Do you use the leather pouch that your lens came from?

[IkarusJohn]

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Leica lenses (apart from the Summarits, I understand) come with a nice black zip up leather pouch. I use a Billingham camera bag, and I have been putting the lens in the leather pouch in the bag as I feel it protects the lens. It does make changing lenses very fiddly, and fitting three lenses in pouches and my M9 in its half case a bit of a squeeze. I also have 4 lenses, so one lens will always be left behind, unless I use the bag for lenses and carry the camera with lens separately.

 

I'm reluctant to just put a lens in my pocket without the pouch as I fear dust will work its way into the lens. Similarly, I don't like the idea of just putting the lens into the Billingham bag.

 

I appreciate that it's a banal question, but I would be interested in what others do. These lenses cost a numbing amount of money.

 

Cheers

John

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[digger1914]

I certainly use mine. As I have 2 Leica & 1 Zeiss lenses the cases work out well as storage in my bag, as the Zeiss came without a bag.

 

I must confess that I have put lenses in my pocket without using the case, and that probably is naughty

[alexmann]

I chose my Billingham bag because of the soft texture of the interior dividers. I'm very happy keeping my lenses in this and have had no problems with dust. I do keep the bag properly closed at all times though. The leather bags tend to stay in the original box apart from trips abroad. I don't, however, feel comfortable with lenses in pockets - too prone to slipping in car keys, loose change or the odd screwdriver.

Regards

Alex

[Humood]

The leather pouches remain in my Billingham 455 for storage and travel, but for daily use, I carry an Artisan and Artist GCAM-1000 which has well padded sections so I carry four lenses capped and the fifth on the M9.

[menos I M6]

I use my Leica leather pouches.

 

I mostly use them in their original packaging, that came with the lens, to not loose track of the pouches.

This is the method for me, using them, to not loose track of the nice pouches ;-)

 

I use very soft inserts in my camera bags and have compartments for each item (two compartments for one body + lens on each side + two compartments for lenses and accessories).

 

When I travel, I use additional LowePro Terracline pouches - these are A LOT more practical and give reasonable bump and dirt ingress protection during travelling. They double as belt pouches as well, if really needed.

 

Original leather bags stay untouched until I should sell a lens - a pity, they are quite nice.

[jaapv]

Yes - when I carry the camera and carry one lens in my pocket (35+90 setup)

[masjah]

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In normal use no - all my bags are perfectly well-padded. But they are sometimes convenient to put them in (as a protrective measure) when packing for travelling abroad. (The 28/2.8 PC is an interesting example though - the pouch is specially shaped because of the shift knob sticking out, which I feel is otherwise a bit vulnerable.)

[alun]

No, I never use them. In fact, I don't have them for all of the lenses I have -- some came secondhand with, and some without. I have never bought a brand new lens. As others have said, in a Billingham bag they seem adequately protected. The only thing I do sometimes do when carrying a spare lens in my pocket or loose in another bag, is put an elastic band around it from end to end to make sure the lens cap doesn't pop off. Back covers always on and all lenses have a UV filter on for front element protection anyway.

[ishkra]

You can use original case if you haven't a soft bag...otherwise there is no need!

[bill]

Never used the Leica ones, but I have a couple of Contax ones from when I had a G system. They are drawstring, with flat bottoms and will comfortably hold a lens up to 75mm.

 

I also have 2 or 3 neoprene cases designed for those little gas-powered camping lights; they are about 2 1/2" in diameter and are split in the middle. You can put a small lens in either end, with viewfinder wrapped in a lens cloth in the middle, or use them with B2B coupling rings. They will comfortably hold a 135 Tele-Elmar too. They cost about £5 from a camping shop and come in different colours so that you can "colour code" your lenses.

 

I also use Billingham AVEA 3 pouches in a similar way, either on my bag or on my belt, thus:

 

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...otherwise, it's into the pockets for me

 

A small note of caution - it is not advisable, particularly in humid climates, to store your lenses, or indeed your cameras in leather cases.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[stunsworth]

Never use them. The lenses go into the bag naked. If you're worried about dust getting into the lenses if they're not in cases, what about the lens that's on the camera? If dust does get into the lens then all it may mean is that the lens needs to be serviced every few decades.

[smb]

I use an inexpensive drawstring pouch which I find quicker & easier to handle.

[bocaburger]

IIRC only one of my lenses was "LNIB" and came with its leather case. Nicely made, but using it would be a two-handed affair. It went back in the box the day I received the lens and will stay there until I sell it if ever. Leica lenses used to come in clear plastic bubbles with black plastic bases that doubled as rear lens caps. I think I might have one of those somewhere too.

[wizard]

Into my LowePro camera bag the lenses go without their pouches, that's what I have the camera bag for after all. I only use the leather pouches for transporting lenses if I do not carry a camera bag and for storing lenses not in use (keep the zipper open a little bit to allow ventilation).

 

Andy

[jamesk8752]

I store my Leica lenses in their bags on a shelf in my bedroom. They come out of the bags only when I use them. Humidity is not a problem here so I''m not concerned with fungus.

 

Regards, Jim

[250swb]

I have never used one of the leather bags/pouches/cases they come in. They just get put into the box for storage and are forgotten about. If you have a good camera bag and don't fill it with crumbs from sandwiches and crisps that is all the lens needs. Alternatively if I want to put a lens in my coat pocket I use a lens wrap. Its only a lens, its meant to be used, don't put anything at all in the way of just grabbing it.

 

Steve

[think]

I put them back in the box in the event that I ever want to sell off the lens.

 

I store them in Zing neoprene drawstring bags. The small size works with all but a 135. They have a few different top trim finish colors that work well for quick ID in the cabinet.

 

I carry a Domke satchel with two bodies and 3 lenses (25/35/75 or 25/50/90) two mounted and one pouched; the one not in use ends up in the pouch in the middle and the flash is in another Zing pouch beside it. Leave the drawstrings open and they work well for quick one-hand access; cinch them up and they provide excellent protection.

 

The pouches have excellent clips on them as well that can attach to a belt ring or a bandolier style strap with rings in the event that I just want a single body/alt lens to walk about with.

[jacobh]

Generally I do use the original pouches for maximum protection, but during working with the lenses, particularly when exchanging them for another,

I tend to leave them temporarily outside the pouches, either in my pockets or in the case compartments, to allow slightly faster replacement.

 

Jacobh

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[Rick]

If, I were to go out to shoot, I would put my spare lenses in the plastic bag that they originally shipped in, then I'd place them in the leather pouch, then carefully put the leather pouch in the original silver box with the styrofoam ends, then put all of this in my padded camera bag. I don't leave the house much. I have some lenses that have never been out of the boxes much, other than sitting on the coffee table

[Jeff S]

Only used them to ship a lens back to Leica for service.

 

Spare lens, if carrying one camera, goes in protected belt pouch, then removed at end of shoot and stored in padded bag.

 

After picking up a second camera, general practice is to store each body with lens mounted in bag, then shoot with both cameras sans bag or pouch. Some days, though, it's just one body, one lens. A mood thing.

 

In cold or inclement weather, sometimes just work out of the bag. Each item has its own padded place, so easy to remove and no danger of damage.

 

In all cases (so to speak), the leather pouch is superfluous for me. Now, if each were a bit more rigid and came with a belt loop and top flap...

 

Jeff