Storing and carrying Elmarit 135

[bencoyote]

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Anybody have some tips for carrying and storing the Elmarit 135 f/2.8 with the goggles. Mine just got back from being serviced by Leica because it was out of focus calibration. They said when they took it in that frequently with these things the metal forging for the goggles gets bent causing the focus to be off. 

 

I was told not to expect much that in many cases these can't be brought into calibration. Partially because of the low expectations, I'm impressed now, basically before it was serviced I either had to use live view or focus at infinity. Now as far as I've been able to tell so far, it is perfect.

 

Anyway, normally I just toss lenses into round-ish padded pouches. With the goggles this just doesn't work. What do other people  to store and protect the lens? It is obviously not going to be my walk around lens. Was there a padded hard case for it or what?

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[a.noctilux]

Hello,

 

The 2.8/135mm Elmarit-M is nice to use with excellent result, but difficult to carry around.

 

Look at those binocular pouches:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Binocular-Cases/ci/178/N/4083534119

 

or some trekking case:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Maxpedition-Gear-Beefy-Pocket-Organizer/dp/B00J27DXK6/ref=pd_sim_200_9?ie=UTF8&dpID=513Xb5GlpbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1V4MQAHZN7ZPMHYS6SR4

 

Regards,

 

Arnaud

[spydrxx]

If you have a friend who is into leatherwork, the legendary Al Stohlman designed a leather case specifically for this lens along with details of how to securely attach it to a saddle for western horseback riders, and published plans and detailed instructions on how to make it in his book titled (as best as I can remember) "Leather Cases". It may be available at your local library, and I believe it is still carried by Tandy Leather shops. It is a fairly complicated project, but definitely achievable by an advanced leatherwork amateur. For some reason my copy has taken a leave of absence from my workshop in the last year, & I'm still trying to locate it. I mention this because over the years I've found when visiting some of the Tandy stores, they can put you in touch with people who are known entities and who are willing to take on these projects for a nominal fee plus cost of goods. And BTW - his design is superb and specific to this lens with goggles attached. What I can't remember is if the design includes a top part of the case for also holding the camera attached to the lens.

[tobey bilek]

There was a D shaped case hard leather case made for it.  GPO luck finding one.

 

I have a hard time believing a casting will bend, fracture yes, but not bend.  

[luigi bertolotti]

The original Leitz leather case is probably the best one... (was one of the reasons for I bought a 2nd Elmarit 135... the item I found for sale included it...  )  though of course the overall dimensions of the lens in itself make it one of the less easy to carry...

[uhoh7]

I use one often, as it is such a sweet lens.

 

I just put it in a soft bag and then it goes in a padded camera bag. It's never really taken a hard hit....knock on wood.