Few people today carry their phones naked. Many more, myself among them, go out in public with their cameras swinging from their necks or slung over their shoulders in the buff.
There was a time when that was an intentional choice. Cameras came with protective cases and were not “sold separately”. Today, on the other hand, the default is bare back and you have to elect to cover up.
Given the shorter lifespan of these goods, a camera bag offers a better ROI than a bespoke case that will most likely not fit the hot on its heels new and improved model.
But for those times when you need to toss your camera into your non-padded bag or protect it from scrapes and bruises there is a strong case for the case.
I have been shooting my cameras in the buff for 15 years now finding cases to be too rococo and fussy for my taste – a bit too 3 piece suit and suspenders. But I think I’m having a change of heart. I want to be able to take my cameras around more regularly without carrying a camera bag and without worrying about the increasing odds they will be grotesquely marred.
I did the research and thought I’d share the results for those with rangefinders who are looking for suitable dress.
Luigi Cases (f.k.a. LeicaTime)
Ancient style website that takes patience and grit to get through but everything I have read about the products and the man behind them has been adulatory (liberal use of comic sans notwithstanding).
The cases reflect the handwork that went into their creation for those who find that aesthetic more appealing than the perfect lines made by machines.
Angelo Pelle (by Angelo Smaldore)
While Mr. Crescenzi operates in Rome, Mr. Smaldore conducts his business out of Firenze. To my mind, their home”town” is reflected in their products and online presence – guardate le scarpe! Angelo Pelle produces more modern looks and colorways than Luigi Cases; price points are similar.
Arte di Mano
This is precision Korean work based on the European leather-working tradition with clean lines and a wide choice of leathers – more extensive than is on offer by gli Italiani.
KAZA – Deluxe Handmade
Hong Kong team with Nippon experience and a vintage look. Cf. Artisan Workstation, also out of HK, who offer in some cases a more contemporary look but do not appear to be fully established as of this writing.
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