Luigi Case, or Not?

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bherman

bherman
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Yeah, I'm looking for justification here.

I own a black M8.2. Do you really think that the Luigi half case offers good protection against wear, tear and brassing? Improved handling?

He is currently selling some sort of combo package, consisting of the half case with built-in grip, strap and small battery SD card case for $440.00US, plus shipping. If I want flush tripod screw, it's $40.00 more.

Do you think that it's a worthwhile accessory? It will cost me almost $500.00 if I want the Flush Tripod Screw including insured shipping.

Thanks, Brad
 
Luigi's cases are well made, from good materials. there are also cheaper alternatives from China in eBay. I'd check them first before making the decision.
some here dont like these cases in film cameras, where you need to open the camera more often. but with digi you dont have that problem.
 
They are really beautiful but $500 seems like a hell of a lot to spend on a half case. But hey, if you want one and can afford it, go for it, they don't get any better than his.

As for protection, I don't think they make a great deal of difference but the grip is a great addition for many people.

Then you have to go through the agony of choosing the colour! 😉

Good luck with your decision.
 
Well, my used M8 came with the Leica half case. The camera in the half-case fits nicely into a Nikon CS-9 soft case. It was $10.

The Luigi case is the best you can get.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Not.

Why fatten up a good camera with unnecessary padding?

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...


Because maybe their hands are large enough that it can improve the feel and handling of a camera... though I'm not stating that this is the case here.

My hands aren't exactly huge but I find the M8 very arkward to hold ... it's improved with a half case and even better with an M grip.

🙂
 
YES to a luigi case with grip for protection, grip, looks, whatever. sorry, but i'd say NO to a $500 price tag. with a little patience, a half case with grip will come up here or other auction site for around $200, and that's an easier decision for you.
greetings from hamburg
rick
 
Keith said:
Because maybe their hands are large enough that it can improve the feel and handling of a camera... though I'm not stating that this is the case here.

My hands aren't exactly huge but I find the M8 very arkward to hold ... it's improved with a half case and even better with an M grip.

🙂
Click to expand...

Dear Keith,

Maybe. But I suspect there's as much psychology as physiology in it. My hands are medium-sized, it's true, but I've never encountered a camera yet that was improved by fattening. Plenty of friends with seriously big hands agree.

To me, used to film Ms and screw-mount, the M8 feels like it's already wearing a case under its skin. Perhaps if you're used to bloated post-1995 SLRs, an M feels uncomfortably small.

Cheers,

R.
 
I used one on my M3 when it was chrome--the case with the little bump in front, not the hand grip. Holding the camera felt nice in my hands, and it gave me a little more security about bumps and rubs on the body. But after the black paint job, and seeing Tom A's beat up M's I bucked up and ditched the case. My MP doesn't have one either. Waiting for the brass to come through!

It's your camera and you should do what you want. You will love the way the cases fit and smell--and look.
 
Esteemed Leica photographer Ralph Gibson was quotes somewhere along the lines as saying that it is better not to use the case (not necessarily Luigi's case - just any case) as it deadens the sound of the shutter.

This in turn makes it harder to discern what shutter speed you are using so instead you may take valuable time to use the sense of sight to look at the shutter dial when you could have used your hearing to know where your with shutter speeds and adjust from there.

I personally don't use cases because it takes too long to unload when I am on a shooting spree. I also tread my camera like a tarted up machine and any scratches on the M6 body are incidental. I find the more if I treat my camera with too much care when I am out shooting that I will invaribaly miss the shot.

Anyway.
 
Luigi cases (and straps) smell so good! And I also agree with Keith. I have large hands and Leica M's are much more comfortable for me to hold with a half case.
 
bherman said:
Yeah, I'm looking for justification here.
Click to expand...

Okay, I think you should do it. There's your justification 🙂

I have one of his half cases on my Contax G2 and the quality is outstanding. His case fits the camera much better than the Contax case did, and is obviously made better. It's expensive, but nice.

Jeff
 
Artisan and Artists

Artisan and Artists

I used a Luigi half case before. The case caused entire stretch of brassing marks, after 11 months of use, against the the part of the M8 next to the viewfinder above the LCD. Now I would have to think aboutr asking Solms to do up the camera if I need to sell the cam.

I have since switched to the A&A M9 special edition that cost me $330 (Singapore dollars) at USD/SGD = 1.3900 (USD237). The M9 edition comes with a leather strap that already costs US$90. That practically works out to USD147 for the casing alone, which in my opinion is very well padded, protects essential parts of the camera and results in a better grip on the cam. Very good leather.

China-made ones are tricky because one does not know the quality of leather. Potential brassing is an issue as well that even Leica-originals suffered.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Dear Keith,

Maybe. But I suspect there's as much psychology as physiology in it. My hands are medium-sized, it's true, but I've never encountered a camera yet that was improved by fattening. Plenty of friends with seriously big hands agree.

To me, used to film Ms and screw-mount, the M8 feels like it's already wearing a case under its skin. Perhaps if you're used to bloated post-1995 SLRs, an M feels uncomfortably small.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...



But Roger ... you're forgetting I'm from 'Downunder' which means I have to hold the M8 upside down to get correct orientation of my images.

Perhaps I should rotate them 180 deg in photoshop then I wouldn't have to go through that torture! :angel:
 
with film M's, I agree with Helen Hill about going au naturel. however, I do usually use a Luigi half case with the grip on my M8 because I find it easier to hold on to. it's a matter of size. the camera is big and my hands are not. in a perfect world, the M8 would be no bigger than an M2, 3, 4, etc. We don't live in a perfect world.

I bought my case used from a dealer who sponsors RFF (no names but you can probably guess who it might be) for $100.00. I'm not sure I would have sprung for $250 or more. For $100 it's perfect; at $440, I'm not so sure. The darned thing is beautiful and all, but I've spent less on some nice lenses, so it's hard to justify.

fyi, I did get some rub marks similar to what northen lights notes (they haven't reached the level of brassing and I'm not entirely sure whether they are on top of the paint and can be removed or whether they're into the paint and are actual paint wear; I honestly don't care) from the stitching on back of the camera (mine has a black paint finish... the ltd ed "panda"), so I'm not sure that the everything about the Luigi cases is truly protective.

anyway, for me, bottom line is that I use my camera nearly everyday so I expect some wear and tear. when it was new, given how much it cost, I babied it. now I only think about not dropping on pavement or anything catastrophic. brassing and rubbing aren't going to kill it.
 
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