Your favourite case and strap? (Arte di Mano, Luigi/Leicatime, Kenji, etc.)

[jeffz]

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I use a Wotancraft camera bag - https://www.wotancraft.tw/en/creations/ryker-campaign. I had my camera strap made at my local leather shop. My wrist strap, when I use one, is a Luigi.

Anything you like will be fine.

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[Charles Escott-New]

Leica/Cooph paracord strap in black, 126cms. Half-case 7 Artisans. Bag a Billingham small.

[DickieT]

Pelican 1050 for any serious transport (lenses and bodies), Wotancraft Ryker as carrying bag and RocknRoll straps (love this one : https://rocknrollstraps.com/shop/camera-straps/rock-n-roll-m-straps/rock-n-roll-m-black-is-black/)

[CSG123]

I have a couple Billingham Hadley Pros for my regular camera gear (which sometimes includes my M4) and while I prefer a basic strap on all my cameras, the M4's lugs are worn beyond my comfort level.  Some years back, there was a fellow making cases for Leicas (and perhaps other brands) under the name Kameraleder.  He is gone from the internet and his old website domain leads elsewhere but the cases, which have a strap attached to the case were things of beauty.  Here's my M4 residing in mine:

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[Frase]

Standard Leica strap with the rubber pad cut off.

[tommonego@gmail.com]

I like a basic strap, I bought several basic nylon web 1/2 inch wide straps back in the day. Just received an unexpected M3, found one of the straps in a drawer. Feels proper on an M3. I did braided nylon cord when I was in college, just not that comfortable. Think they were the first Contax SLR straps.

 

Edited October 15, 2019 by tommonego@gmail.com

[plaidshirts]

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I've used numerous Zhou's and vintage Leica cases, full and half, and think they are all about the same as far as quality and usefulness. It just depends on what you're looking to get out of it.

My favorite straps are by Gordy's, which possess a good combination of quality, price and looks.

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[A miller]

Pardon me but half cases are soooo wrong.   Buy a nice strap but please there is no need to practice safe sex with a Leica.   It looks so pathetic and takes away from the sensual connection that you are meant to have with your camera.  And if you do use a half case, please don't come near me with it.  I won't be seen within a city block of you.  Sorry!

[Guest Nowhereman]

This is the first time I've agreed with anything @A miller has said, literally. Ralph Gibson used to say that half-cases were simply ridiculous for a Leica M arguing that, not only did they feel wrong, but also they muffled the sound of the shutter, meaning that, you couldn't hear if you were, by mistake, way off in the shutter speed setting. This was in the context of his recommendation for beginners to practice enough so that they could essentially set the shutter speed by counting clicks, without looking at the shutter speed wheel.
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[Paul Verrips]

On 9/9/2019 at 8:26 PM, rramesh said:

A Leica strap and a Billingham bag. Can't go wrong and will work with all Leica cameras.

Same here.  I use The Billingham Hadley small or Airline stowaway (depends on what setup) and sometimes a Rock n Roll Asain blue strap. But the standard Leica M strap is best.

Edited October 26, 2019 by Paul Verrips

[Prosophos]

For half-cases I swore off the expensive ones several years ago, in favour of cheaper offerings from the big online auction house.

Straps, on the other hand, I don't skimp on.  My favourites are made by Harry:

https://www.harrybenz.com/

I wrote about my experiences with him and his creations in these two blog posts:

https://prosophos.com/2017/08/16/harry-benz-hand-crafted-straps/

https://prosophos.com/2018/03/10/harry-benz-strikes-again-2/

Peter.

[35mmview]

Billingham Hadley large as my camera bag. 14+ years of use and still going strong.

Arte Di Mano half case. Simply the best there is for fit and finish.

Cub & Company leather sling strap. Works well and looks good.

[Viv]

Billingham 72 Bag when I carry one camera.

Billingham for Leica bag when I carry two cameras.

Peak Design wrist straps on both cameras.

I don't use camera cases.

Edited October 30, 2019 by Viv

[Herr Barnack]

Favorite strap?  https://www.harrybenz.com/shop/vintage-b

Favorite to hell and back case?  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1347953-REG/pelican_015100_0040_190_1510_case_with_dividers.html

Favorite daily carry camera bag?  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1430983-REG/think_tank_photo_710731_retrospective_7_v_2_0.html

Favorite "Ima get me me o' them sumbitches one o' these days" camera bag?  http://www.foggspecialistbags.com/fogg-camera-satchels/last-waltz

[Archiver]

Everyone will have a different answer. I have a standard Luigi on my M9, and dark brown Zhou half case on my M7. I also have a black Zhou half case with red stitching for my M9. I find the Zhou case feels great with the M7, but the M9 version feels just a bit chunky. The Luigi case is great, and still smells of good leather nine years after I got it. If I were to get a half case for a film Leica, it would probably be a Zhou.

As for bags, a lot of people here like Billingham, Wotancraft and Domke, but I prefer bags with straight zippered access. It's far easier than lifting some massive flap of material out of the way to access your gear, and far easier to secure. Nothing will pop open if you don't want it to. To that end, I like simple but inexpensive bags like the discontinued Lowepro Streamline and the Crumpler Dry Red Boarding Bag. Both are sleek bags which mold to the body; with a strip of protective foam in the bottom, they protect anything inside pretty well. Not completely rainproof, but how many bags really are?

I used to use a Thinktank Urban Disguise, but after a while I found it too boxy. I much prefer a bag which easily molds to the body while providing some protection.

Like many, I bought a Billingham Hadley Pro, perhaps as much for the image and excitement as for the bag itself. It's just not that practical for me. The foam insert is fairly stiff and doesn't mold to the body. There are two front pockets with flaps, secured by snaps. Stuff can fall out. There is no internal pocket at all. A zippered pocket on the back is secure and watersealed, though. I just prefer more pockets, and with zips rather than buttons and flaps.

Edited October 31, 2019 by Archiver

[benqui]

Black Angelo Pelle Strap and a black M4, thats all!

 

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[Ouroboros]

I use a Deadcameras Slim Strap

I have never seen the point of camera cases, especially half cases.

[CSG123]

On 9/29/2019 at 11:16 AM, CSGreene said:

I have a couple Billingham Hadley Pros for my regular camera gear (which sometimes includes my M4) and while I prefer a basic strap on all my cameras, the M4's lugs are worn beyond my comfort level.  Some years back, there was a fellow making cases for Leicas (and perhaps other brands) under the name Kameraleder.  He is gone from the internet and his old website domain leads elsewhere but the cases, which have a strap attached to the case were things of beauty.  Here's my M4 residing in mine:

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Now that I've discovered Peak Design, I comfortably use their anchors with this camera.  The half case is now unused but I removed the leather strap from it and am comfortable using the naked camera and the strap.  If I ever get a CLA by Youxin Ye, I'll have the lugs replaced with stainless steel even though they are not correct for a 1967 M4.

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[Huss]

My favorite strap by far is the latest Leica M leather strap they ship w the M6 and MP.

I own half cases/use them from Art & Artisans, Luigi, Zhou.  But my favorite - easily - is also the cheapest.  About $50 on ebay.  It is very slim fitting, perfect fit, really well made, multiple colour options, you can still use a tripod w it on, and best of all - does not have those leather flaps that go over the strap eyelets adding bulk and reducing comfort when you hold the camera.

Half cases have saved my Ms numerous times from knocks that could have damaged the camera, affected RF calibration etc.  Up to you whether you like them/want them or not!

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[250swb]

1 hour ago, Huss said:

My favorite strap by far is the latest Leica M leather strap they ship w the M6 and MP.

An hour spent watching TV and screwing the strap up into knots turns it into the perfect strap.