Practicality of a half case

[budjames]

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I use the Leica half case with LCD flap when I'm just carrying the camera only. I does a nice job of protecting the body, but the camera seems much larger when using it.

If I take a second lens, I leave the half case at home and carry it and the second lens in my Billing-ham Hadley Pro bag. I also use a wrist strap instead of a neck strap in this case.

Regards,

Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

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[Guest]

On 2/23/2019 at 3:36 PM, lucerne said:

Good news Peter.  Luigi is now offering a custom case.   When searching, do M10-D

 

 

Thanks Gordon, but I could only find reference to the M-D 262 half case that he offers on what has to be the worst, most confusing and horribly "designed" website on the internet, how the hell can one make sense of what he offers from it ? I can't...........Could be that he does offer one for the M-D 10, but after a short time viewing his site I just gave up with a headache. 

[jdlaing]

3 hours ago, petermullett said:

Thanks Gordon, but I could only find reference to the M-D 262 half case that he offers on what has to be the worst, most confusing and horribly "designed" website on the internet, how the hell can one make sense of what he offers from it ? I can't...........Could be that he does offer one for the M-D 10, but after a short time viewing his site I just gave up with a headache. 

Peter,

When his page opens its about the third picture from the top.

 

Now, available within November the 12th, the special half cases for the just introduced Leica M10-D 
We are making the 1st batches in Black, and Natural Aged Brown, either with the smaller "Bump", and the Built-in-Grip 
Same prices of the other models : Eur 180 "Bump", Eur 200 "Grip", Eur 20 Natural Aged, Eur 60 optional Deluxe strap

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[Ko.Fe.]

IMHO.

I can't recall any great Leica photog who used Leica with grip and fancy half case. Just Leica cases, I could recall.

I used grip then I had goggled lens.

The only cameras which are really needed half-case are Bessa, Epson. Those have very flaky exterior.  

Adding grips and half-cases is changing ergonomics. It is same as adding grip and half-case on the violin. 

IMHO.

[dkmoore]

9 minutes ago, Ko.Fe. said:

IMHO.

I can't recall any great Leica photog who used Leica with grip and fancy half case. Just Leica cases, I could recall.

I used grip then I had goggled lens.

The only cameras which are really needed half-case are Bessa, Epson. Those have very flaky exterior.  

Adding grips and half-cases is changing ergonomics. It is same as adding grip and half-case on the violin. 

IMHO.

The grip would certainly be helpful with lenses like the 50 & 75 Noctilux, 90 APO, etc. Had HCB used any of those lenses and said grips were available he may have been tempted to use.

That said, whether or not any historical Leica photographers used half cases doesn’t discuss the practicality. Not to mention the majority of Leica users aren’t Leica photographers in the professional sense.

I could see half cases being very practical in cold weather climates. I’m sure the batteries would last slightly longer and it would be easier to hold. It also protects the camera from scratches and dings if that is important to you. Some people also like the looks of the camera with case. 

You lost me with the violin analogy. Totally difference concept. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Ko.Fe. said:

IMHO.

I can't recall any great Leica photog who used Leica with grip and fancy half case. Just Leica cases, I could recall.

I used grip then I had goggled lens.

The only cameras which are really needed half-case are Bessa, Epson. Those have very flaky exterior.  

Adding grips and half-cases is changing ergonomics. It is same as adding grip and half-case on the violin. 

IMHO.

No offence meant but I find what you say here a bit weird. For any "great photographer" it wouldn't matter either way whether they had a case of any sort on their camera or not, even the camera itself can be unimportant. The eye finds the picture and the camera confirms it. Without a "great" eye the image isn't going to sing no matter what was used to make it.

Photographers whether great, mediocre or downright inept configure their gear so that it is comfortable for them to use, using or not using a certain piece of equipment or accessory just because a "great" did so will not make your photographs any better.

[Ko.Fe.]

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3 hours ago, dkmoore said:

The grip would certainly be helpful with lenses like the 50 & 75 Noctilux, 90 APO, etc. Had HCB used any of those lenses and said grips were available he may have been tempted to use.

That said, whether or not any historical Leica photographers used half cases doesn’t discuss the practicality. Not to mention the majority of Leica users aren’t Leica photographers in the professional sense.

I could see half cases being very practical in cold weather climates. I’m sure the batteries would last slightly longer and it would be easier to hold. It also protects the camera from scratches and dings if that is important to you. Some people also like the looks of the camera with case. 

You lost me with the violin analogy. Totally difference concept. 

Did you read, noticed the IMHO sign? I put it twice.

Sorry you didn't get the violin analogy.

To me it is the perfect one. I do fiddle my M cameras. And grip, half-case, half of the full case are getting into my fingers.

My goggled lend comment was addressing the same as heavy APO lens.

Grip helps but it is changing the fiddling, which is how you hold the camera and how fingers are getting around this.

Regarding cold climate guess of yours.

I do use digital M in winter. Like snow and ice winter. Even changing of battery is risky exercise. I did dropped M battery into the snow. Half case is useless if it chill factor of -25 C. It just adds more seconds to get your fingers cold, not responding.

The only solution to keep batteries, camera not to cold and not getting frost is to dress in layers and keep camera under the outside layer.

I do realise time was changed, only few are using Leica rangefinders as old masters did. But those who follow, I see them not using half-case and grip.

[pico]

3 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

I do realise time was changed, only few are using Leica rangefinders as old masters did. But those who follow, I see them not using half-case and grip.

If one lives long enough it is likely he will truly appreciate a handgrip.

 

[LeicaNewbieCA]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your all your feedbacks. That's what I love about this forum, everyone is passionate and are willing to chime in and help give their opinion.

If I can summarize for my own purpose, seems like half case is not the most practical item, but neither does it really hinder daily usage. And it does give added protection to the camera. I think in the end I'll end up getting one simply because it looks, well, nice... This is my first Leica (after lusting for one from afar for years) and I have to say, after 20+ years of Nikon and feeling a bit stagnant about photography in general, I didn't think I'd be this giddy and enthusiastic about the M10, but here I am finding myself taking pictures everyday, even in my boring office. I think it's just natural to want to "pretty things up" on something that I'm still in a honeymoon phase about.

As for the grip, I do like it. My fingers are a bit messed up due to an accident years back, and the added bulk/curvature helps me handle the camera better. 

 

Regards,

Indra

[dkmoore]

1 hour ago, LeicaNewbieCA said:

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your all your feedbacks. That's what I love about this forum, everyone is passionate and are willing to chime in and help give their opinion.

If I can summarize for my own purpose, seems like half case is not the most practical item, but neither does it really hinder daily usage. And it does give added protection to the camera. I think in the end I'll end up getting one simply because it looks, well, nice... This is my first Leica (after lusting for one from afar for years) and I have to say, after 20+ years of Nikon and feeling a bit stagnant about photography in general, I didn't think I'd be this giddy and enthusiastic about the M10, but here I am finding myself taking pictures everyday, even in my boring office. I think it's just natural to want to "pretty things up" on something that I'm still in a honeymoon phase about.

As for the grip, I do like it. My fingers are a bit messed up due to an accident years back, and the added bulk/curvature helps me handle the camera better. 

 

Regards,

Indra

I think you can't go wrong in your decision and I hope you enjoy your first M.

[SrMi]

I am using Arte di Mano Half Case for Leica M10 with Battery Access Door. It allows fast access to the battery and SD card (no unscrewing or removal of half-case needed) and adds a small bump that makes it easier to hold the camera. I bought for the functionality, but it looks nice as well.

[Peter Kilmister]

My experience with half cases is that they protect the body, can help with grip, and I have fitted one to mine when travelling by air. Once I had to put my camera through an X Ray machine and then watched it tumbling down a roller chute. No respect from the authorities. No use complaining.

The downside is that if it rains then water will collect inside the case. After a deluge the half case could get so drenched that the water level could cause electrical shorts. Not a good idea.

Most Leica Ms are so well built that they are showerproof. Just make sure your half case is removed before a rainy day.

[low325]

I’m not too much of a fan of cases on M’s.  Maybe on the Q being that it is smaller adds a little more girth to the grip.  But I find that the M10 has sharp edges making it noticeable when using, compared to older digital Ms like the M9 where the edges of the camera were a little more rounded off.  I like tactile feeling of no case on an M but the M10 I feel needs one, IMO.

[albertknappmd]

I always use a half case as it protects the camera and  makes it easier to hold. I also use the Thumbs up.

Luigi makes superb half cases with Thumbs up modification and battery trap doors..

Here is his URL... https://www.luigicases.com/

 

Albert

[astrostl]

I switched from an Artisan & Artist half-case to an Arte di Mano with a battery door, and the usabilty difference is profound. Posted pics in the main half-case thread around here.