Happiness comes in packages marked ‘Batteries Not Included’.
The external flash for my new camera arrived today, prior to the rechargeable batteries I ordered as well (they are in the mail, so it does not make sense to quickly buy some in the store) 🙁 There are a few things that suck without batteries, this is one of them. And it does not even have a secondary function without batteries — at the moment it’s just an expensive paperweight.
On the other hand, it gave me the opportunity to focus on the camera case I am looking for.
The camera is small enough to fit into the jacket pocket (barely), but it is pretty exposed there without an additional layer of protection. It has just a thin piece of fabric separating it from the outside. Too exposed for a camera in that price range.
Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a case available that just adds a thin layer of padding. Cases come with all kinds of extras that take up space. But the shop where I bought my camera also offered a neoprene case for another camera model. While a bit large, the material gave me an idea: Change the case to fit the camera.
So I cut up the neoprene case, removed one wall, closed the opening in the back, turned it inside out (more stable!) and now I have a case that fits my camera and also (still) fits my jacket pocket (very, very barely).
If I find the time, I’ll probably have a seamstress do it right (when I sew, the closest approximation of my skills is Frankenstein’s work). But until then, I got what I wanted, even without it being available in the stores I visited.
In this sense: Happy New Year. 🙂