Alternative to cameraleather.com / cheaper

Aki-san is well known here. I have dealt with him several times, and never been disappointed.

I love the way that he always send you some little extra in the package.

Domo-arigato Aki-san!
 
photobizzz said:
Just thought I would post a link I found for M coverings. Found it looking for something else but at $12 for a pre-cut M3 vulcanite set I couldnt keep it to myself.

🙂

http://aki-asahi.com/store/
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I get mine from this guy:http://cgi.ebay.com/GOAT-SKIN-Hide-Skin-Leather-Goatskin-BLACK-c_W0QQitemZ270153327695QQihZ017QQcategoryZ83936QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262 $15 buys you enough goat leather (extremely durable) to do half a dozen cameras. Of course you have to cut it and glue it yourself. If you don't want to do half a dozen cameras, click on "specials" and you'll find he has some 1 square foot pieces he sells for around $1. Just be sure to read about how thick they are. The 0.3 to 0.4mm pieces are just right. He also sells 0.5 to 0.7mm thick pieces though, and those are too thick.
 
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I had an old rusty,broken ZENIT-E and i decided to dress it in red!
i riped of the old leatherette and i cut red leather(bought in a local shop with some other pieces of real leather for something about 6-8 Euro/Kg.)
the ZENIT-E is an easy camera for "dressing".
as you can see it is there is no self timer lever!i will replace it from my spare parts box.
I must also get it cleaned from rust!i know i should first cleaned it but it all started as an experiment.i didn't know how it would look like.
Now i like it!it just looks great among all the grey-black cameras of my collection.ZENIT-E RED.JPG

ZENIT-E RED BACK.JPG
 
tvagi said:
I had an old rusty,broken ZENIT-E and i decided to dress it in red!
i riped of the old leatherette and i cut red leather(bought in a local shop with some other pieces of real leather for something about 6-8 Euro/Kg.)
the ZENIT-E is an easy camera for "dressing".
as you can see it is there is no self timer lever!i will replace it from my spare parts box.
I must also get it cleaned from rust!i know i should first cleaned it but it all started as an experiment.i didn't know how it would look like.
Now i like it!it just looks great among all the grey-black cameras of my collection.View attachment 60862

View attachment 60863
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You've done a good job, but you need to get some skived (pared down thin) calfskin leather or (preferably) goat leather or kidskin, about .3mm or .4mm thick; if you want to go with something exotic you could even use lizard or eel. What you have on there is too thick though, and is sticking up past the borders. It will eventually catch on things and start peeling. What I would recommend is something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ITALIAN-Goatski...83938QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
 
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you are right about the leather but it all started more like a joke!
but i would not dare working for the first time(actually second,because i tried "dressing" a Canonet with not good results!) with an expensive piece of leather and a camera in working condition.
 
tvagi said:
you are right about the leather but it all started more like a joke!
but i would not dare working for the first time(actually second,because i tried "dressing" a Canonet with not good results!) with an expensive piece of leather and a camera in working condition.
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Apply masking tape to the back of the leather. This lets you draw on it. Now take careful measurements (6-inch steel rule, to the nearest 1/32 inch) and lay out your measurements on the masking tape, with a pen. Double check all your measurements. Then you just cut along the lines. Dry fit it to see if you got it right, and if you did, then peel off the tape and glue it down. It isn't that hard. BTW, goat leather is what you want. It is very durable, is thin, looks good, and isn't that expensive. $15 will buy enough to do half a dozen cameras. http://cgi.ebay.com/ITALIAN-Goat-sk...83938QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

These are cameras I did in goat leather:











BTW, if you are determined to go with red, it comes in different colors.
 
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