This isn't the usual entry. It's almost a commercial for Luigi Crescenzi (Leicatime.com), who makes half cases for Leicas and other cameras.

A half case is the bottom half of a case with no top cover intended – or in this case, available. A half case serves to protect the camera while at the same time providing a secondary function of slightly muffling the sound of the shutter when it's released.

The drawback of any case, including this half case is that it must be removed when changing films. The Zeiss Ikon compounds this by requiring the user to remove the half case to rewind the film and also to check if film has been loaded into the camera. It's a minor inconvenience, and there are always tradeoffs to certain accessories. But you're not in a big hurry, are you?

I bought this half case just after sending my camera back to Hasselblad to have an issue corrected with the rangefinder. When the camera finally made its way back to me, the first thing I did (after inspecting the rangefinder) was put the body into the half case. A perfect fit.

Like his cases for the Leica M, there is a small mound on the front to provide for a better grip for the right hand. I wasn't quite sold on it, but after using it, it does serve that purpose. I don't know if that can be left off, and that's something that you would have to take up with Mr. Crescenzi. The small leather piece that snaps to the rest of the case loops around the strap eyelets, make it nearly impossible for the case to accidentally fall of the body. That wouldn't happen anyway, because the case fits the body very tightly – not too tightly, but tightly enough that you have to pull the case from the body.

The inside of the case is nicely finished with a small leather circular piece to cover the rivet.

A very nice leather strap arrived with the case. I've been using both for several weeks now, and I really like the combination. The case has a nice feel to it without drawing attention to itself. The cutout for the eyepiece and autoexposure lock work very well.

One benefit of the half case is that the camera doesn't seem quite as bright when you're out in the real world. That's a nice benefit, as being a photographer out in public these days puts some people on edge. Perhaps an explanation for the popularity of black cameras.

The neck strap is very comfortable without being obtrusive. When I want to carry the camera in my right hand, I simply loop the neck strap around my right wrist and hand several times, and I get a very secure grip on the camera.

All this does come at a cost, and that is the money that will come out of your wallet. Seeing that neither Zeiss nor Cosina has released a case for the camera, your options are limited. The Bessa cases will not fit the Zeiss Ikon, which is wider than the Bessa bodies by a couple of millimeters.

Am I glad that I bought it? Yes. Would I buy it if Zeiss or Cosina offered a full everready case? Probably – this handmade leather case has a very nice feel to it that you may or may not get with a mass-produced item.