Lens in a Jar Storage system?

greggebhardt

greggebhardt

Well-known
Local time
6:53 PM
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
217
Long ago Leica and Hasselblad had a jar type storage system for it's lenses. I still have some Hasselblad lenses that used this system for storage.

It was basically a jar with a jar that had a lens mount on the inside of the jar lid which you attached the lens and then screwed the same lid onto a proper sized plastic jar protecting the lens from all dust and moisture.;)

I would pay good money for such a system to store my lenses in my bag but I do not think any one makes them anymore. I guess you could make them yourself if you mounted the rear lens cap on the inside of a proper sized jar lid.

Does anyone remember this storage device?:confused:
 
Most makers had these in the sixties/seventies - not really intended for long term in-bag use (the casings cracked rather soon), but as shipping containers and sales room display boxes. By the eighties they were slowly vanishing, as foam boxes took over (doubtlessly more gentle on the lens, but much less attractive).

I doubt that they will be good for your purpose - I have a couple of acrylic jars for my enlarging and barrel lenses, which have survived 25 years of studio use, but I doubt that the jars will survive for long in a bag.
 
Also consider that if the lens is stored in a jar that is air tight it will need some form of drying agent or the jar will trap moisture inside and defeat your purpose.
 
The best thing is just a little soft bag w/ a drawstring to close it. Not the leather ones, which can cause mold issues and fungus. The ones that perfume bottles sometimes come in, or all sorts of stuff. Thrift stores are a good place to get 'em. I worry about any tightly sealed container that could inadvertently trap moisture inside.
 
My Hassey lenses survived quite well and still look like new in these "jars". Anyone putting a wet lens away without drying it deserves fungus!
 
Steve M. said:
The best thing is just a little soft bag w/ a drawstring to close it. Not the leather ones, which can cause mold issues and fungus. The ones that perfume bottles sometimes come in, or all sorts of stuff. Thrift stores are a good place to get 'em. I worry about any tightly sealed container that could inadvertently trap moisture inside.
Click to expand...

I use the micro-fibre draw-string bags that opticians and sunglasses places sell, but I suppose one could make those lens-keepers from a Tupperware jar with a rear lens-cap bolted to it
 
greggebhardt said:
My Hassey lenses survived quite well and still look like new in these "jars". Anyone putting a wet lens away without drying it deserves fungus!
Click to expand...

I remember a thread on RFF not all that long ago about a guy who very carefully put his camera and lenses away in the box with the little plastic bags and everything. As I recall he had some fungus problems.

That kind of behaviour reminds me of parents who go to great lengths to keep germs and dirt away from their kids. I'm not convinced it does more more good than harm.
 
I have a number of these "jars" for Leica, Hassie and even Nikon. Vvery, very handy. They protect your lenses against moisture/fungus/ radioactive material/etc as well as any other storage method. However I like them because (if you have many lenses) you don't need to be opening little cloth bags to see what lens is in what case. They are also, to a degree, stack-able. If you keep your eyes open they show up at eBay, goodwill, old camera stores, etc. and are usually quite cheap. Keep looking. Of course they are no good in the field but look nice on the shelve.
 
Last edited:
aren't all the extra camera bags we have supposed to be where the extra lenses go?

i can't see using this system in the field when out shooting. my lenses stay in the bag, with dividers keeping them from banging together.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom