Review: Arte di Mano half cases for Leica M and MM

  Like two peas in a pod. The Monochrom on the left and the M on the right (suitably stealthed out with gaffer tape). Note the raised grip in just the right spot for the fingers. The Monochrom is wearing a Barton1972 Braided Style strap while the M sports a svelte silk creation from Artisan & Artist
Like two peas in a pod. The Monochrom on the left and the M on the right (suitably stealthed out with gaffer tape). Note the raised grip in just the right spot for the fingers. The Monochrom is wearing a Barton1972 Braided Style strap while the M sports a svelte silk creation from Artisan & Artist

The perfect camera case. Is there such a thing? It’s like looking for the best computer bag or the ideal iPhone protector. There is always something different to tempt the fickle. So it is with those lovely retro half-cases so beloved of Leica owners. They are practical, as a protection, and add a bit more grip to the camera. But primarily you are in for the gorgeous looks.

I have searched the world for my perfect half case and have at last found it in Korea of all places, hand-crafted by the Italian-sounding Arte di Mano outfit. Along the rocky path to half-case Nirvana I have tried most offerings. Those I haven’t owned I have examined closely on friends’ cameras. My conclusion is that the right combination of leather, feel and craftsmanship is hard to find. Above all, fit is important and it is vital that the cut-outs for screens, controls and other bumps are exactly right. Too many cases, including some from leading suppliers, have very sloppy tailoring, especially at the back of the camera. Often, no two cases are exactly the same and this is blamed on the vagaries of hand craftsmanship. Yet, as I have discovered, this is not always the case and there is no excuse for such sloppiness.

  The back of the Monochrom case is the closed design with cut-outs for the controls and screen. This is the Thumbs Up version. The standard version features a small raised bump below the shutter release. The fit and finish is impressive with none of the sloppiness evident in some competitors
The back of the Monochrom case is the closed design with cut-outs for the controls and screen. This is the Thumbs Up version. The standard version features a small raised bump below the shutter release. The fit and finish is impressive with none of the sloppiness evident in some competitors’ products. Note that all photographs in this article were taken with the new Leica C pocket camera.

I neared the end of my quest when my photographer friend George James acquired an Arte di Mano stealthy black case to go with his new Monochrom. It was love at first sight. This, I thought, is the perfectly crafted half case made from the best leather, a soft matte-black that epitomises what I think of as luxuriously ideal.

The red Artisan & Artist I had picked up secondhand from Aperture in London was no longer good enough for my Monochrom, so I started investigating ways of getting my sticky hands on one (or two, as it turned out) cases from Arte di Mano. George had ordered his from the Leica store in Miami, which is an easy option and possibly slightly less worrisome for the English-speaking customer. Instead, though, I soon found myself in detailed correspondence with the helpful Sejun Kim at his JnK-Handmade workshop in Korea.

  This is the M case with open back, intended for use with the accessory electronic viewfinder. Again, fit is exemplary and this open-back design is easier to remove in order to get to the battery and SD card.
This is the M case with open back, intended for use with the accessory electronic viewfinder. Again, fit is exemplary and this open-back design is easier to remove in order to get to the battery and SD card.

Ordering a customised case from the other side of the world needs some thought and, frankly, I was initially a little wary. Would it be as good as George’s case, would it fit perfectly, would Sejun interpret my additional requests to the letter? By this time I had decided to get twins–a stealthy all-black case for the Monochrom and an equally stealthy copy for the M (Typ 240). Sejun’s standard M case features contrasting white stitching but I wanted black stitching to match the appearance of the Monochrom case.

For the Monochrom I chose the version with the cut-away for Tim Isaac’s Thumbs Up grip. It is a standard option at Arte di Mano. This case has a tailored leather back to fit around the screen and controls. In contrast, the M case is of open back design. As I said, I asked Sejun to change the stitching to black to make the case match the appearance of the Monochrom version. I asked for both cases to be lined in green plush material; there is a choice of colours as standard.

Since all custom cases are made to order, I paid in advance (ouch!) and sat back to wait the three weeks Sejun quoted. On the dot a package arrived from Korea containing two perfectly crafted camera cases. It was a painless process.

To say I am delighted would be an understatement. These are without doubt two of the nicest Leica half cases I have ever seen. The fit on both cameras is exceptional, especially so with the back of the Monochrom case which faithfully follows the contours of screen and controls. There is none of that waywardness seen on some competitors’ designs. If you are going to spend this sort of money you are entitled to demand perfection and Sejun will provide it in spades.

  The front view of my Monochrom with Arte di Mano case, Thumbs Up grip and Barton Braided strap. Stealth on a stick (photo Leica C)
The front view of my Monochrom with Arte di Mano case, Thumbs Up grip and Barton Braided strap. Stealth on a stick (photo Leica C)

Of the two, I prefer the closed-back design of the Monochrom case; I can delight in the regularity of the fit and the perfect tailoring. The M case is less intricate but the open back makes for easier removal (which, of course, you have to do often to access the battery and SD card). The closed Monochrom design makes it a bit fiddly to get the top cross bar to slip over controls and screen.

Both these cases have perfectly regular flat bottoms which allow the camera to sit securely without falling over. Only with larger heavier lenses (such as the 50mm Summilux in chrome) is there a danger of the camera tilting down. Other cases I have tried are less regular at the bottom and allow the camera to wobble. Believe me, I have seen some atrocious bottoms on my quest for Case Perfect. It’s a small point but one that can become irritating if it isn’t right.

One of the big conundrums when choosing accessories is whether to go for handgrip or case. I have handgrips for both the M and MM. There is little doubt that they offer maximum grip, especially when using longer lenses. They are techy rather than arty. Nevertheless, a good case can also add to grippiness, but to a lesser extent. My two Arte di Mano cases have a sort of vestigial leather bump at the front, just right for the fingers, and this helps. The standard Monochrom case (as opposed to the Thumbs Up version I ordered) also has a leather bump on the back below the shutter to act as a sort of built-in Thumbs Up. The M camera already features a small metal thumb grip as part of the design.

On balance I much prefer the appearance and feel of both cameras when fitted with the Arte di Mano cases rather than the accessory grips. Still, it’s nice to have both options and I will continue to use the handgrips when I feel the urge or for special occasions when maximum grip is required.

These cases are made from soft Minerva black leather and cost around $390 each, depending on specification. The Thumbs Up version of the Monochrom case costs $10 extra, for instance.

 Stealthy-ised Leica M with Arte di Mano case and Artisan & Artist silk strap, gaffer tape from Homebase.
Stealthy-ised Leica M with Arte di Mano case and Artisan & Artist silk strap, gaffer tape from Homebase.

Where to find:

This Leica Store in Miami has a good web site which will give you a clear indication of the range and options. Sejun Kim’s web site is less easy to navigate, being in a combination of (mainly) Korean and English. You will get the idea, though, and the pictures are pretty. Sejun is eminently approachable by email and will happily deal in English so you can be sure you will get exactly what you want.

After that it is just a case of sniff sniff, feel feel, grip grip and enjoy.

6 COMMENTS

    • Luca, this was written seven years ago and I’ve moved in a bit from there. I now tend to prefer the Rock n Roll straps for heavier cameras and Gordy wrist straps for compacts. AA straps tend to be expensive and not particularly better than others. I do still have a soft spot for Brady but seldom use them these days.

  1. Last time I posted something on here, I was waiting for my Sony a7R to get through the door (still waiting BTW) and was questioning the need to own an expensive M 240 given the performance of the new Sony.

    Well, well….that was before I got very lucky and acquired a second hand but mint++ Leica M for a more decent price – a real bargain. Lucky because there aren’t so many of them around second hand with only a few actuations on the meter. I know…it is silly to spend that amount of money in a camera for a nonprofessional like me but so far I do not regret it for one second and in the worst case I would resell it.
    Now that I have an M in hand it is obvious this thing is more than just a camera. Without exaggerating too much, this is a piece of art. I have seen much worse so-called art in my life to allow me to take the risk to label the leica M 240 as Art. Surely the RF as opposed to the reflex technology is something to get used to but I do love it in retrospect. Still I have a lot to learn from it to get perfect focus at all times but I am already amazed by the performance of the sensor in low light with a fast lens. I can bin de flashgun without any hesitation now.
    Now to the point. I am at the very early stage where I do not want such an expensive and beautiful camera to get one scratch on it. And as a result I find your quest for the perfect protective case very appropriate…perfect timing too.
    My only problem at the moment is that I really love my M handgrip that I keep on the body all the time (that is coming from my SRL’s education I suppose) and I would really want to find a case that is suitable for both the body and the handgrip at the same time. And I do not want to invest in one of those cases that have a built-in handgrip, I am stubborn, I do want to keep my Leica M handgrip on !!! In particular because I would be obliged to part with it and I do not want to do that.
    Having searched for the perfect compromise for a week or so I have started telling myself that this was maybe a wishful thinking…but I am not desperate yet !
    PS: BTW I have acquired an R to M adapter from Novoflex and it is truly perfect. I do not know what the Leica version could bring on top (except making you lighter of a £100 more) that the Novoflex does not have already.

    • Congratulations on getting your hands on a used M. That’s the way to buy them and I am absolutely sure you will love it. As it happens I am currently in Beijing and got to try out a Sony a7r this morning. The built quality is not in the same league as Leica and, I would suggest, is slightly inferior to that of the RX1 (which, after all, unlike the a7r is made in Japan).

      I think you will be unable to find a case that covers the camera when fitted with a grip. You will probably have to choose between grip and case. You can always get one of those Domke wraps to protect the camera when travelling.

      I agree that the Novoflex adapter is excellent. I’ve had the Leica R adaptor on order for ever and if it doesn’t show up soon I will probably follow you to Novoflex. I would not be surprised to find that Novoflex made the adaptor for Leica in any case.

      • Great pictures of Beijing and thanks for the tip about the Domke wrap, it will do in the meantime and probably after anyway. Cheers.

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