anyone use the leicatime case with grip for leica m?

[dcsang]

Okay, Dave, I think you got me there! Guess I committed the online equivalent of opening my mouth without engaging my brain. (smile)

Probably the real reason I keep asking questions is because although I want one of these fancy, great sounding Luigi cases there's a part of me that is looking for reasons to NOT spend the several hundred dollars it will cost...

-Randy

Oh.. I'm RIGHT with you there Randy.. I've been vacillating myself (hmm.. that sounds strangelyi innuendo-esque 😀) for the past 6 months on those cases.

I will cave eventually.. I know I will.. and I"m sure Luigi is loving every minute of this 😀

Cheers
Dave

 

[back alley]

i bought a cheap supposed to be leica half case for 50 bucks off ebay and what a piece of crap that was.
night & day difference.

with the luigi case, it will attached to the camera when you pass it on to your great grand kids.

joe

 

[vrgard]

How about at Gordon Biersch next week sometime (PA ?) and I'll bring it with to show off 😀

Hey, Roland, now that's just the sort of temptation I DON'T need. Yet, strangely, I can't turn your offer down. If Thursday evening works for you then I'm ready to be tempted! Just PM me and we'll work out the details. And thanks, I think, for the offer.

-Randy

 

[Ben Z]

ya.. the same could be said for the founder of Rolex or Cartier or Rolls Royce or Bentley or Prada or Louis Vuitton or . . . . . 😀

Each type of product associated with each one of those brands listed above could be had "cheaper" by buying a different brand of the same type of merchandise. Sure.. why buy a Rolex when a Timex is just as good? Why buy a Rolls Royce when you can drive a Hyundai? etc. etc.

But Louigi is an aftermarket supplier. Someone with the philosophy you describe would want a "genuine" Leica case.

I've seen and felt the Luigi cases and I've also had a brand new Voigtlander ERC in my hands; there is no comparison - the Luigi case is hand sewn and supple - the Voigtlander felt like "pleather".

Once you hold one of these you'll understand why leicaphiles (and others) crave them 😀

Dave

Um, I have one of Leica's ERC cases for each of my Ms (the black leather cases where they hold on with snap-tabs around the strap lugs, not the old hard brown ones with screw attachment--too slow to change film). They are well-finished in matte black leather lined with light blue/gray plush. I've never seen the Voitlander cases but these Leica cases are top notch. Cost me $25 to $90 each.

 

[steve garza]

I love the brwon Crocodile version......has anyone tried it?

 

[dcsang]

But Louigi is an aftermarket supplier. Someone with the philosophy you describe would want a "genuine" Leica case.

Ok.. that's a fair statement; then perhaps you'd want to ask the same about the folks who insist on Edelbrock springs for their automobiles over standard springs, or Thrush mufflers over the standard mufflers.

There are a lot of examples to be had.

If you feel you don't think the case is worth it then fine, to you, it's not worth it; but to others it obviously is worth something. 😀 If you don't understand why, then that's fine too; you've got the ERC case that you're happy with 🙂 so no harm; no foul, in others wanting something that may be a bit more "luxurious" for their cameras right?

Cheers
Dave

 

[Ben Z]

Ok.. that's a fair statement; then perhaps you'd want to ask the same about the folks who insist on Edelbrock springs for their automobiles over standard springs, or Thrush mufflers over the standard mufflers.

Or mink seat covers as opposed to sheepskin 🙄

 

[dreamsandart]

I bought one of Luigi's 1/2 cases when he first started making them. I was impressed the first time I put it on an M-series, on the camera it fit in the hands wonderfully, felt very nice to the touch, and more secure.

Over time I've traded off, with periods of time using and [ mostly ] not using. The downside is getting it off and on for film changing, the upside is the 'sure handling'.

But I've never been attracted to the idea of the grip version. The M-series has a great feel as it is and I just don't hold the camera in a way that that handle-grip would be something I would want. But the Luigi's regular half-case is a beautifully made worthwhile excessory.

 

[vrgard]

I bought one of Luigi's 1/2 cases when he first started making them. I was impressed the first time I put it on an M-series, on the camera it fit in the hands wonderfully, felt very nice to the touch, and more secure.

Over time I've traded off, with periods of time using and [ mostly ] not using. The downside is getting it off and on for film changing, the upside is the 'sure handling'.

But I've never been attracted to the idea of the grip version. The M-series has a great feel as it is and I just don't hold the camera in a way that that handle-grip would be something I would want. But the Luigi's regular half-case is a beautifully made worthwhile excessory.

That's interesting. Guess that's exactly why I am interested in the grip case. Because I think the way I carry my camera would make the grip case very nice to have. For example, last weekend I walked around an art and wine fair with the neck strap wrapped around my right wrist and holding the end of the camera between my thumb and four fingers. But I kept having this nagging feeling that the camera was going to slip out of my grasp. And I worried that the neck strap wasn't wrapped tightly enough around my wrist to have prevented the camera from hitting the ground. Needless worrying, perhaps. Great rationalization for one of Luigi's cases, yeah, likely. But them's my thoughts anyways... 😉

 

[back alley]

i use a wrist strap and i use a grip on the zi and the cl. in the winter the zi wears it's case also.
i'd like to do the same for the m3 but have been thinking about the case with grip as an alternative.
i may just go back to the grip alone but i'm having a hard time finding a silver grip.
joe

 

[dreamsandart]

I know what you mean about the thought of a grip to carry the camera in your hand with a bit more easy and it can be an important factor in your decision, but when you are actually making the photograph would be the real reason for a grip version case or an accessory grip.

Only you and your hands can answer the 'with/without grip' question. I wanted a Leica M Motor but a few seconds of holding it confirmed for me that the battery compartment grip made it just not a practical option for me. So if you can try some style of 'grip' you could answer the question easier.

 

[back alley]

i do use a grip already and find that i prefer it.
it does not get in the way at all and i think it actually helps if i shoot one handed, which i sometimes do with a wide angle lens mounted and doing 'off the hip' type shots.

my wondering was about the grip being part of a case.

 

[vrgard]

I know what you mean about the thought of a grip to carry the camera in your hand with a bit more easy and it can be an important factor in your decision, but when you are actually making the photograph would be the real reason for a grip version case or an accessory grip.

Only you and your hands can answer the 'with/without grip' question. I wanted a Leica M Motor but a few seconds of holding it confirmed for me that the battery compartment grip made it just not a practical option for me. So if you can try some style of 'grip' you could answer the question easier.

Yeah, I agree that first and foremost, one must be able to comfortably hold the camera while taking pictures. Of course, if one doesn't have one's camera at the ready for opportunities as they appear then one won't get the shot regardless of how comfortable one can hold the camera. In other words, if I don't have my camera out because I'm worrying about dropping it when just walking around with it then I'm relegated to only getting those pictures of situations that allow for the time to remove a camera from a case or bag. And I'm not too worried about the Luigi grip case causing me any difficulty in holding the camera when taking a shot if for no other reason than that I have large hands and can't imagine not being able to get my fingers around the somewhat larger hump of the grip case. But to be on the safe side before spending the money, I am meeting a fellow rff member in my locale who already has one so I can see how it really feels in my mind.

I guess the other thing driving my current lust for a Luigi grip case is my desire to work on "street" or "candid" photography. Seems my natural inclination is more towards lines, geometric shapes, textures, abstracts, etc., and not street/candid stuff. So, since I want to work on street stuff then I gotta wander the street with camera at the ready. And that's where I think the grip case would come in handy. Course, I am wondering about that bright red lining against that black leather. Seems to me that might glow like a beacon...

 

[back alley]

you don't see the lining with a camera in there 😉

i agree, as a mostly street shooter, and i prefer to have the camera in hand at the ready.

 

[dreamsandart]

Just another thought/suggestion - and I'm not trying to convince you against the grip case - I have a nice adjustable shoulder/neck strap with the 2 pieces of leather adjustment part I can put my hand through that acts like a wrist strap, in fact I can adjust it to size unlike a wrist strap and its really on my wrist. Along with this and the Luigi case ( and even the normal case has a bit of raised grip ) there isn't any added bulk and doesn't have the chance of dropping from my hand either.

 

[back alley]

i don't normally use a neck strap, i find they seem to mostly get in my way. i put one on the hexar af yesterday so i'm sure i'll be reminded exactly why i don't care for them.

 

[vrgard]

Just another thought/suggestion - and I'm not trying to convince you against the grip case - I have a nice adjustable shoulder/neck strap with the 2 pieces of leather adjustment part I can put my hand through that acts like a wrist strap, in fact I can adjust it to size unlike a wrist strap and its really on my wrist. Along with this and the Luigi case ( and even the normal case has a bit of raised grip ) there isn't any added bulk and doesn't have the chance of dropping from my hand either.

Sounds interesting, particularly since there are times that I want to be able to hang my camera off my shoulder or (heaven forbid I'll look like a tourist) around my neck. Can you point me to where you found this strap that sounds like it adjusts between being a neck strap and a wrist strap? I'd like more details to make sure that when you adjust it for wrist strap use you somehow avoid all that extra length a regular neck strap has. Perhaps you can provide a picture or a link to the maker/seller? Thanks.

 

[dreamsandart]

The camera I use my Luigi case on is an M4 with a very nice ( had it custom made over 25 years ago ) 'tooled' thin leather - less bulk and easy to wrap around lens for storage or hand for holding - and horse hair stitching, no metal except the lug rings. But any of the adjustable straps will do; Leicas own, Luigi's... You may have a longer part to the strap itself as you point out, but for me that works out fine as I use the cross the shoulder/back method as a most secure way of 'storing' my camera when its not in my hand, and I can still pull it up with good tension for low light use.

Here's a photo of the set-up

 

[dreamsandart]

"...look like a tourist"?, I thought a camera around your neck made you look 'professional' 🙂

 

[vrgard]

"...look like a tourist"?, I thought a camera around your neck made you look 'professional' 🙂

Yeah, a "professional," that's the ticket! 😀

And thanks for posting the pic. And I do still like the idea of being able to hang the camera around my neck or bandolier style as I believe you meant by the across the shoulder/back method explanation. But I find all that strapping gets in the way when I want to hand carry a camera. That's why I'm thinking of trying a wrist strap with Luigi's grip case. But I gotta admit that your setup looks mighty fine! Thanks again.