Need an M6 half-case

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Before you tell me immediately that you know exactly where to get it, e.g. [a] from LA (http://www.kameraleder.com/leicamhalfcase.htm) or [b] from Rome, Italy (http://showcase.auctiva.com/umana), please let me say that I'm still not sure what I want! I do want a half-case to protect the camera while I'm carrying it around, always being ready and able to shoot, and I do want the opportunity of being able to whip it out (the camera) and use it every now and again (to shoot) without any strap being attached at all. Have to take it off for film change anyways. Voitglaender Bessa cases seem to be too big -- likewise Nemeng's with or without motor -- I just want a bottom part. Leather looks good, artificial is maybe okay, too.

Does this mean that only the "Leica-like" choice [a] above is logical? Or is it somehow/sometimes better to have any strap continually attached to the body itself as in choice [b] above (with or without of course Leica's own strap)?? Some of this was discussed lately in "Interesting Leica half-case" (http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=005tUn) where Patrick said that the Italian type leather straps surrounding the body lugs snug the camera into the case more firmly and the neck strap does not jut out from the body as severely as it does on the Leica-style original case. Moreover, Phil found that the Italians grip a bit more ergonomically. He went for the "classic" strap attached to rings through the lugs, because there are times he wants just the strap, and not the case. But there are times I want the camera with no case and no strap (I think). What do you think???

Got any more addresses? I personally think it is pretty perverse that no such half-cases for an M6 seem to be manufactured and/or sold over here in Leicaland.

Mike

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), July 31, 2001

Answers

Mike,

(from an old post)

Since the 1999 Chicago LHSA meeting I'm using the Leica M 1/2 Body Case from Kameraleder with my M6,

I have to say that I'm more than happy. The finish is exquisite and it's a real bonus for me. Now when I change film, I use the 1/2 case as a shelf where I can put the bottom plate of the camera and the empty film box during the process. Thanks to the fact the strap is attached to the case.

In the past, when I was using the bottom part of the Leica ever ready case, I never known where to put the 1/2 case, the bottom plate and the film box and that because the strap is attached to the camera. (I never used the 'nose' of the Leica case)

And now because the 1/2 cases doesn't have the snap hardware for the top piece to connect to, I don't scratch my shirt or jacket buttons anymore. :-)

Also, thanks to that hardware missing, it don't mark the camera back panel anymore, like the Leica case is doing it .

Yes, the case for Leica M, intended to protect the camera, is marking it from the inside! :-(

May I add that George Elanjian, founder and designer of Kameraleder (and a LHSA member), is a real pleasure to deal with. He really love his products. I had a lot of fun buying from him.



-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), July 31, 2001.


Michael,

You've identified the only two sources I know of. I own a half case from both Kameraleder & Umana, & as I've said in earlier posts, am quite taken w/ the Italian version. I carried my M3 with a hand strap for a long time (because I hated the old leather Leica case which I used like a half by taking off the upper cover). But I got tired of carrying it by hand for hours--it also seemed more prone to being wacked inadvertently-- & longed for decent half case... which led to my eventually purchasing the two recent cases.

Since picking up the Italian version, I haven't used a hand strap once. It fits so nicely that you can almost forget it until you need it. My first reaction to using it was, Wow. And removing the case to change film is far easier w/ the Italian case than the Kameraleder version (Kameraleder uses the old nut & bolt mentality of screwing the case into the tripod threads on the camera).

But if you find other alternatives, share!

-- patrick C. Garner (pg@patrickgarner.com), July 31, 2001.


The Voigtlaender Bessa-R is just right, even a bit tight fit. I have been using it for the last 6 months. It has a detachable nose cone for camera storage. Fairly inexpensive. I have made a cut-out for the ISO wheel. It may not be pretty but does the job of protection for the M6.

-- Jean-David borges (jdborges@home.com), July 31, 2001.

Patrick,

I am thinking about buying the Italian case and have two questions for you:

1. You mentioned that you no longer use a hand strap. Is it possible to use the hand strap with the case? From the pictures on ebay.com it seems like it would be.

2. How does the case stay on the camera? Does it reply on the weight of the camera in the case, with the case's strap around your neck? That might be a problem if I was just using a hand strap.

Any comments you have would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Fergus

-- Fergus Hammond (fhammond@adobe.com), July 31, 2001.


That's how.



-- Lucien (Lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), July 31, 2001.



Michael,

You ask:

"1. You mentioned that you no longer use a hand strap. Is it possible to use the hand strap with the case? From the pictures on ebay.com it seems like it would be.

2. How does the case stay on the camera? Does it reply on the weight of the camera in the case, with the case's strap around your neck? That might be a problem if I was just using a hand strap."

The hand strap can be used w/o a problem. It's just that I no longer felt I needed it!

The camera stays in the case from the pressure of the two leather tabs that stretch around & over the strap lugs, binding the camera into the case. Essentially, the case is so well made that there is little give--it's like an extremely well made glove. The tabs then clamp over the lugs, locking the whole together. Whether you then used a neck strap or hand strap, the case wouldn't go anywhere...

Hope this helps--!

-- patrick C. Garner (pg@patrickgarner.com), July 31, 2001.


Hallo Michael,

a good choice for me was to buy the black LEITZ (so called but with frontpiece never ready) everready- leathercase for the M4. Using only the bottom part, srewed into the baseplate, makes it a useful er-case for me.

The material is so thick, that it forms a handgrip at the same time. Unsrewing the case makes the camera ready for use without strap.

Too many choices?

Get them all and let us know about the results.

K. G. Wolf

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), August 02, 2001.


I didnt want to spend the bucks on these new cases so I bought some old leather M cases from the 1950s and 1960s and ripped the the lens pouch part off so I just had a 1/2 case. This is the most cost effective because the used stores (at least in NYC) have these cases for between $25 and $60.

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), August 02, 2001.

Have you tried http://www.leicatime.com? They have a great range of equipment and will make half and full ER cases for Leicas in either black or brown leather. The owmer is Luigi Crescenzi and I've found him to respond very quickly to e-mails.

The attachment is the same as the example you gave - i.e. the case is not attached via the tripod thread.

Hope this helps

-- Phil Allsopp (pallsopp42@attbi.com), January 15, 2002.


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