Review on Mr.Zhou's USD50 half case

Big thanks for everyone who contributes reviews and comments for my design. I will work on more projects and produce more interesting accessories in next few month. Please keep posting your thinkings and requirements in this thread. When the new designs ready, I will run trials again in RFF. Hope you will be the next reviewer : )
 
boobo said:
When the new designs ready, I will run trials again in RFF. Hope you will be the next reviewer : )
Click to expand...

I have a Bessa R with an original Bessa case! Does that count? 🙂
 
I used the Zhou case for a few hours today on an M6 going through about 3 film changes. It could be that the case is still stiff from being new, but it seemed to take some effort pulling it on and off.

I also had to take it off a couple of times to change the ASA (was going back and forth with 200/400 film), so M6 users may want the verison with the hole.

The attachments and clips are a tad bulky, using the standard strap, but they do keep the strap in a good position, far away from the body, but you sometimes need to twist it back in place.

I'd guess that if you aren't planning to do a lot of quick film changing, the extra grip and slowness of the 1/2 case wouldn't be a problem. But if you plan on going through several rolls relatively quickly, the case can slow you down, especially with no asa cutout.
 
I bid on a brown case at eBay. When my starting bid was exceeded, I just decided to go to another auction and use BIN. The case was shipped the next morning, and was very promptly delivered. The color is a rich, deep brown, and the leather is supple and has a nice feel. The grips, front and back, are just about perfect for my hands, and definitely help in a one-handed grip... nice piece of designing.

I think the next project should be a neckstrap and matching shoulder pad. The Luigi straps are beautiful, but they are expensive. An alternative, in leather, would be welcome. I like the additional shoulder pad, because it distributes the weight and gives more stability. I would be a very willing buyer of at least 3 of these straps, if offered. I know my current case would look beautiful with one attached.

I tried Raid's tip, and also tucked in a Contax IIIa, and it does fit, with possibly a problem with access to the strap lugs on the camera. It definitely could be used with either a II/IIIa, and a strap with just "O" rings. I'll have to buy at least one more case, just for my Contax's.

It would be great if I could give myself an early Xmas gift of a strap or 3..... hint, if anyone's reading...

Bottom line: I'm very pleased with the case, and the price is a bargain.

Harry
 
I got a chance to check out Ted's (ampguy) case this last weekend. I was impressed, so I ordered one for myself...well for my MP. 🙂 I really like the Luigi cases. I've got two—one for a CLE. Maybe we'll see Luigi lower his prices a bit. For the M body, these two are about it for half-cases, no? I have a Eveready case for my M4-P. It's a little stiff, but it does the job.

🙂


ampguy said:
on ebay yesterday, and confirmation that it shipped this morning.

Nothing special, so I don't think it will have the asa dial cutout, but I don't think I need it for the m6, as I just set it once (when I remember to...) while changing film.
Click to expand...
 
My case arrived today, sorry no pictures but there have been so many posted already I don't think anyone will mind.

Packaging as mentioned by others is superb, more importantly the case itself hugs the body of my M2 very closely indeed for an extremely snug fit - no worries at all about the case coming loose at the wrong moment.

The quality of the leather isn't quite as good as Luigi's (I own one of his wrist straps) but is certainly good enough, and the stitching seems heavy-duty enough that the case should last a good many years of tough use.

I'm still getting used to handling the camera with case as I've only shot with 'naked' Leicas in the past. It's a very different feeling, the extra bulk isn't something I'm mad about but the muffling of the shutter click is a real bonus.
For some odd reason my Luigi soft-release also seems to suit the camera more now, I had previously only used it indoors when the light was dim by now I'm thinking of leaving it on the camera permanently.

All in all it's a purchase I'm very happy with.
For the price I don't think there's anything else out there that can compete right now.
I'm definately going to appreciate the case on those cold Ballarat winter days (like today!) when having my hands directly on the metal body has an extra chilling effect on them, something I won't miss in the least! 😉
 
Mr Zhou, how about a full case?

I could really use on for my M6, as the Leica one I bought recently is very impractical - the worst part is seperating the two halves, which I need to do when out shooting, (ie to put the cover in my bag, leaving the half case on) However I like the protection of housing my M6 in a full case, when not in use, or when it's around my neck. Also for the money, it looks and feels cheap.

Judging by the quality of your half cases, I feel sure yours would address these issues.
 
How snug are peoples cases?

I 'could' easily squeeze a biro between the back of the camera and the case.

I've had my case for a few days now. Luigi has nothing to worry about, but that's not a denegration of the Zhou case, they are two different cases at two different prices.

The good points have been mentioned already.

Only two annoyance for me, the loose back as above and the little strap thing which goes over the lug on the windon side. It's a little two high and hits the windon lever (and my thumb) on both the M2 and M4-2 as they pass over it.
 
kully said:
How snug are peoples cases?

I 'could' easily squeeze a biro between the back of the camera and the case.

I've had my case for a few days now. Luigi has nothing to worry about, but that's not a denegration of the Zhou case, they are two different cases at two different prices.

The good points have been mentioned already.

Only two annoyance for me, the loose back as above and the little strap thing which goes over the lug on the windon side. It's a little two high and hits the windon lever (and my thumb) on both the M2 and M4-2 as they pass over it.
Click to expand...

Don't know what a biro is, but there is enough room so that the
M6 ISO dial fits in well, Kully.

Roland.
 
My case...

My case...

I bought a black half case which arrived a few days ago. It's extremely well made and fits my M2 well, although there is a bit of space at the back. In practice, this doesn't cause a problem as when holding the camera, the gap is closed.

I think that for $55, this case is a steal. The Luigi case is many times the price (don't know how many, as his pricing is incomprehensible) and I can't see the need to spend $200+ when this $55 case does a good job.

Regards
Ernst
 
Very odd, I could have sworn I posted something here last Saturday - maybe it got munched in the forum restore?

Anyway, the case arrived Saturday and I think the presentation in the black box, with the tyvek bag is just the best. A lot of big manufacturers could learn from that.

I love the leather, the fit on the MP and the whole idea - great product, well executed. There is a small amount of "bag" at the back of the case, but I feel this is due to me ordering one without the asa hole, so the leather has to stretch around the dial. I'm sure it will bed in over time. Apart from that, the fit is snug all over and actually needs a bit of pursuasion to get it on and off the body - better than starting out sloppy and getting worse IMO.

I have no problems with the securing straps getting anywhere near the wind-on lever on my MP, the one I have had obviously been designed for the body I have it on. Out of interest, I tried it on my M3, but the fit here is wrong, as I have an older body with Bhudda's ears and the positioning is all wrong - there is no way I could fit a strap. That's OK, as I would want to have a different case on this body anyway.

Sorry I can't post any pics, my digithing is in Afghanistan at the moment.

Thanks to Zhou for a realistically priced alternative half-case - I hope he sells a lot of cases, and comes up with more designs in the future to tempt our wallets.
 
My Zhou case arrived today and it is great. As John Neal mentioned it's an OK fit on my M3 which is an old DS with the 'Buddha Ears' - I can get my Luigi strap on , but its obviously made for the later strap lug positioning.

I'll try it on a range of Zorkis and FEDs later and feedback on any that it fits (a'la Raid's Contax IIIa)

Quality, presentation and delivery were very good indeed and the prices is very nice!
 
I received my black leather half-case from Zhou a few days ago – I chose the model without the ISO dial cut-out. I also have one of Luigi’s Leicatime black leather half-cases with a built-in grip. I’ve now had time to compare the two on my Leica MP.

As others have said, Zhou’s case is nicely presented, coming in a plain black cardboard box. It is of softer thinner leather than a Luigi case and consequently is more flexible. It is also lighter, weighing only 50g; the Luigi case by comparison weighs 85g (a standard Luigi case without the built-in grip is no doubt a bit lighter). The stitching on both is of a high quality, and if I didn’t know I’d be hard pushed to tell which is hand-stitched and which is machine-stitched. Zhou’s case has a less shiny finish that Luigi’s and has a black lining – Luigi’s is red. Both cases have a rather attractive leather smell!

Zhou’s case has a small bulge both front and back which provides a good grip for the fingers and thumb of your right hand. My Luigi case has a more solid vertical grip on the front around which you can wrap your fingers, but the back is plain. Is one better than the other? Probably not, it just depends which you find more comfortable.

The back of Zhou’s case is higher on the right-hand side, then is cut slightly lower to accommodate the flash socket and viewfinder eyepiece. Luigi’s case is cut slightly lower and is straight across, with just a minimal shaping around the eyepiece.

The only niggle I experienced was that the base of Zhou’s case is not as thick as that in a Luigi case. This meant that on a couple of occasions when changing lenses the lens would not mount immediately as the lip of the case got in the way of the lens and the camera body. Luigi’s case has a slightly thicker base and so the camera sits a few millimetres higher up and does not get in the way of changing lenses.

To sum up, Zhou’s case is well made and is available at a good price. It does what it is meant to do and I can recommend it.

Alan
 
Thanks Guys - for the review and positive comments. I managed to get one of the last brown cases without cutout for my M2 and it arrived this morning.I am very pleased I saw this thread and got one before the price increase but having said that they are still excellent value at the new cameraquest price.The quality of the case is superb (and the packaging) it will be on my M2 whenever we go from now on.
Thanks Mr Zhou
Regards
Steve
 
I got mine too. I'm not so enthusiatic, but it's made very well. Mine is cut a little bit to high on the right side so that the film advance lever is sliding on the leather (with M6). Will see how it makes further.

BTW, does anyone know what the sign on the bottom means? Rabbit with camera??
 
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