Found this thread yesterday! Honestly I spent way too much time obsessing over leather density and stitch spacing for my M11 setup.

• Artifact Signature Leica M11 Half Case: Fantastic 2mm thickness keeps it slim. The oil-waxed leather is technically great for weather protection.
• Angelo Pelle Half Case for Leica M11: Love the magnetic battery flap engineering! Its super precise for fast swaps. Both are amazing options under 300 bucks and way cheaper than the OEM gear!

Congrats on the M11! Its seriously such a game changer, even though I totally get the frustration with the new design. Losing that baseplate makes battery swaps way faster tho! For your Berlin trip, you should definitely look at Oberwerth. I have been using their gear for years and it is honestly fantastic.

• Oberwerth Half Case for Leica M11 Black Leather - super slim and has a perfect magnetic battery flap
• Vi Vante Sheet Metal Leather Half Case for Leica M11 - very low profile and sleek
• Rock n Roll Straps M11 Leather Half Case - really rugged vibe for street shooting Pair one of those with a Rock n Roll Straps Rock n Roll Classic M Leather Strap and you are golden. Its so comfy for long days walking around the city. You are gonna love that setup!

Been thinking about your setup since I went through the same transition last year. Honestly, I'm pretty satisfied with how the M11 handles now, though it definitely takes a minute to get used to the lack of a baseplate. I totally agree with the point about battery access being a huge upgrade for travel... no more fumbling with a loose piece of metal in a crowd! One small thing to consider is the added height. Some of these newer cases add way too much bulk to the bottom, which kinda ruins that slim M profile we all love. Quick question before I suggest some of the more budget-friendly stuff I've seen, are you gonna be using a tripod at all while you're in Berlin? Some designs make it way easier to mount than others and it really changes which brands I would steer you toward.

Commenting to find later

^ This. Also, I'm dealing with the exact same frustration right now. Honestly, it's such a headache when they change the body layout after years of consistency.

• In my experience, these transitions always end up being a whole ordeal. It reminds me of when a close friend of mine tried to compare his old Luigi Crescenzi leather to some newer brands and the fit was so off it actually scuffed his chassis.
• Over the years, I've tried many different setups and I'm always super cautious about these new magnetic battery flaps. I knew a guy who had one fail during a hike, and his battery ended up at the bottom of a ravine... talk about a nightmare.
• I've been looking at my old Artisan and Artist straps and comparing them to the modern stuff, and I'm just not sure the reliability is there anymore. I'm still just staring at my shelf of old M10 gear wondering what to do with it all. It's a real shame to see such beautiful craftsmanship go to waste because of a design tweak tho.