Rolleiflex Homemade Half Case

[robbeiflex]

I got frustrated trying to find a decent case for my Rollei, so I took matters into my own hands and made one!

The issue is that using the aftermarket strap causes the film door to lose its alignment over time, and then it gets light leaks. My father in law took the original one to a shoe maker who told him it was too dry to re-stitch. I looked for ages on the internet and 2.8C cases just aren't around for sale, so I decided on a DIY project.

These are the raw materials:
- the original case beyond repair
- the paper test and template
- some leather
- Rolleiflex 2.8C

The first step was to make a rough paper mock up and take it to the local craft shop to find a piece of leather. Having found a nice one I made an exact paper mock up, then cut the leather to it. I decided on white hand stitching and here is the result:

To me it has kind of a punk rock look, and I like it! We'll see how it works to prevent light leaks, I'll be testing it over the next week. Even if it doesn't work, I'll gladly keep using it to protect the camera and for the way it looks, even if I have to go back to putting some tape over the film door seam.

That's all, I just felt like sharing what I think is a successful project. Thanks for looking!
Rob

 

[roboflick]

Nice job!
Nik

 

[PMCC]

The issue is that using the aftermarket strap causes the film door to lose its alignment over time, and then it gets light leaks.

Can you elaborate? I don't follow how the strap, whether original or aftermarket, can affect the door alignment, unless the strap is connected to the tripod bush.

 

[hexiplex]

Cool! Give us PDF patterns to make our own!

 

[Dan Daniel]

Was the stictching done by hand? That's a lot of poking and pulling!

I like the look. I've been talking with a jewelry maker and playing with ideas for dressing that boring square at the middle of the viewfinder. Seems most all TLRs have them, and they are all boring for no good reason. You've chosen another approach to breaking up the austere clean lines of your camera.

Can you say more about the leaks you've had? I have a C and went through some leak issues. So far my answer appears to be something other than the back, but always good to be warned of more trouble spots. Here's a brief report on my leak and solution-
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106282

 

[hans voralberg]

I'm interested in the leak too, I can't see how the strap would cause mis-alignment of the door, and you're still using a strap tied to the strap lug as opposed to being on the case so if you're right you're making matter worse?

 

[kzphoto]

I wonder how hard it is to reload with that half-case attached? Looks seriously cool.

 

[bhaktikso]

Interesting. One day I may try making one too for my 2.8e.

 

[robbeiflex]

Thanks for the compliments everyone!

It took about eight hours of cutting, punching, and stitching. The stitching took me about six hours and went fairly smoothly because I pre-punched the holes with a hammer and punch all of the way around the edges first.

It's soft leather so it's pretty easy to fold back for film loading, but taking it off all together would mean removing the strap too.

Let's see if I can explain my light leak issue. It happens occasionally because the strap is actually not in a strap lug but rather where the original case clipped into. The original case used the small peg below this clip as support, and its strap does not attach directly to the camera. This clip is strong enough for the strap, but it is on the piece that also holds on the film door. Since the film door is only a light trap with no seal, if it gets misaligned it leaks.

Until now my fix has been occasionally aligning the door and tightening the screws, and worst case (like for strong sunlight) putting black electrical tape on the door seam. I also try to avoid any rough movements with the camera hanging only from the strap. I think my next step will be to modify the strap...

I'm not sure if I've answered everyone's questions but have to get to work. I'll check back this evening to see if there are more questions.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[hefty]

That's a very impressive DIY case, I like that a lot.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Rob, if I understand you correctly, the problem with your explanation for the leak is that the peg that is below the opening for the strap is part of the same piece as the opening for the strap. If you unscrew all three screws holding on the side plate, you'll see this.

When I received my C, there was a piece of black yarn along the top inside edge of the door, the hinge pin edge. As I tried to track down my light leak, I replaced this with foam light trap material.

I also added foam along the whole door edge. I choose foam that barley provides a 'seal. The gap is about a little under 1mm and I used 1mm foam.

An intermediate light leak like I had, and like it sounds yours is, has been the most frustrating thing I've dealt with on a camera. Ever. I thought I had it figured out at one point, and this involved black tape along parts of the door as you mention. 3 rolls were fine, then BAM- 4 shots on one roll were streaked. Mine appears to have been based on light coming through the focus hood and screen, if my solution is what actually fixed things.

All I can say for certain is that I haven't had a leak in some time, and it is nice to not wonder after every shot if this is one that will be ruined. I hope you get yours solved, soon!

By the way, is there a fabric rim strip underneath the stitching? folded leather? I can't quite pick out in the photo how you dealt with this edge.

 

[robbeiflex]

Dan, it sounds like you've done a thorough job with foam seals on yours and perhaps one of these days I should do the same. I found that when I had the door aligned and screws properly tight it was fine for over a year. However this left me with no strap and no protection for the camera, hardly convenient. I wanted a case anyway and when I had the idea to do it this way decided to give it a try. If this doesn't solve my light leak problem then I doubt it will stop me from using the case. By the way, right now it is not leaking.

As for the edges, they are just folded over and stitched.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[draw_de]

This has inspired me to restore my own case. I removed the old stitching and added some maroon colored stitching. Looks sweet. I don't think my leather is dry or brittle.

Thanks
Edward

 

[shadowfox]

Nifty.
I like the fact that the case protects the camera from minor bumps but at the same time it doesn't get in the way of handling and using.

 

[Brian Legge]

I had persistent light leaks with an Autocord. Fixed the light seals, tried all sorts of things. It turned out to be a tiny missing screw going from the bottom of the hood into the film chamber.

Taped it and everything was fine. It took me a long time to track that down and was incredibly frustrating as the streaks were both intermittent and in strange places. Worth checking.

Hmm. I wonder if I could make a useful case where still allowed the back door to open. Thats the main reason I haven't used one with a TLR beyond storage while traveling.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Brian, if you are talking about one of the four screws that hold the focus hood in place, try an optician for a replacement. It's a 1.7mm screw and I am told that this is a common size for glasses.

I learned the hard way that the screws that hold the focus scale in place at the bottom front of the Autocord are also drilled all the way through into the film chamber. Drove me crazy with resealing this and that until I found it.