Luigi strap review

[eric_kraus]

On 8-21-05, Luigi Crescenzi of Rome, Italy offered three readers an

opportunity to try one of his deluxe leather straps in return for an

honest review. A brown leather deluxe strap arrived yesterday. I

fitted it to my M7.

 

If you appreciate fine workmanship and fine leather, you will like

this strap:

 

Quality: Very soft leather and superb craftsmanship. The leather

even smells good. Uniform tanning and satin finish. Compliments

Leica quality.

 

Size: approx. 120 cm long x 1.5 cm wide; shoulder pad 3.5 cm x 17.5

cm. Light weight, easily foldable, uses little room during camera

bag storage.

 

Construction: Soft, high quality leather, smooth edge, wire loop end

connectors, leather connector protectors (each end), adjustable on

one end, strap threads through shoulder pad to permit pad adjustment

along the strap.

 

Strength: Leather strong. No bounce like some of the flexible type

straps available.

 

Connection to camera: metal loop rings not easily detachable but

very secure once threaded onto the camera's strap lugs. Not quick

release (but can be adapted for quick release with one or two of

Lutz's Hooks). The added leather protectors did protect the camera

body from the wire loop connectors.

 

Comfort: Very light weight and comfortable. Rougher surface of

shoulder pad helped prevent shoulder slippage. Can use over the

shoulder, attached to either one or two camera strap lugs, or across

the chest.

 

Weather/Rain Testing: not done

 

Cost: expensive, but you get what you pay for

 

In summary, if you like to use a leather camera strap, appreciate

exquisite craftsmanship, want to add a handsome accessory to your M

(or other camera), and can afford the cost, Luigi makes a wonderful

strap that should last a very long time with a little leather care.

Luigi is also a rapid communicator and delivers what he says he will

deliver.

 

Disclaimer: I do not work for Luigi or make my living promoting any

type of goods. I have no financial interest or conflict of interest

in this product or this review. At best, I am a serious amateur who

likes fine film cameras, have been using cameras for the past 48

years, and still loves the science and art of photography. Many

thanks to Luigi for permitting a few of us to test drive and review

his deluxe leather strap. All the best!

 

Eric

[edward_deangelis]

How much?

[erudolph]

I was just asking Luigi about a case and he wrote that his straps are now $58.

 

Ed

[owen w.]

I am #2 on the list to receive one of these. I hope it arrives within the next day or two. I'm looking to match it to a very nice IIIa.

<p>

Frankly, we all know Luigi makes very fine products. This is a chance to get a look at the newest edition strap.

<p>

Owen

[albert knapp md]

do you have a photo of the strap?

Albert

[paul_neuthaler]

I agree Luigi makes fine cases & straps. I've owned them. I question, however, their real utility as it relates to their cost. I have bought great Leica lenses for less than the cost of his cases, etc.

[elijah_free]

I own two Luigi cases and they are very lovely as a part of my Leica gear. Yes, they are on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. I enjoy them on a daily basis, so in that case, they are not really expensive at all. Mine were gifts to myself at various times. Also, Luigi is a fine gentleman to do business with. If you consider that his products will last a lifetime, then they cost very litte. You cannot go wrong with dealing with Luigi.

[eliot_rosen1]

If you buy Luigi's straps and cases (half-cases), you won't complain about Leica prices, his are considerably more. But the quality is, I'm sure, the best bthere is. I find a half case to be very useful. I personally use the original Leitz maroon leather case made for the M4-P. I put away the detachable top part and just use the bottom. It fits the M7 ver nicely (as well as some of the earlier M6s). I think it is Leicas best made camera case. The ones made for the M6 and M7 with the soft leather are not nearly as well finished, IMO.

 

But from what I have seen, no one makes a case like Luigi. It is just exquisitely made. And you pay for the quality.

[doris_chan]

A "strap review".........I've heard it all now.

 

The irony is that Leica make very good, very discrete, and reasonably priced, straps. I

wouldn't use

anything else on my digi-Canons.

[._._z]

<i><blockquote> A "strap review".........I've heard it all now.

</blockquote> </i><p>

 

You've missed this forum's lenscap and case discussions, then, not to mention the

periodic 'What X [pen, liquor, wristwatch] is most like a Leica?' threads.

[akochanowski]

Didn't I see a physician member of this fine forum recently write he has a $6K DMR on order, then near the end of the thread indicate he'd be getting a scanner and learning Photoshop? Yes, I believe I did.

[jerry_lehrer]

Eric,

 

If I received a Luigi Leather product to review, I would roll over

and purr too!

 

What a set-up!

 

Jerry

[doris_chan]

What you report wouldn't surprize me Andy. I also seem to recall a forum physician stating

that he'd commisioned a custom made Baldigi leather gimp suit for his forthcoming digi-

Leica. Classy, very, very classy. You just can't put a price on good taste......

[eliot_rosen1]

OK, dump on physicians (why mention the posters occupation - only to dump on the fact that he is a physician). Next time you get sick, try going to see a photojournalist!

[doris_chan]

"why mention the posters occupation"

 

I think that question could be more appropriately directed to Dr Albert.

[summitar]

Which product is most like a Leica? Viagra or Cialis? Actually, I like the name Viagra because I was born in Niagara Falls, whereas Cialis sound like a skin condition.

 

This thread reminds me of an article appearing in a bicycle magazine 20 years ago. Bicyclists, like camera buffs, are conspicuous consumers, and the article mentioned that if there two bins of bicycling gloves, of identical utility and quality, except one sold for $7.50 and the other for $49.95, the shop would have trouble keeping the more expensive pair in stock and nobody would want the cheap ones. I fond it obscene that I spent $100 for a 50mm SBOOI viewfinder, very much worn but optically OK. We Leicanuts tend to lose it, sometimes.

[nicolas_douez]

<:->---<div></div>

[eliot_rosen1]

Kerry, it's not a good example that you gave. The SBOOI 50 mm brightline VF is an extremely well made accessory by Leitz, gives an excellent clear bright view, and has collector value as well as utility value. So you are also paying for an item that is really well made and will hold its value.