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M8 half case, vs. Luigi case, M8 grip


pklein

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Like many, I've tried them all - Leica grip, Leica half case and Luigi half cases with grip & flap/panel.

 

The Leica grip is the best if you want a firm grip on the camera and don't need any 'protection' or nice aesthetics. You can get a very firm grip on the camera and it also helps lift your index and centre fingers if you are prone to covering the rangefinder window at times. I use grips with tripod plates on them for tripod work.

 

The Leica half case leather is kind of slippery and pretty firm. The bump on the front works ok but isn't as nice to use (IMHO) as the grip or Luigi grip case. Hopefully the leather softens over time but I didn't wait to find out and mine was consigned to the spares bin after a couple of weeks.

 

The Luigi cases are beautifully soft/firm leather that look great, provide a good grip, and provide a bit of protection overall to the camera. Its a pain to take off to read the sd card or replace the battery but not too onerous. Its 200% better than the Leica case though. I prefer the flap to the removable panel but I think thats a personal thing.

 

If you just want protection in the bag, the Leica neoprene case works fine too.

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I just picked up two of the Luigi cases for my M8s, the one with the larger grip. I used the Leica grips before, but much prefer the Luigi case with it's grip. It adds a much more tactile surface to hold and the grip (which is smaller than the Leica grip) is just right and affords a great hold for the camera. You will find that it (naturally) adds a certain thickness to the body but I like the fact that it is protecting most of the body from harm. Luigi's cases are beautifully made and compliment the look of the camera.

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  • 1 month later...
I just picked up two of the Luigi cases for my M8s, the one with the larger grip. I used the Leica grips before, but much prefer the Luigi case with it's grip. It adds a much more tactile surface to hold and the grip (which is smaller than the Leica grip) is just right and affords a great hold for the camera. You will find that it (naturally) adds a certain thickness to the body but I like the fact that it is protecting most of the body from harm. Luigi's cases are beautifully made and compliment the look of the camera.

I forgot to state that I have the Leice M8. thanks Simon- photolady

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I have the Luigi half case, plus bottom stainless steel screw, no back flap, and I love it

 

It's been on and off my camera at least 150 times since last spring. No problems.

 

Frankly, sometimes I just leave it off. Today, for example, raining cats and dogs so I played around doing a composite/panorama thing with ambient light coming in our bedroom. Didn't really need the case protection. Still, that little bit of sticky grip that the Luigi leather affords you makes handling significantly easier.

 

I can't imagine why I would want the big fat grip for the leather case.

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One thing to note: I've owned both the Luigi and the Leica M8 case. The Leica case is super stuff and not nearly as soft and compliant as Luigi's. I brought the Leica case back as I had such a time getting it one and off and figured it would eventually cause the problems rosua outlined.

 

I've been really happy with all of the cases Luigi's sent me. Put on a screen protector, pop it in a Luigi case and go! The downside, of course, is that it will make the camera thicker to hold and make getting cards in and out a pain... Some like that, some don't.

 

Good luck,

-D

 

I bought the half protector case made by Leica and it was a disaster. I though this camera case would protect the camera from any erosion in the surface of the skin or bottom plate, adding small grips for a better handling. But...

 

I have found that this case damages the vinyl skin of the M8 camera, in the front-right and back-right parts of the body (see the attached prictures). The cause is a hard internal zone just behind the front and back grips of the half-protector case (see the pictures). The vinyl skin is eroded due to the abrasive contact of those two hard parts with the body.

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I haven't tried anybody's leather case. I added the Leica M8 grip two months after buying the camera and have not shot without it since. Try it: you'll like it too.

 

Yes, the Leica Neoprene case is a good value for pure protection whilst the camera is in transit (like traveling in my shoulder bag but not ready for action.)

 

-g

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I am thinking about getting the Luigi case with the Leica grip. What I don't understand is if I can use my Leica grip that replaces the bottom plate with the half case with grip or if I have to discard it. What did you do? photolady

 

If you ask Luigi, he will make you a case for the M8 with the Leica grip attached. That's what I did. It costs the same as his half case with built-in grip, but instead of a padded bulge to grip on to, it has a hollow cylindrical portion to accommodate the Leica grip you've already got attached to your baseplate. It works really well.

 

It works extremely well. FWIW, I got mine in black, with the flap-down back panel. I kind of disappears into the camera in the sense of not drawing any attention to it, but at the same time semi-subliminally makes the whole thing look still more old-fashioned, which I like. If you want to make more of a classic statement, Rally is lovely; I was just worried it would turn too many heads. Plus of course there's a good degree of armouring for the body, better grip, and a chunkier feel in the hand – which again I like. All in all I was very pleased with this, and using the camera without the case now feels very "skinny" and less satisfying.

 

While you're at it, do consider springing the 12 euros or so for one of the soft-release buttons. I went with the concave (to mimic what I'd got used to on Nikons) and it's never off the camera now. The black paint scratched off pretty quick but it looks nice in steel too. If it's not for you, then it's only 12 euros down the drain, but for my money it's a BIG help.

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I just love my M8 with Luigi half case + grip + tripod srew + spare battery pocket.

Grip is fine and case gives good protection.

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I bought the half protector case made by Leica and it was a disaster. I though this camera case would protect the camera from any erosion in the surface of the skin or bottom plate, adding small grips for a better handling. But....[snip]..........

I had exactly the same problems. The covering on my M8 has nearly been worn through by the case. In addition the backs of the fastening studs have almost worn the black chrome down to the base metal, it's where you apply most of the force when you grip the camera. Leica must have seen this when my camera was recently sent to Solms for focus adjustment.

 

Bob.

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From my perspective the only negative about the Luigi case is price. The leather is unbelievable, the craftsmanship fantastic, and the endresult super

 

I paid the price and after one year I stand by my decision.

 

Woody Spedden

 

Agree entirely - beautiful materials and workmanship. Any new leica (or Rolllei for he does lovely crocodile straps) is incomplete without a Luigi strap and case for me.

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I bought the luigi half-case with the grip. It is beutiful, well made and the grip is essential and fits very well in my hand. I also have the cover for the lcd, but I never use it. I use a 3M Vikuiti self adhesive foil instead so no need for lcd-update. The case slows down the change of battery or memory card, but for me it´s not a big problerm.

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...or Rolllei...

 

I confess I'm not a case man, _however_ one of the things Luigi will do is replace the existing strap on you Rolleiflex if you still have the original metal end pieces. This is useful to me because I bought a Rolleiflex a couple of years ago and lent it to a friend. As he put it around his neck the old thin leather strap broke. Luckily he caught the camera before it hit the ground and we both sighed with relief.

 

My only gripe about Luigi's straps for the M's is that I wish he would make them a little longer. The one I have is just a little too short for my liking.

 

Other than that he's one of the Leica stars.

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Steve,

 

He made me a much longer strap to suit my lanky frame and the fact I like to carry the camera with my head and one arm through the strap. Its 160cm long, with adjusters at each end and a join hidden by the shoulder pad. Luigi was very helpful - all this after an email conversation, and a little extra on the price for the extra work.

 

Graeme

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Having previously used the M8 grip, the Luigi half case comes as a relief and absolute delight to me. The case is extremely well-made and the internet service from Luigi's is both polite and efficient. I'm not overly bothered with taking the M8 in and out of the case for battery/card exchange since having a case requires this whether your camera is film or digital but it protects the camera and that is more important to me. With the optional steel screw cut into the base, the M8 fixes easily to a tripod bush without having to remove the case at all. I'm very happy.

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I think that little stainless steel screw is very useful. I often use my camera on a tripod and it operates with just my thumbnail. That flap over the LCD, in my experience, isn't really necessary and always reminds me of the seat from children's pajamas. With all but the heaviest lenses, i.e. Noc, the small grip on the half case gives me a good handle on the camera. Wish I had thought to request a slightly longer strap though.

 

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I love these Luigi leather threads. It's pure Leica porn.

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