To get back on track here, just wondering how many M shooters use a protective case? A pro I know shoots 3 Ms at once (well, he has 3 around his neck) and keeps them all in leather cases. It's an awkward arrangement, but he's used to it (and routinely wins awards) and it keeps his bodies from knocking into one another. I use a zing bag to store the camera, but when shooting leave it dangling.

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002

Answers

I don't use straps, so my camera is either in it's bag (in my bagpack that doesn't make me look like a tourist), in my hand or in my coat's pocket. This makes you wear coats with large pockets and use smaller lenses, though, but I really don't like never ready cases and straps.

-- Kai Blanke (kblanke@iname.com), January 23, 2002.

Cases get in the way, so I carry naked cameras. I don't care if they get a bit beat up.

-- Douglas Kinnear (douglas.kinnear@colostate.edu), January 23, 2002.

NOT!

Can't afford the time to be fumbling with cases for reloading when Kodak moments are passing you by.

...and can't afford the mink oil to rub down the cases with either.

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

I like the M4 half cases. They provide a nice grip and you don't have to worry about scratching the back or base of your camera when you put it down. I'd be interested to know, however, what those who use the handgrip or motordrive do to protect their cameras.

-- Peter B. Goldstein (peter.goldstein@us.cgeyc.com), January 23, 2002.

i have the voigtländer case for my m6, but i only put it on on special occasions. hiking with only the camera and one lens for example. i use it so seldom, i would never buy the leica original. but there are situations where it becomes handy to have some protection.

-- stefan randlkofer (geesbert@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

No knickers on my M's -- they just get in the way when I'm doing my thing.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 23, 2002.

I second using half-cases. Added protection for the body, without the bulk or (most of) the inconvenience of the never ready case. As far as I am concerned, the only downside is the need to remove the half-case when changing film. I'm currently using a custom made half- case sold by Luigi Crescenza in Rome, who sells them through a certain auction site under the name 'umana', or directly (and slightly cheaper) through his site leicatime.com. The leather has a wonderful supple quality about it, and it includes a little extra padding over the battery compartment/ self timer which acts as a mini grip. I believe he also sells a version which fits over an M fitted with the new model motor drive.

-- Stuart Dorman (stuart.dorman@us.pwcglobal.com), January 23, 2002.

Once in a while in dust, sea salt, etc.

-- Emile de Leon (knightpeople@msn.com), January 23, 2002.

I have a case for my IIIf that I use once in a while, if I'm using a 50 w/o aux. VF. Normally I carry my SM Leicas by just a strap, or in a bag if I'm carrying multiple lenses or bodies. (OT--the ER case for my Rollei TLR is slightly handier than any 35 mm camera case and I find myself using it fairly often).

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), January 23, 2002.

I always use the bottom half (only) of the current Leica never-ready case. Tossed away the top part. Always attached is the original Leica neoprene strap (with the two red metal discs pried out and tossed away too). This combi always serves me well and is never in the way. Changing film takes about five seconds longer with this case on first than without it.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), January 23, 2002.

I just ordered Luigi's half case too!! Looks beautiful! At http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/MUGers/lst there are photos of all of them in the folder entitled "M Related Items For Sale". Not sure if you can access them without being a member, but you can try...:-)

-Duncan

-- Duncan (airborn@euromail.se), January 23, 2002.

Like Peter, Stuart, & Michael, I use the bottom 1/2 of an ever-ready case for my M2 & M3. In addition to the extra protection for the camera body, I find the case prevents wear on the strap lugs (I like to use straps & the ones on my M's are almost worn through), gives me a slightly better grip (I have the extra wide case that has a slot to hold the booster cell for the old MC meter), & helps dampen the noise of the shutter (useful for shooting @ theatrical performances & such). However, I don't shoot enough film or engage in the type of photography that requires me to quickly change rolls (if I did, I might also have my bodies retrofitted w/the M4/M6 quick-load system). I only use the top 1/2 of the case if I'm carrying the camera in a duffle bag/backpack, etc. w/other loose camera bodies.

-- Chris Chen (Washington, DC) (furcafe@cris.com), January 23, 2002.

Hello,

I also second the halfcase idea. Like Peter B. and Chris I use the halfcase of a M e/r-leathercase. In my case it´s the one of an M 4. Just remove the frontpart and the case provides a perfect grip at the same time.

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 23, 2002.

And there I was thinking it was just Big 6 consultants that used half- cases... We're so often stereotyped, that it's a relief to see Peter and I are not alone 8^)

On the road every week, with the more stringent airline baggage restrictions, I can no longer dedicate a bag to camera equipment. Instead I bought a Lowepro Stealth backpack which was designed to carry digital Nikon & Canon SLRs and a laptop. I find my M6 and 35 or 50 Summicron fit comfortably in one of the three lens pouches at the top of the bag, leaving plenty of space for all the other gubbins I have to haul around with me.

Going one step further, I found a nifty little neoprene lens cover last weekend. Eastern Mountain Sports, one of the many outdoor activity stores near me, sells camping candles about the size of a 90mm Elmarit M. These candles come with a neoprene case which is split about 90% across its middle. A little surgery, and voila, one case becomes two. Turns out each half is a perfect fit for the 35mm and 50mm Summicrons, whether they're carried loose in a bag or attached to the camera body. I can't claim this is an original idea (thanks again Henry), but it works for me.

-- Stuart Dorman (stuart.dorman@us.pwcglobal.com), January 23, 2002.

I like the new design case #14870 on my M6TTL, it has two built in "bumps" one the front and one on the back that corresponds to the possition for my thumb and middle finger. Kind of like a built in grip.

-- Amauri Nunes (amauri@attglobal.net), January 23, 2002.

I use a leather wrap for my Leica M's. It is the same thickness as a camera case, but it contains holes for the lens, viewfinder etc.

The above picture shows the one I have on my motorised M, but I also have one for the Rapidwinder equipped M, with a slot cut into the leather base.

These covers help protect the camera from light bumps and scratches and greasy fingers, as well as cover over the red-dot and lower the camera's attractiveness for potential theives. ;?)

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), January 23, 2002.

Someone mentioned in a past thread that a Nikon FM2 1/2 case fit the M body like a glove. Does anyone out there remember or am I having a senior moment?

-- Pat Dunsworth (pdunsworth@aryarch.com), January 23, 2002.

Andrew: I'm just curious... how long does a roll of film last you?

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 23, 2002.

There is a case for a case ! It depends on the intended use on the day of the shoot. If it is a serious shoot where I need to bring a few lenses then everything goes into a Billingham bag, a small one or a large one.

If it is just a casual walk with one lens, then just the case.

I don't like nicks and scratches and dust, so always try to protect the body.

Wished they would sell a classic brown case like that of the Leica O, for the M6.

-- Yip (koklok@krdl.org.sg), January 23, 2002.

Who was that masked bandit.Sorry, that leather covered M above brings all kinds of strange things to my mind.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), January 23, 2002.

Hello Andrew N.,

that´s a really nice handicrafted piece of equipment you show there. Can imagine, people buying your s/h stuff are lucky with the mint gear they get.

My Q: What is the use/ function of the blue line on the barrel of your lens? Can we learn something new there?

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), January 24, 2002.

I think Andrew's wrap is beautiful, but I can't imagine using it. Whenever I see the picture, though, I think how neat.

-- rob (rob@robertappleby.com), January 24, 2002.

This topic has been up before. I advocate the "Original Benser" case - if you can find one (probably easiest in Germany; discontinued years ago). Soft black leather, disengages from body in action or is quickly removed completely and stashed in jacket pocket. I only use it to protect camera when not in use. It'll take an M6TTL with the grip and a 28/2.0 with lens hood.

-- Peter Mackay (pm@novonordisk.com), January 24, 2002.

How long does a roll of film last me?

It varies. When shooting candids then sometimes half an hour, other times I can have the same roll in the camera for a couple of days. When shooting 360-degree VRs then each roll of film holds 4x scenes, so I can go through 3 or 4 rolls per session.

Blue line on lens

A small piece of tape at 2.5m - the distance I shoot at now when using the 50mm Summicron (shown) for candids.

The thing with the wrap(s) is that when a lot of Leica users first see them they think "how weird, can't see the point". This was exactly the reaction of the guy who bought my M4-2 a year ago. Getting in touch with him since then however revealed that he now loves the thing and couldn't now imagine using an M without it!

The wrap(s) are held in place by simple heavy-duty press studs. It takes only a few seconds to undo one when changing film, so it doesn't get in the way.

Thing is, I would love to offer these things for sale, but the although the materials are reasonably cheap, it takes me hours and hours to make one. The tricky bits are getting the holes and the fit right, and then treating the leather with a couple of different compounds to make it waterproof and soft and pliable. Because of all the time taken to make one, I would have to charge approx. $300 just to pay for my time - a rediculously, rip-off high price. :?(

-- Andrew Nemeth (azn@nemeng.com), January 24, 2002.

$300? Thats about what Kamerleder gets for his nice cases. Your look like they may be more functional. You probably could sell as many as you would like to make for $300.00.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), January 24, 2002.

I choose not to case. A few more dings, scrapes, or bright marks won't make much difference at this point.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 24, 2002.

I don't case as I have a Kirk M plate on the bottom which means it does not fit in the ER case. The plate is good and actually both centers the tripod and allows me to instantly put it on a tripod or on a table top tripod which I do do occasionally. The plate I find useful as it helps me to grip the camera anyway. If I did not have the plate I would use the bottom half of the ER case as it makes the camera easier to hold.

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), January 25, 2002.

My case used to look like this until i replaced the plastic with old sofa leather. Andrew Nemeth's case is still better looking.8-)


-- Fred Sun (redsky3@yahoo.com), January 25, 2002.

I always use case for all my cameras. I have two leather Leica cases for R5, an eveready case and a belt case, all made by Leica.

They don't make case like the old days. Zeiss Ikon Contatflex has a beautiful brown leather case, trimmed with chrome rims, the front and top are pressure molded into shapes. The art of case making had vanished long time ago. Even the expensive Leica leather case are not made to the same standard as the Zeiss Ikon cases of bygone years.

Minox cases of the fifties were also very well made, many of them last till today.

The advantage of using cases are 1) protection from the elements some of my old camera has selenium meter, a cover protects the selenium from aging. 2) Avoid attract attention. With cover one nobody knows you carry a Leica or Minolta from a distance.

Some used camera's original cases are hard to find. I have two Minox C bought with no cases. I boughts leather pen cases for them.

For Minox GT-E, which is supposedly a pocket camera to put in pocket, I still bought the original Minox leather case, it is handly

Yesterday, I bought a eveready case for my used Minox 35ML on ebay.

Cases are even more important for pocket camera such as Minox-- a great number of Minox camera shutter failures were caused by dust and lint got into the inside of camera and clog up the electromagnets leading to shutter inoperative.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), January 26, 2002.

Hello to all ! Nice this discussion, and the title: "To case or not to case ?" :-) I just invite you to have a look at my cases auctions in eBay, where you'll find most of my cases different models. Please go to: http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll? MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=umana&include=0&since=- 1&sort=3&rows=25 (please copy and paste on your browser's address field this long url...), or search in eBay "umana" as a seller. Regards, Luigi

-- Luigi Crescenzi (webmaster@leicatime.com), May 03, 2002.

If these two guys whom I think everyone on this forum will concede were real menschs (menschen?) of the world of rangefinder photography could use Everready cases, I don't know why the rest of us cannot.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 03, 2002.