While working on my review of the Leica T over the last few weeks I had forgotten to check with Sejun Kim at Arte di Mano in Korea to see what new cases he had conjured up for the latest camera. As I said in the test, the bottom of the T’s grip is sharp and digs into the palm of the hands after a time, so I recommended a half case of some description.
Fortunately I found that Steve M from the Leica Forum has been quick off the mark in ordering a case and has even managed to attach the leather strap to Leica’s own lugs. It’s a neat solution. Says Steve: “Spent an hour fixing the strap to the T lugs ….. just a bit of unpicking of stitching, lifting the glued sleeve and substituting the T lugs for the split rings and re-glueing/stitching.
He goes on to tell us that Sejun will soon have a strap with his own version of the lugs. This is the first I have heard of anyone manufacturing third-party lugs to fit the Leica T system and it is an encouraging sign.
The design of the T case from Arte di Mano looks to be up to Sejun’s usual excellent standards. I am not a fan of the stiffer tan leather chosen by Steve and would prefer the black version, which I think would better match the modern lines of the camera. It would look especially good on the black anodised version of the T.
Cost? Arte di Mano cases are not cheap and this version for the T costs around £250, plus there is always the possibility of some additional handling charges when the package arrives in the UK. But I suppose if you want the best you have to pay for it.
I think the tan leather against the silver body is just plain wrong. I agree with Mike Evans that a black case against the black anodised camera would look a thousand percent better.
It looks good but that awful viewfinder turns a good design into a disaster. The sooner Leica gives in and starts putting viewfinders in the camera like any other maker the better. I will not buy another camera with an external viewfinder.
250 quid for that you must be joking!