Konica Auto S2 - case has mold or something?

[TheHub]

I've got my fathers Auto S2 here with its simply lovely original case. The only problem is that it's shedding/molting or coming apart. When I took the camera out of its case there was what appeared to be dust all over it. A guy at Calumet told me the dust was "mold spores".

Great

How would I go about cleaning this case so as to have it all lovely and useable again? Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated Once all nice again my father may start using it again

[Jon Goodman]

First, please forget what the guy at Calumet said. I'm sure he meant well, but he spoke without the benefit of knowledge. Which, when you think about it makes him very much like a politician or a TV reporter. However, I am reasonably sure there are some things the fellow at Calumet will not do for money and/or fame.

What has happened is that the foam behind the fabric in the top of your case has deteriorated. Inexpensive foam deteriorates in two or three ways, depending on its composition and the various "things" it is subjected to. In this instance, the foam simply loses its cell bonds and turns to a fine white powder. This powder is sifted through the fabric liner of the case and rains down on your camera when the case is opened or closed...or just jostled around.

There really isn't a good way to repair this, but you can minimize it greatly by using a vacuum cleaner (preferably with one of those small attachments for cleaning corners, under the fridge, etc) to "suck" more of the white powder out. Otherwise, remove the fabric at the top and all of the old foam behind it.

But please don't lose any sleep over mold.

Jon

[radiocemetery]

I had the same experience as TheHub with the lens case for a Taumar lens. My first impression was mold also. Didn't smell like mold or musty or mildewy (new word, mildewy). So I vacuumed the case as Jon suggested above and the powdery residue was gone and has not come back. The real solution is to get behind the fabric and remove the stuff, but I have three cameras on the bench now, so that can wait.
Steve

[El Horla]

I second what Jon (Goodman) said, same thing happened to me,
and when I realized it was the foam, I simply took it out, it's quite easy.

Now talking about the original case, I can tell you I don't like it. It was
designed to keep the camera in the chest, and opening/closing is too
slow for me, as you know it's divided in two parts, you have to unscrew
it from the tripod mount.

So I bought a cheap cube-shaped case and made an adapter for its shape.
It hangs at my waist, where I found it more comfortable, and taking
the camera in and out is pretty straightforward.

Here you have two images, no goodlooking at all, but works for me:





Good luck!

[payasam]

My Canon EF has a leather case, but the one which came with my FTb (also mid 1970s) was of a synthetic material which just disintegrated after about six years. True, India is hot and humid.

[TheHub]

Thanks for the replies! I'll vacuum it out tonight.