Leather Half-Cases.

Leather Half-Cases.

  • I hate them.

    Votes: 26 11.9%

  • I am indifferent do them.

    Votes: 92 42.0%

  • I adore them.

    Votes: 101 46.1%
  • Total voters
    219
Here is my Case and grip.
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I was given a Zhou half-case for my M6. No, it doesn't do anything to protect the important bits of the camera. I have big hands and thought I would like the grip but find I am, as the poll offers, indifferent. I think a naked camera looks better.
 
Ronald M said:
The most prone area to damage is the top. Stupid idea.

Makes the camera to thick. They are designed to be thin and holdable.

If you want a case, buy a whole case.

Luigi`s are beautiful though.
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Yep, agree fully with this statement; just use it for protection, expecially the top (of your Leica, Hex. whatever): when photografing, touching the naked body is the real thing. Using a half case is like playing guitar with gloves or washing feet with your sockets still on.....
 
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mabelsound said:
What do people think of these things? Personally, I don't see the point. They fail to protect the only things that need protection--the lens and the controls--and look to me kinda like those leather bras that people with too much time and money on their hands put on the front of their cars. Also they cost what, two hundred dollars? That's fifty rolls of Tri-X, a semi-decent tripod, or twenty-five bottles of totally acceptable wine.

Or maybe there's something I'm missing. Half-case nutcases: defend yourselves.
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This is not the situation for old cameras. Half cases help silencing curtain shutter cameras, defend the bodies from bumps, and full cases enable you on some situations to walk with two cameras while the not in use one is within a full case. And in old cameras they usually don't cost anything.

But true, for the owner of a newly built camera, they may be expensive in many cases.

Cheers,
Ruben
 
foto_fool said:
I was given a Zhou half-case for my M6. No, it doesn't do anything to protect the important bits of the camera. I have big hands and thought I would like the grip but find I am, as the poll offers, indifferent. I think a naked camera looks better.
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I tried a Zhou ½ case on my MP to see if it deadened the noise a bit but it didn't make a difference. I wasn't impressed with the case in general.
 
They would be great on a digital camera since you wouldn't have to remove it so often to change film. I do like the look of them.
 
"They fail to protect the only things that need protection--the lens and the controls--and look to me kinda like those leather bras that people with too much time and money on their hands put on the front of their cars. Also they cost what, two hundred dollars? That's fifty rolls of Tri-X, a semi-decent tripod, or twenty-five bottles of totally acceptable wine."

1. They DO protect the parts of the camera that have contact with hard surfaces when you put them down. I've never bumped the shutter speed dial on the floor/desk/table.
2. They feel good. Leather usually feels better than metal. They sometimes improve handling.
3. $200? Even so, what does the camera+lens cost? Why cheap-out at that point? And, it's not like the typical user has to make a choice: "Oh, gee - i can only afford the case OR the film."
4. Wine? Seriously? WINE is the leather car bra of beverages.
5. Wine lasts, what, ten minutes?
 
Nobody seems to mention that it can dampen the shutter noise, while this is one feature many RF-users like. I guess some will say it is overrated at this use as well, but it strikes me that no one had this as a buying argument.

By the way, I do not use a case, just the "sling" from LeicaGoodies for an improved grip on my MP.
 
I've never seen the point either. I have to believe those who say that they're easier if you have large hands, but I still can't see why this should be. Otherwise, why put something on your camera that makes it bulkier, heavier and slower to reload, and pay for the privilege of doing so?

As for protection, I've used a lot of cameras hard, for a lot of years, and frankly I don't believe a half case has any use whatsoever except protecting fragile black paint on the bottom half (only) of a camera. If you want protection, use a full case when you're not taking pictures -- I favour OpTech (reference below) -- but why do half a job?

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/review optech camera case.html (OpTech neoprene individual cases and link to OpTech site)

Cheers,

Roger
 
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You know, it's funny, despite rolling my eyes about these things, just the other day I went ahead and ordered one from Stephen for the Bessa I just bought. $1, how could I not? It does come with a top half of course.

Something tells me I'm not going to get a lot of use out of it, though...
 
I like the feel of half cases: nothing more than that really. I suspect it's because I have big hands. I also put Pachmayr grips on my service pistol, for those who understand shooting.
 
I have a (secondhand) half-case for the CL, but only because it allows the camera to hang the "proper" way, instead of by the ridiculous left-side strap lugs, a la M5

David
 
marke said:
I have a beautiful Luigi black half-case I bought for my M6 TTL last year. I used it for a few months, but eventually decided that I would rather shoot without a case. I like the way the camera handles better without a case. And at first I wasn't botherd by the extra few seconds required when changing film, but eventually even that began to bother me.

Don't get me wrong, Luigi makes a very, very fine product, and he is very easy to do business with. I will probably just hang on to my Luigi case, but I honestly don't know when I will use it again.
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I would agree that Luigi's cases do indeed look nice and desirable. I have, however, been put off buying one by the use of right wing politics on the site. I don't think there's a need for it. I have been considering a case for a new Bessa R2a I am looking to get but will probably go with Roger's suggestion of the neoprene one so I can throw the thing into a bag more easily.
 
I am yet to try my half-case. It is some standard voightlander case (I suppose) which came with my r3 bessa. I was like "whoa, now I don't need my big National Geography bag". Thinking about handing it on my shoulder, however it just screams "look this man has a camera". That's what I am worrying about, that's all.

It feels good in hands, though I won't be able to change film as fast as i do without it. Yes it depends on half-case, but mine wraps around neck-strap to not to drop off from camera.

We will see about that, at the moment I am voting "indifferent".
 
I like the dismembered Leica never-ready case circa 1955-1963. It has proper strap lugs and a tripod socket all secured in a metal frame and wrapped in leather. It supplies an excellent grip and provides a convenient place to hold the bottom while you change rolls (I know... but I get a bit "liquidy" in the mouth). It does have some quirks; the ISO dial on the camera is obscured (unless you favor the DIN style ISO scale) and you can wind up with a tan palm after a long day. But it is a good deal because they go for next to nothing when they are beat up and judging by my example it does do some protecting as well. What is the leather equivalent of "brassing"?
 
I use on a Leica because 1. the Leica is expensive and the case affords some protection from bangs and being set down in odd places. 2. the case has a grip and makes it more comfortable & 3. the human hand sweats on hot summer days and sweat is acidic. As for my other camera no way. They are left to fend for themselves.
 
I see no-one has mentioned A&A half cases. I have just picked one up. It looks to be very well made (and so it should for the money). It has no grip, lumps etc so it does not change the profile of the camera much. It has a hole for the film speed dial. It is nice to grip and it does offer some protection from knocks and scratches. One important factor in favour of the half case is the lovely smell of leather when you bring the camera to your eye :)

Here it is on the MP

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AAStuff_2008-07-27_Doorshadow_2008-.jpg
 
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