Half case

J

Jbennett68

Established
Local time
1:25 PM
Joined
Aug 23, 2024
Messages
82
Looking for an affordable half case to protect my new M4. What do you like? Is the Artisan and Artist any good? B&H has a used one fairly cheap then I see some questionable $50 ones on the internet.
 
I have an A&A half-case for my M10-M and M10-R (only one, I put it on only when I'm going walking with one of these cameras) and I have one of their ACAM-76 camera pouches for storing each of my Ms in. A&A makes quality, durable stuff.

Similarly, I have a deerskin half-case for my M4-2 that I bought at Photo Village in New York City when I was there. It is similarly a very nice case and fits the camera perfectly. Probably fits the M2, M3, M4 and M6 as well as there's not a lot different between these cameras shape and dimensions.

G
 
Out to Lunch said:
I've been using these for many years: Affordable, well-made, and grippy:

www.ebay.com

Mr Zhou Leather Half Case for Leica M2 M3 M4 M6 M7 MP Cameras 2021 New Ver | eBay

For certain countries where SpeedPak is not available.
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
I’ll second that as I have had one for years on my M4. And I have this one on my MP:

www.ebay.fr

Cam-in Genuine Leather Camera Half Case Bag Cover Fr Leica M7 M6 M3 M4P MP M2 M4 | eBay

Les meilleures offres pour Cam-in Genuine Leather Camera Half Case Bag Cover Fr Leica M7 M6 M3 M4P MP M2 M4 sont sur eBay â Comparez les prix et les spécificités des produits neufs et d'occasion â Pleins d'articles en livraison gratuite!
www.ebay.fr

They are very good, I have two of their Barnack cases too.

I have had Luigi and another Italian case on my M10, are they better made? Maybe slightly but not 6-8x better.

Of course, I know nothing about how the leather was treated chemically, so that is a potential risk with cheap cases. All the ones I have are real leather though.
 
WoodallP said:
I’ll second that as I have had one for years on my M4. And I have this one on my MP:

www.ebay.fr

Cam-in Genuine Leather Camera Half Case Bag Cover Fr Leica M7 M6 M3 M4P MP M2 M4 | eBay

Les meilleures offres pour Cam-in Genuine Leather Camera Half Case Bag Cover Fr Leica M7 M6 M3 M4P MP M2 M4 sont sur eBay â Comparez les prix et les spécificités des produits neufs et d'occasion â Pleins d'articles en livraison gratuite!
www.ebay.fr

They are very good, I have two of their Barnack cases too.

I have had Luigi and another Italian case on my M10, are they better made? Maybe slightly but not 6-8x better.

Of course, I know nothing about how the leather was treated chemically, so that is a potential risk with cheap cases. All the ones I have are real leather though.
Click to expand...
Oops, sorry I didn't notice I had put the eBay link in French. Anybody interested should be able to get enough info to find it in English though.
 
I have had three Zhou cases and while they are cheap they don’t have the same fit and finish as the more expensive ones. Sometimes they are fine but sometimes they are too loose. I won’t buy a $200 half case for a $200 camera but a $50 case is ok. Mr Zhou is good like that. Half case are good for small cameras in lieu of a proper grip.

Leica Neverready cases make good half cases if you can find them cheap.

I have one A&A half case for my MP and for $100 it was a steal. But it goes on really tight and a shoe horn would help. I recommend this one.

Luigi premium cases are really nice and the cheaper ones are ok. I would get one if I really loved the camera and money came easily.
 
Godfrey said:
I have an A&A half-case for my M10-M and M10-R (only one, I put it on only when I'm going walking with one of these cameras) and I have one of their ACAM-76 camera pouches for storing each of my Ms in. A&A makes quality, durable stuff.

Similarly, I have a deerskin half-case for my M4-2 that I bought at Photo Village in New York City when I was there. It is similarly a very nice case and fits the camera perfectly. Probably fits the M2, M3, M4 and M6 as well as there's not a lot different between these cameras shape and dimensions.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Looking at my Photo Village deerskin half-case on the M4-2, it would work fine for the M3, M2, M4, M4-2 and M4-P, occluding only the self timer on models that have one, and the film reminder gizmo on the back (it has a slot for a 35mm box end to cover that). But on the M6/M6TTL/M7, it will also occlude the ISO setting control ...

Since I'm looking at adding one of these to my equipment cabinet right now (to get an M body with a meter in it...), I might need another half-case as well. And another ACAM-75/76 for storage purposes.

G
 
IMHO, Luigi leather half-cases are by far the best. New they run around $150 if you buy from Luigi direct (more if you buy on eBay), but can be found used on eBay for about the price of a new Zhou case - just be patient.

IMG_20230305_121434425[8248] copy.jpg
 
I guess it's a bit of a personal thing. I had a Luigi half-case for my M9 and it worked well, but I was not all that enamored of it; it never really felt right to the touch, for me. Might have been the choice of finish or leather I chose, I can't remember. The A&A half-case that was needed when my M9 was traded away to Leica with sensor corrosion fit the M-P 240 replacement better, which is why I bought another one when I bought the M10 Monochrom and M10-R.

G
 
I don't like the feel of my M10 with a Luigi case, too thick. I don't like the feel of a Mr. Zhou case, too slick. What I have done is coat the camera in the grip area with some thin suede from a craft store glued on with a glue named E6000. I can remove the leather if I want to but it has held on for over a year, removing is like peeling up rubber cement only a little more difficult. I grafted on a Fuji grip and that and the leather makes the camera very easy to hold with arthritic and clumsy hands.
 
Jbennett68 said:
Looking for an affordable half case to protect my new M4. What do you like? Is the Artisan and Artist any good? B&H has a used one fairly cheap then I see some questionable $50 ones on the internet.
Click to expand...

I use the Cam-In cases found on eBay. Just be prepared to wait a bit for delivery. I have these on a IIIf and an M2. Waiting for one for my M4.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom