Leica Forum - Photography Forum

Which external thumb grips improve handling on a Leica Q2?

DarkModeHero — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:30:46 +0000

grabbing a Q2 for my tokyo trip but its so slippery. official leica grip is like 200 bucks which is insane.

i saw the match technical ones but do they block the back dial? my logic was go cheap with haoge but i dont want it to feel like junk...

What is the most essential accessory for a new Leica owner?

Ran 4 — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 13:30:25 +0000

Finally pulled the trigger on an M11 after years of shooting with bulky Nikon setups and man I am so hyped but also kinda terrified lol. I thought my transition to rangefinders would be seamless but the ergonomics are a whole different beast than what I am used to. I am headed to Tokyo next Tuesday for a street photography trip and realize the body is way slicker than I anticipated. I have like 250 bucks left in my budget for some gear. Is a thumb grip actually worth the hype or should I be looking at a half case or maybe just a specific strap? Seriously whats the most essential accessory for a new Leica owner so I dont drop this thing in the middle of Shibuya?

Top-rated leather half-cases for the Leica Q2?

Zane Perry — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:30:28 +0000

Snagged a Q2 for my Italy trip next month and need a leather half-case. I've been looking at Arte di Mano but the lead times are crazy and Oberwerth looks nice but I read the fit is sometimes loose at the bottom... my budget is around 200.

Which one is actually worth it?

What is the best leather half case for a Leica M11?

MatrixMonk — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:30:58 +0000

So I finally jumped to the M11 after shooting an M10-P for years and the whole no-bottom-plate thing is still tripping me up a bit lol. Ive always used half cases to protect the base but the new battery design means my old cases are obviously useless now. I'm looking for something really specific because I've realized that some of these cases actually make it harder to flick the battery release lever which is super annoying when you're in a rush. I'm based in Brooklyn and usually spend my weekends doing long street walks so I need something thats gonna hold up and not just look pretty on a shelf.

Here is what I'm looking for:

Quick access to the battery and the USB-C port is a non-negotiable for me.

Slim profile because the M11 already feels a bit different in the hand.

Real high-quality leather, maybe something from Oberwerth or Luigino but I'm open to smaller makers if the quality is there.

Budget is about $300 but I'd prefer to stay under that if possible.

Must have a tripod thread built into the bottom.

I saw one from a brand called Vi Vante but I'm not sure about the leather quality compared to the stuff I'm used to from Arte di Mano. Does anyone have experience with how the fitment holds up over time? I dont want it getting loose after six months of heavy use...

What are the best leather cases for a Leica M11?

NeonNebulaX — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:05:32 +0000

Finally got my M11 but I'm terrified of scratching the baseplate so I need a case fast. I'm looking at the Arte di Mano and the Oberwerth Tagus. The Arte di Mano looks like the gold standard but man it's pricey and I'm worried it'll take forever to ship to Chicago since I have a trip coming up in about 18 days. The Oberwerth is more available but is it as slim? I really want to keep the profile small.

Budget: $450 max

Must have: Great grip

Use case: Street photography while traveling

Anyone have both? I'm leaning toward the Arte di Mano in black rally but I'm worried about the wait time...

Top recommendations for high-quality neck straps for a Leica Q3?

NodeNomad — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:05:31 +0000

Ive been a Leica shooter for over a decade mostly M bodies but I finally grabbed a Q3 for a street photography trip to Tokyo next week. Problem is the stock strap is honestly kinda trash and I noticed the lugs on this thing feel a bit tighter than my M11. I tried using my old Peak Design anchors but they look bulky and Im worried about them scratching the finish. I need something premium but functional maybe silk or a really supple leather. Budget isnt really an issue since I just dropped six grand on the camera anyway but I need it shipped to Seattle by Friday. What are the absolute best high-end straps that dont feel like a cheap ribbon?

Which thumb grips provide the best handling for Leica digital cameras?

DeepOrbit — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 03:05:54 +0000

finally got an m10 for my tokyo trip next month but man the grip is slippery. looked at the match technical one but heard it might block the dial?

then there is the official leica one but some say its loose. honestly just want something solid for under 150 bucks. what thumb grips feel best for street work?

Best SD cards for high-speed shooting on a Leica SL2?

BlazeVanguard — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:06:48 +0000

What SD cards are you guys actually using for high-speed burst shooting on the Leica SL2 because I'm hitting a wall with buffer speeds? I finally picked up a used SL2 last week and man I am so pumped to get out there and shoot some real action with it. I'm heading to the Monterey Motorsports Reunion next month and I'm gonna be trackside for most of it so I need something that won't choke when I'm doing those 10fps or 20fps bursts. Right now I'm just using some old SanDisk cards I had lying around from my Sony days and the buffer takes forever to clear which is basically a nightmare when you're trying to catch a Porsche 917 flying past.

I've been looking at a few options but I'm totally torn between the Sony Tough G Series V90 cards and the SanDisk Extreme Pro V90s. The Sony ones seem bulletproof which is cool because I'm kinda clumsy sometimes but they're so expensive compared to everything else. Then there's the ProGrade Digital Cobalt cards which some people say are even faster in the SL2 specifically? I have a budget of about $300 to $350 for two 128GB cards and I really don't want to blow it all on the official Leica branded cards if they're just rebranded stuff anyway which is what I heard on some other thread.

Is the Tough build worth the extra cash or should I just go with the ProGrades and call it a day? I'm worried about the cards overheating too since I'll be out in the sun all day long at the track. I really don't want to miss a shot because of a Recording... message on the screen. Anyone here have experience with these specific cards in an SL2? Like does the buffer actually clear faster with one over the others or are we just splitting hairs at this point? I need to order them by Friday to make sure they arrive in time for a practice shoot I'm doing at a local autocross event...

Best half-case recommendations for protecting a vintage Leica M6?

WWWOE — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:05:36 +0000

I just got this Leica M6 and honestly I'm terrified of even holding it. It cost way more than my car and I keep seeing people with these leather cover things on the bottom. Is that what a half case is? I've been looking online and everything is either like $500 or looks like cheap plastic and I'm just so lost and stressed about scratching the metal. I live in NYC and take the subway every day so I really need something to protect it from being bumped. I have about 150 bucks left after buying the camera so what should I actually get that isn't a total scam? I need it before my trip in three weeks...

Which thumb grips are highly recommended for Leica Q3 cameras?

RapidSpectra — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:05:49 +0000

Honestly the ergonomics on the Q3 are driving me nuts compared to my old Q2. I thought my old grip would fit but the new button layout makes it totally unusable and I keep hitting the play button by mistake. I need something solid for a shoot in Berlin next week, what actually works without blocking the dials?