Half-Case for Leica R8/R9 with Motor-Drive?

[Leitzfan]

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Anyone know where I can get a half-case for my Leica R8/R9 with Motor-Drive (not Motor-Winder) attached?  I've already inquired with "Luigi's Cases," but he's unresponsive. 

You'd think that *someone* would've developed at least a neoprene half-case that would've rudimentarily satisfied this need by now; but nothing...

I just want to protect my increasingly vintage rig, while retaining basic functionality, on the fly.

Edited February 17 by Leitzfan

[Helge]

Hi Leitzfan,

you may face an issue here. At the time R8/R9 were sold, half-cases haven‘t been very common, rather an exception. There was only an ever-ready case, that accommodates your equipment.

Today, half-cases are somewhat common (maybe already beyond their summit?), however the combination you use is pretty rare which makes a development and production of such a case not really profitable.

[250swb]

The Leica Never-Ready Case also isn't of the traditional design where you could remove the front and just leave the half case on the camera, it's more like a shoulder bag you drop the camera into. I've never seen the point of a half-case with a film camera because there are always other things that need carrying, like film. So even if it's not the Leica case then a bag that meets your minimum requirements may be a solution, and there are a lot of single camera and lens SLR/DSLR bags to choose from.

[Helge]

I have this type of „bag“, it is rather bulky and not even very pretty or stylish. So it sits now for years in the cabinet, unused.

A half case has the big advantage to carry the camera in a real ever-ready state (like naked), however having some kind of minimum protection.

I leave home a lot without any bag, just a naked camera, one lens and a couple of films in a pocket, so a half case could make sense. A complete bag could be a nuisance sometimes.

[Leitzfan]

11 hours ago, 250swb said:

The Leica Never-Ready Case also isn't of the traditional design where you could remove the front and just leave the half case on the camera, it's more like a shoulder bag you drop the camera into. I've never seen the point of a half-case with a film camera because there are always other things that need carrying, like film. So even if it's not the Leica case then a bag that meets your minimum requirements may be a solution, and there are a lot of single camera and lens SLR/DSLR bags to choose from.

Yes; there are thousands of full bags/cases from which to choose.  I like my neoprene full ones the best.  But--they're full cases--not what I'm looking for.  And, whereas I hear you, about needing a place to put your film, etc., you'd think that Leica would've thought of that before they made their ubiquitous Barnak camera cases...  Most of which allow for nothing but the camera--*but* they do convert to a half-case upon unsnapping.

[250swb]

12 hours ago, Leitzfan said:

 you'd think that Leica would've thought of that before they made their ubiquitous Barnak camera cases...  Most of which allow for nothing but the camera--*but* they do convert to a half-case upon unsnapping.

Early Barnack cameras didn't have strap lugs so a case was essential to hang the camera around the neck. But they made many types of case that could take all sorts of accessories besides the naked camera for professional or keen amateur photographers. Others used a case because they'd have the annual summer holiday at the start of the film, Christmas in the middle, and the next annual holiday at the end, so the speed of changing film was never going to be critical for them.

[Helge]

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You don‘t need a big bag to carry a few rolls of film with you 😀

The‘ll always fit in any pocket of your clothes. To just carry a naked camera (with or without a half-case) frees you up, I like this a lot. Most people don‘t need more than a couple of extra film rolls for a longer hike, this is not digital with >100 pictures/hour 😉

That is basically the exact use case for a half-case, not uncommon today and it explains the increased demand today.

Unfortunately too late for the OP and his equipment. 
@Leitzfan

The only manufacturer I would expect to produce a half-case for a R8/R9 with drive is Luigi. You may have to be a bit more persistent to get an answer from him.

[Helge]

Did you notice that Luigi has a half-case for R8/R9 with DMR?

So, a half-case for R8/R9 w/ Drive is Not so far away, at least not size-wise…😎

[Leitzfan]

On 2/20/2025 at 1:57 PM, Helge said:

Did you notice that Luigi has a half-case for R8/R9 with DMR?

So, a half-case for R8/R9 w/ Drive is Not so far away, at least not size-wise…😎

Yes--I own one, for my DMR; and even tried it on my MD-R, but it just doesn't quite fit.  The lower back end of the MD-R is just a bit too "pronounced" (see side profile of a MD-R vs. DMR).  Though not undesirable (to use a double negative) on a *woman*--it's not ideal when trying to make a DMR case fit to an MD-R. 😄

So, Luigi, if you're reading--this would have to be a purpose-built half-case for the MD-R. 😉

Edited February 23 by Leitzfan

[Leitzfan]

On 2/19/2025 at 1:12 AM, Helge said:

You don‘t need a big bag to carry a few rolls of film with you 😀

The‘ll always fit in any pocket of your clothes. To just carry a naked camera (with or without a half-case) frees you up, I like this a lot. Most people don‘t need more than a couple of extra film rolls for a longer hike, this is not digital with >100 pictures/hour 😉

That is basically the exact use case for a half-case, not uncommon today and it explains the increased demand today.

Unfortunately too late for the OP and his equipment. 
@Leitzfan

The only manufacturer I would expect to produce a half-case for a R8/R9 with drive is Luigi. You may have to be a bit more persistent to get an answer from him.

Exactly!  Most eloquently said.

P.S.  I've been to Rhein-Main (& Frankfurt) many times...

Edited February 23 by Leitzfan