Case for Leica CM

[brad_herman1]

Sorry in advance for the "rant"...

 

I own a couple of "M-Series" Leicas and also shoot with a Nikon D200 DSLR. My

Canon G6 is ok, but the images clearly do not compare with the D200 or Leica

rangefinders. Some folks have indicated that they have had good luck with the

Leica CM.

 

I plunked down $1000.00 an an authorized dealer and found out that the CM

didn't even come with a case. Even some of their lower-priced digital cameras

come with a case. Well, apparently the CM comes with a velour sock? It's NOT a

case.

 

So, I purchased a brown leather case (ref # 18560) with a zipper for $99.99.

(Not the eveready case). When the case and camera arrived, much to my

surprise, the case was 'stiff as a board'. Rigid is one thing, but I would

have needed a shoe-horn to get the camera in there. I promptly returned the

case to the dealer. Someone on the forum pointed me to the Leica USA website

where there was a corporate press release indicating that the CM and CM Zoom

now comes with a leather eveready case. There was no indication that this was

a promotion offered a year ago or that it was for a limited time only.

 

When I called Leica, I was passed around to several people and then was told

thst the offer was for a limited time, and was offered around a year ago. So,

the marketing machine that Leica is, they refused to honor what was on their

website, (no expiration or caveats for the offer). Hey, it wasn't even

promoted as an offer. It stated that the Leica CM and CM Zoom are now being

offered with a leather eveready case.

 

http://www.leica-camera.com/unternehmen/presse/data/04446/index_e.html

 

So now, I'll probably buy a Billingham or a Crumpler pouch.

 

Camera=Great

Customer Service=0

 

 

Brad

[jerry_lehrer]

Brad,-- My sympathy goes out to you. It should be required that every time that one buys a new Leica item, that they must shout out; "BOHICA".

[derek_stanton2]

I remember the limited time offer of the case, but it was a year or so after i got my CM. Perhaps it doesn't say "limited" on the site now, but i'm sure it was billed as such through other vehicles. Companies make mistakes.

 

I've been asking Luigi Crecenzi to make a custom strap for the CM for me. I should have it when i return from traveling. But, Luigi sent me an email last week about a new half-case for the Minilux that he is now making. I've asked him if he's planning something similar for the CM, but it is not yet in the making. Perhaps if enough people ask, he'll put that into production. I imagine it might be a bit more complex, with the rear command dial and LCD, though.

 

I don't see the Minilux case on his site yet: www.leicatime.com

[michael_b._elmer]

You should have kept the brown leather case which is of very high quality and protects the camera well, when you transport the camera. The worst solution would be an ever unready case. But I agree that a soft black leather case would be a nice accessory both for this camera and for Leicas digital cameras such as the D-Lux 2.

[lloyd_chan]

Brad

 

Consider the Fogg Piccolo. It was re-designed around the Leica CM and is much more functional than the 18560.

 

http://www.foggspecialistbags.com/piccolo.htm

http://www.leica-camera.com/discus_e/messages/2/65834.html

[vincenzo_maielli]

Hi, dear Brad. I own a Leica CM and i use, as bag, the case of the Yashica T Zoom (T4 Zoom in USA).

Ciao

 

Vincenzo Maielli Italy

[brad_herman1]

Thanks to all who posted responses. This is what I'm going to do...I placed an order with Tamarkin, NY for a Fogg Piccolo bag, black on black. They said that it can take a while, depending on what their workload is at the time and what their 'cut run' is. Maybe it's not even available anymore?

 

I also ordered a Crumpler 'Sporty Guy 0.6' bag. It's lined with microfiber cloth, has an extra pocket and is supposed to be very durable. Since I have two cameras, I ordered two bags, the Fogg and the Crumpler. By teh way, I emailed Leica, but received no response.

 

Different bags for different occasions right? My wife would approve.

 

Brad