Leica M5 - leather half-case/strap recommendations ?

Hassasin

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Any recommendations on leather half-cases for Leica M5? I can likely find a high quality strap, but half-cases are a few, some don't look too good IMO. Not looking to spend a ton on one, but it does have to be quality craftsmanship and good fit with hopefully front parts not "peeling" away from the body after a few months (sometimes from new).
 
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Hassasin

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Pieter12 said:
For the strap, is it a 2 or 3 lug body, and how do you want to use it?
Click to expand...

It's a 3-lug. I'll likely try vertical hang as originally intended, juts for kicks. It reminds me of Fujica GW690 II and that I did not find awkward at all, even if physically that is some chunk of gear.

As for half-cases so far I see nothing that would interest me, perhaps won't care for one.
 

Pieter12

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I generally like the OP/TECH line of straps, but I don't use a strap on my M5. I tried a wrist strap for a while, ended up mostly using a small shoulder bag and no strap on the camera.
 

btaylor

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I also like the OP/Tech strap for my 3 lug version. I got one of the half cases (Mr Zhao?) from eBay, I’m pretty happy with it. I have others from him too- they all do a decent job of protecting the camera, which is all I want it to do.
 
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Hassasin

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btaylor said:
I also like the OP/Tech strap for my 3 lug version. I got one of the half cases (Mr Zhao?) from eBay, I’m pretty happy with it. I have others from him too- they all do a decent job of protecting the camera, which is all I want it to do.
Click to expand...

Could you link me to that half-case you mention? I wonder if it allows for self-timer to move around (there are some that clearly do not)
 
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Hassasin

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@btaylor Is THIS what you are using (same can be found on eBay too) ?

The lower strap lug is obviously a challenge to fit a case over it without resorting to perhaps something like in this case, clip-on side. I can't see how bottom side of these clips is covered (if it is) to prevent rubbing into camera's leatherette or the battery cover in same location.

 

guangong

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Bedides the soft case, Leitz sold a hard case for the M5. You could use the bottom half. Way back in 1973 I dropped my wife’s M5 in soft case on airport stone floor. Knocked out the film counter. After trip I bought a hard case. My cased Hasselblad fell about a yard on to concrete garage floor and suffered no damage. I believe In cases. Not using a case to protect camera really began in 1960s when amateurs wanted to look “professional”.
 
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Hassasin

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@guangong I've seen the ever ready case, but nothing that looks like classic camera case with bottom/top half. Can you link me to one? Some I see on eBay right now are called as for M5 but are actually for R series.
 

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I recently bought a Mr. Zhou M5 half case. I've not put it on my M5 which is currently at DAG for overhaul, but the case looks to be just what you are looking for.
 
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Hassasin

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chuckroast said:
I recently bought a Mr. Zhou M5 half case. I've not put it on my M5 which is currently at DAG for overhaul, but the case looks to be just what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

Can you link me to Mr. Zhou?
 
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Hassasin

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Mr. Zhou looks to be showing quite a bit of case/body separation on front sections / both sides, and self timer is covered (but that may have to be eaten up as a necessary shortcoming.
 

seichenur

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Be careful with synthetic materials in cases. My pristine black Leica 6 TTL was no longer pristine thanks to the original Leica black leather case (=$$$).
I thought it was some kind of galvanic corrosion or something (bubbles under the paint), but it happened only at the areas where the soft cushioned materials inside the case were in contact with the top part of the camera. Excellent! Since then, I only attach the case when needed. Never ever for storage.
It never happened with any other of my dozens of non-Leica cameras. It`s "Leica exclusive"
 
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Hassasin

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@chuckroast As I am in no hurry to buy the case, would appreciate your feedback once yoiu get it tried on the camera. Comparing Mr. Zhou to what I linked earlier from Amazon, I seem to think both combined would created a better final product. Mr. Zhou put the closures for side flap on the back, which seem to make more sense than on the side, where it effectively widens the whole rig even more. But I am concerned about the fit on front side, how tight it is against the body.
 

chuckroast

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I will be happy to report back but my M5 is a month out from being delivered.

I would caution you on asking for too tight a fit. That can rub finish off on the camera. The purpose of the half case it to protect it but not to be a second tight skin. I think this is probably more of an issue for black finish cameras (like mine - my M5 is a black 50 Jahre) than for chrome.
 
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Hassasin

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Mine is black to, even if not 50 Jahre but while I could agree with your assessment, when the case sticks away from the body then it don't particularly like it. And I just see something in those pics that suggests front sides are angling away.Still though will wait on your input once you have it. I'm not going to buy anything for another 2-3 months anyways.
 

guangong

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Hassasin said:
@guangong I've seen the ever ready case, but nothing that looks like classic camera case with bottom/top half. Can you link me to one? Some I see on eBay right now are called as for M5 but are actually for R series.
Click to expand...

I bought my Leitz Leica M5 hard case while M5 cameras were still being made. As I recall, cameras were sold with a soft case. I have no idea where you could find one now. I don’t believe that the hard cases for M5/were sold in great numbers.
The M5 was the last camera made by Leitz. The fallen quality of Leica products such as cases has nothing to do with products made by Leitz. I have cases for IIIa, IIIc, IIIf, and M cameras sold by Leitz and all are in rather good condition considering their age. I also use a soft leather pouch made briefly by Leitz…i use it to carry camera in jacket pocket along with a wrist strap.
 

btaylor

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I have 3 cases for my M5. The first pictures is the Mr Zhou case from eBay. It’s simple, it feels good, practical. And yes, it does cover the self timer lever. I like the Velcro, I usually use the 2 strap lugs on one side.

Second is a trapezoid sort of case from Leica- probably found it on eBay. I like string the camera in it. Nice soft leather, doesn’t weigh much, nice protection for the camera. But far from “ever ready” that big flap has to go somewhere- awkward.

Finally the Leica hard leather “ever ready” case. Yea it looks like an SLR case, but it’s for the M5. Fits like a glove. Self timer exposed, solid. A little big and heavy. As a half case it works well, but you must attach your straps to the case itself, not that camera. Since I like the vertical orientation when carrying it I am not a big fan. Excellent protection though.
 

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Hassasin

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@btaylor thanks, great evidence. Looks like Mr. Zhou no longer uses Velcro as now I see two snaps instead. Leitz hard case definitely looks big and clearly makes the whole thing big as strap lugs are inside the case, so it’s a no. Soft case looks good for storage protection.
 
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