Cases

[satbunny]

I bought a Leica brown ever ready case on ebay but frankly it makes me look like a grandpa and my sexy Leica look like an old bit of junk. So, who can suggest something more modern and suitable for an M4?

Oh, and anyone want to buy a Leica M brown ever ready case.

BTW I am a grandpa!

 

[zeos 386sx]

Hmmm... You're a grandpa that objects to looking like a grandpa - I can relate to that.

If you generally wear a jacket just put the camera strap over your head and one shoulder so your M4 hangs at your side. Then, put on your jacket. The camera will be protected by the jacket, ready for use, and ready to look sexy any time you need it to.

 

[jaapv]

It may sound silly- but I bought the new Sigma 140 ring flash and with it came a beautiful small cordura carrying case which is totally useless for the flash but it takes my M6TTL and, for instance one or two lenses and 6 rolls of film, or alternately my Digilux2 with the SD24 flash, batteries, SD cards,Pol-filter etc.The Sigma label is easily removable. But you will have to buy the flash or find somebody who did.

 

[FrankS]

You could try a half case for the Nikon FG. It's black so it doesn't look so frumpy, though the brown leather Leica case looks classy. Maybe you should just learn to embrace your grandfatherness! You do know about drilling out the rivet that holds the top part of the case to the bottom half-case, right? I like/appreciate the protection offered by the half-case.

 

[captainslack]

According to the Bessa-L page at CameraQuest, the L's case will fit an M6. I would imagine it would fit an M4 as well.

There's always Luigi's case, but they're kinda pricey.

 

[Skinny McGee]

I dont use the neverready case ither I use the old style chain and put the camera in my shirt or jacket so people dont see it. I try to remain a inconspecuios as possible...
The neveready case adds the bulk that you are trying to avoid with a rangefinder. But the are nice for storing your camera when not in use.

 

[FrankS]

Before I got an M-grip I liked the increase in size that a half case gave me in order to more securely grip my camera.

 

[zeos 386sx]

There's always Luigi's case, but they're kinda pricey.

Luigi Crescenzi's cases are pricey. They range from Euro 120-380 ($146-$462) for M cases. However, despite his age Luigi doesn't look like a grandfather, he exudes Italian "cool".

 

[laptoprob]

The L case indeed fits an M camera almost perfectly. The bump on top gives room for an external finder like the 15mm. The flat R case does not fit because it only allows for a pancake lens.

 

[Doug]

I'd just lose the case. I prefer carrying caseless for easier reloading. Camera hangs from one shoulder with strap adjusted to put the camera just above elbow level. Arm then sorta cradles the camera and keeps it from swinging about or knocking into things. No need for the case for protection, if you take a little care, I think.

I used to think leather cases were useful for keeping the camera safe when not in use. But I changed my mind after seeing what happens to pistols kept in a leather holster; the leather holds moisture and promotes rust and corrosion. Not sure if the tanning and leather finishing chemicals have any role in this. But I'm now wary about storing anything in leather containers.

Celebrate the naked camera! 🙂

 

[richard_l]

It wouldn't be wise to leave a camera stored in a leather case for long periods of time. For some reason, lens fungus likes things which are stored in leather cases, as I learned the hard way.

 

[satbunny]

I was hoping there might be a neoprene modern case that someone had found was just perfect for the camera on it's own.

I'll talk to Mr. Gandy re the Bessa L case.

 

[ruben]

In a recently seen moovie about a love affair between a photographer and a picture-editor, I saw an astonishing solution: the strapped camera was wrapped with a simple fabric when inside the bag and 'dis-wrapped' when out - both operations taking a fraction of a second !

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have had problems with lenses stored in the original boxes where the styrofoam outgasses and gets into the lens. Looks like a '60s Mustang's windows when left in the sun. I have some 1950's Nikkors that have been stored in the original case since new (I am 2nd owner). I have also seen rotted leather cases that look like they were stored in high humidity. My guess is if the leather gets soaked it exposes the lens to longer term humidity than if the lens were allowed to air out.

On a humorous note, I've seen some 1980's polycarbonate wonder-zooms also look like the windows on my '68 Mustang. Modern Plastics also outgas.

 

[laptoprob]

The Bessa L case can hardly be called leather. It is mostly cardboard with leatherlike plasticky material over it. Excellent for protection but not for long time storage in risk of humidity. Just as bad as leather I guess.
Maybe worse because the plastic will not allow evaporation. But who stores a camera in any damp case?

 

[Doug]

The Bessa L case can hardly be called leather. It is mostly cardboard with leatherlike plasticky material over it. Excellent for protection but not for long time storage in risk of humidity. Just as bad as leather I guess.
Maybe worse because the plastic will not allow evaporation. But who stores a camera in any damp case?

I don't know that anyone would knowingly store in a damp case, but in the event of a leak or spill one may not know the cased camera got wet.

I recently got a Pentax MX on eBay from a guy who'd gotten it earlier on eBay and didn't know its history. When my repair guy started looking for the reason the meter didn't work, he quicky found extensive corrosion on the inner surface of the baseplate, the circuit board within, and the bottom of the lens mount. As if the camera had gotten wet, and then just remained wet for a while. I can imagine this happening from an unknown spill or leak, as I would think a brief immersion in water or a splash would cause the owner to take action of some sort, if only to try drying it out.

 

[ray_g]

Before I got an M-grip I liked the increase in size that a half case gave me in order to more securely grip my camera.

What Frank said. Especially since I usually use a wrist strap and not hung from my neck. Personally, I like the brown leica case, but use only the bottom half. I cut the stitches and separated it from the top half. Stuck a strip of velcro where the stitches were to put the two halves together if I wanted to use them for storage or for loading in the car without a camera bag.

 

[Roman]

I was hoping there might be a neoprene modern case that someone had found was just perfect for the camera on it's own.

I'll talk to Mr. Gandy re the Bessa L case.

Though I have never seen it in person, I've heard of a neoprene everready case by a company called Zing.

Roman

 

[Roman]

PS: Just googled this:

http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=zing&itemnum=510-104

- definitely not grandfatherly - looks more like a novelty from an adult store...

 

[zeos 386sx]

Roman's url brings up a case for an SLR with a zoom lens (sexy - might be just what satbunny is looking for to hold his M4).

Try this url for a non-zoom lens versions of the Zing case:
http://www.tiffen.com/displayproduct.html?tablename=zing&itemnum=501-102