I've been shooting with the RX100 series since the mk3 came out and honestly I usually just throw them in a pocket or a small pouch but I finally treated myself to the RX100 VII for this big trip to Florence next month and I'm losing my mind trying to find a decent leather case. I bought one of those genuine leather ones off Amazon last week, spent like 60 bucks, and it showed up smelling like a chemical factory and feeling like literal cardboard. It's so stiff I can barely even press the shutter button and the fit is just... off. Like, the cutouts for the HDMI and charging ports don't even line up so I have to peel the whole thing off just to charge the battery which is a massive pain when you're on the move.

I really wanted something that looks classic but actually functions like it was made by someone who uses a camera. Most of these cases make the camera way too bulky and ruin the whole compact vibe which is why I bought the thing in the first place. I used to use Gariz cases back in the day but they seem impossible to find for the newer models or they're just super overpriced now and I heard their quality control has been slipping. I need something that allows access to the battery door without unscrewing the whole base because I swap batteries constantly when I'm shooting 4K video and the VII is a power hog anyway.

Budget is around 120 bucks or so but I'd go higher if the quality is actually there. I'm looking for a half case mostly but a full jacket style would be fine if it's not a nightmare to take off. My trip is in two weeks so I'm getting a bit desperate here. Does anyone have a lead on a brand that actually uses high quality cowhide or maybe something handmade? I'm tired of the mass produced junk that falls apart after a week of heavy use. What are you guys using to protect your Sony compacts these days?