom of my camera bags.
 
I avoid storing gear in leather cases after purchasing older items that had moldy smelling cases. They are fine for protecting items from getting banged around in a gear bag, but not for long term storage.
 
I had some mould develop on an older folding 120 lens some years ago and the lens techie who fixed it said that humid summers and cameras stored in their leather cases was not a good mix. Leather can harbour the spores but the end result can be that the mould attacks lens coatings and bellows.
Unless you have constant low humidity it's best to separate leather from cameras if you're not going to use them for a while.
 
I use the desiccants that come with camera gear, too. You can also buy larger bags of it from camera stores like B&H. They're great for placing in storage cabinets. I use one large bag per shelf.

/T
 
i've heard of pitting caused by the tannins in the old cases, on cameras stored and not used regularly...
 
gdi said:
I have been using a half case on the M8 but recently started thinking about the possibility of moldy results. I never put lenses in leather, but what about bodies?

Anyone ever had a problem?

I like the protection and handling with the case, but if I give it up I'll have to get a grip I suppose. And maybe grip tac .

Thanks
Click to expand...

Leather, even very old leather, if it is clean, won't cause fungus. However, it is full of tannic acid and, given lots of time, it can eat into chrome. Ever notice all those Isolettes on ebay with brown spots all over the top cap? Well, Isolettes didn't have the thickest chrome plating in the world and the spots are where the leather has eaten tiny holes in the chrome.

If it is NOT clean, and if it has mold, leather can spread it. The best solution, if you have a moldy leather case, is to take some measurements, throw it away, and get a case that doesn't have that problem. This is because you will never be able to clean the mold out of leather without soaking and ruining it.
 
It's recommended that you shouldn't store guns in holsters, or knives in sheaths, so I would only assume that would go for cameras too.
 
Thanks for all the input, I think I'm ok with it (as a lot of people are probably). It's not like the thing is in storage in high humidity.
 
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