Luigi Case, or Not?

two other solutions of course for the bugger being so big and slippery: get it recovered with griptac and/or buy a thumbs up... or both. (I may be selling a thumbs up at some point as I bought the one without a shoe and realized that I need the CS series so I can use a VF with my CV 15.

I view scratches as being like grey hair; they add character so long as you earned 'em.
 
I meant add that the Luigi grip case I bought for my M2 off eBay many moons ago for bugger all does service for multiple cameras and not necessarily rangefinders.

It fits my M2, M3, all my OM's, Nikon S2 and I've just discovered to my delight that my new 'evil' Nikon FM3A fit's in it also! 🙂
 
The trouble w/ his cases (other than their prices) is that you're buying it to protect your expensive camera, right? No sense scuffing up the Leica. But w/ a case that expensive, wouldn't you then be worried about scuffing up the expensive case?

I was looking at his case for my Leicaflex SL. Nice. But he wants more for the case than the camera's worth! So I don't know. $500 buys a lot of things.
 
The first consideration when buying and using a camera should always be to preserve the eventual resale value. 😉

Seriously, when I've used a half case, it has always been to get a better grip on the camera. Never considered a camera a thing to be babied.
 
I have a Lugi case for my M6 with motor. It is a great investment and makes the camera easier for me to hold. It was like $250 for case & strap... but if you want Chinese junk to wrap your $5000 camera maybe you can save $100 ... then you might as well shoot a Nikon.
 
With digital cameras- some brassing is not going to affect the resale value. The passage of time and perpetual introduction of new and better cameras does that. Prices on the M8 have dropped 50% since their introduction on gently used equipment that is essentially like new. The price spread between "brassed" M8's with 10,000 actuations and LNIB with under 500 actuations is less than the Luigi case.

If you want the best case there is, because you like the feel of top-rate leather, the Luigi case is it. If you want something to give a better grip, then get a new covering, Zhou case, Leica 1/2 case, or M-Grip. If you want something just to protect the camera and lens from getting banged around, do an Ebay search on "Nikon CS-9 or CS-8".
 
I have a Zhou for my M8, and RD1. I had a Zhou for M6 once, and it wasn't right, the clip around strap rubbed the rewind lever, but he seems to have gotten the sizing right on the M8 and RD1s, a little tight at first, but after taking off 10-20 times for battery/sd card changing, it now fits like a glove.

I have a Luigi half case for my M6, and it's thicker and no doubt that it's much higher quality than the Zhou, but for smaller hands, the Zhou's thinness might fit better.
 
On two occasions my half-case prevented my R-D1 from getting wet by liquid flowing across a table caused by a knocked over drinking glass. On rainy days I can also hold my R-D1 upside down and deter water from entering the camera. Finally, I no longer need padded bags to tote my rangefinder equipment.
 
I find them useful in really cold weather; helps keep fingertips warmer when handholding for long periods. Luigi's cases are beautifully crafted but not the cheapest solution. As others have said, it comes down to your own personal preference/priorities/cashflow, but I enjoy using them from time to time.
 
Steve Karr said:
I have a Lugi case for my M6 with motor. It is a great investment and makes the camera easier for me to hold. It was like $250 for case & strap... but if you want Chinese junk to wrap your $5000 camera maybe you can save $100 ... then you might as well shoot a Nikon.
Click to expand...

Too funny. I use a Nikon case for my F2 for the M8 in it's Leica half-case.

I keep a Canon F1 in a Nikkormat case, Canon EF in a Nikon CH-1 F2 case, Yashica TL Electro-X in a Nikon EL case... Oh, and a Nikkorex 35/2 case for a Voigtlander Vitessa T. Best made case for a poorly designed camera. I think a Canonet would fit in a Nikon CF-11 case. The only really bad Nikon cases are the early vinyl ones: CH-3, CF-7, CH-9, and the Like. Nikon cases are better than Canon cases.

NIKON makes a much better case than most companies, the inner shell of the CH and CF series are Metal, covering is red velvet, and Leather. Maybe Nikon could come out with a case for the M9.

The price of the case mentioned by the OP is 1/4th of my 3-month old Mint M8, with under 400 actuations on it. It came with the Leica case, and I pick up cases at shows. So I spent $10 on the case for my $5,000 camera.
 
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Question of course is a bit like asking if one likes Van. Choc or Strawberry flavor ice cream...all valid choices of course. OK, here are my thoughts and experiecnes....

On almost every camera I've shot with throughout the year...big or small....I never much liked a case (or half case). I sometimes felt certain cameras (depending on a number of factors) needed an optional grip, especially for vertical shots or longer lenses, but never a case. Then came along the M8. Unlike most any other M film camera I shot with...partically due to feel (especially with it's slippery covering) the naked camera always felt as through it was slipping out of my grip. This was especially true in the vertical orientation. My hands I guess are of average size, but it's one of the only cameras I felt that I couldn't concentrate on actual shooting unless I added some sort of grip. Even handling a black M9 with its more textured covering left me wanting or needing someting more. The original Leica M8/M9 grips did the job quite nicely but the grip itself is just slightly too bulky but I got used to it. Then I had the opportunity to try two types of Luigi cases...one with the built in grip and the other with small nub . The Luigi case with grip, being slightly smaller than the feel with the Leica grip was absolutely perfect. The case felt great and the only time the case gets in the way, "somewhat", is when I'm on a shoot and need to change out batteries/cards often and quickly....which can be a bit slow and cumbersome at times. The Luigi case with smaller nub seems a bit small for my hands... but that may be due to my continued use of Luigi case with grip or the original Leica grip, the latter which is perfect when I'm using a monopod or tripod.


Leica M shooting is different than when using a SLR (or DLSR)....it's more "deliberate" shooting and so this is why putting on and taking off a case might have been acceptable to me although on film M cameras Irarely used a grip.

Even the Luigi case with small nub for a grip adds the necessary tactile hold on the camera due to both the small nub as well as the thickness and grip of the case... which I felt was lacking otherwise. I might consider trading the Luigi case with small nub for one with built-in Luigi grip..as many prefer only the small bumb (nub) for a grip. Thats the only thing I would change for myself personally.

Dave (D&A)
 
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Hi,
Luigi's case is the best case that you can get. Artisan leather hand made. High cost but high value.
The china's replica was made even with dog leather or other domestic pet. Please don't buy china product, some chemical solvent or paint with leaded inside or dioxin waste and others toxic wasted elements, high dangerous for skin and health.

Cheers.
 
Well... about a month ago I would have said no... go for one of Zhou's cases as they look great and are way cheaper... I ordered one a couple weeks ago and am still waiting for it to make the trek from China. A week ago I won an auction on eBay for a Luigi deluxe case and strap for $100 and it got here on Monday. I love it... it feels great and looks great. I wanted a case because I have big hands and it 100% makes my M2 easier to hold for me. When I bid on the case I figured I'd try out both and keep the one I like best... without even seeing the Zhou case I have a feeling I'll be keeping the Luigi. I'm not really worried about the extra hassle of changing film... I don't usually blow through a roll so quickly that this will be a problem.

giuseppe ciccarella said:
Hi,
The china's replica was made even with dog leather or other domestic pet. Please don't buy china product, some chemical solvent or paint with leaded inside or dioxin waste and others toxic wasted elements, high dangerous for skin and health.
Cheers.
Click to expand...

I can understand you wanting to support a fellow Italian's product, but there's no call for saying things like that. I've tried Zhou cases on my friends cameras and the leather is actually very nice... not as good as Luigi's but DEFINITELY not dog or cat and saying they're poisonous is just ridiculous... Luigi's cases are definitely nicer but not everyone can afford them... and he does offer basic models that compete with Zhou's line... there's nothing wrong with healthy competition... and I'm sorry, you can't say that he's copied or ripped off Luigi's design, there are definitely differences, and there's really only a finite number of ways you can make a case for a camera. Of course they're going to be the same rough dimensions... THEY FIT THE SAME CAMERA!! Zhou didn't have to copy Luigi's design to do that, he just had to measure the camera 🙂 That's like saying everyone is ripping off Kodak because their film canisisters are roughly the same... but there's only a finite number of ways you can make a film canister that will fit all cameras.
 
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Got 2 Luigi's one for my M6 1/2 case without grip, the other for my Bessa R3a 1/2 case with grip. They are truly amazing cases and also truly expensive. It did make me think before getting a base case for my Bessa, but I figured, I'd have the Bessa around for quite a while so what the hay?

For my CL, I went the $60 Mr Zhou route and while its not a Luigi, it does the job nicely at a fraction of a Luigi case cost. Like a the difference between a S series Mercedes versus a Honda Civic. There both cars, and while you can notice a difference, you know you like the Merc but do you like it 6 times more?

If its within your budget and you really want one, go for the Luigi. If its just a case you want, then Mr. Zhou will do the job quite fine, thank you.
 
Double Negative, I saw that case too and it looks interesting,..but wish he had included a picture (unless I missed it), with a M8 or M9 actuallly resideing in his case...both a front and rear view.

By the way, I sent you a PM the other day about a case, but not sure if you had seen it yet? Thanks!

Dave (D&A)
 
Luigi Case, or Not?

"Disaster Area" : "...you can't say that he's copied or ripped off Luigi's design"
I never tell about this. I never tell about Mr. Zhou. Here in Italy a lot of product are seized from italian Police Authority, because many of them are built with toxic substances and with use of pet leather. Containers full of plastic toys with lead, dangerous for children. They don't have no hesitation in producing objects with harmful substances. Do you remember chinese milk with allow Melamin? Do you know how many children are die in China for this crime? 53.000 kids intoxicated in China (12.892 hospitalized), a lot of them died. So, continue to ignore that their only interest is to sell, even if the products are dangerous, it is a blindness that does not concern me. Open your eyes.
Luigi of Leicatime is a honest person!

Regards.
 
giuseppe ciccarella said:
"Disaster Area" : "...you can't say that he's copied or ripped off Luigi's design"
I never tell about this. I never tell about Mr. Zhou.
Click to expand...

My appologies... usually when people here talk about "the Chinese knockoffs" they're referring to Mr Zhou's cases... I have heard about alot of the crap coming out of China... in my experience Mr. Zhou's cases aren't an example of that. There's both really good and really bad stuff coming out of China...I have absolutely no experience with any other cases from there... so you may be right, but it's not fair to lump ALL Chinese sellers in with the dodgy ones.
 
Luigi Case, or Not?

Never mind. Just for talk about it. Nothing of personal. We are Gentlemen. I know very well (..from 1991) Luigi Crescenzi of Leicatime, that produce the famous "Luigi's Case". His a fine person very gentle. Last saturday I went to his house in Rome to buy a half case for my M8-2. I'm very satisfied of this green military half leather case, is a new item, very actractive. 80 Km for look all his item was a good thing to talk together after a long time since we saw. Kind regards from Italy.
Cheers
Giuseppe
 
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