Suppose your camera needs a new skin...

[Honu-Hugger]

This camera belonged to my Grandfather. When it came to me the Vulcanite was brittle, loose from the body, and missing a few large pieces. My father is very conservative -- he cringed when he saw this .
On the other hand, I have become very fond of it... to some degree because I did it myself (and perhaps a little because it makes my Dad cringe ).

 

[Frankie]

Depends on the camera.
Some have Aki Skins, Some have Camera Leather and others have ones I cut myself. Kim

Advise about best adhesive to use (for cutting your own leather) would be much appreciated.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

A thin film sheet transfer adhesive works really well (3M and others).

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I just recoverd my M4 in Cameraleather "Levant black" and it looks, feels and even smells very very fine!

I am thinking about taking that one for my Frankenleica project. Can you show a pic?

 

[dee]

Hmm - awaiting results , but respectful might sum it up - My Kontaxes - chrome and tan ,
but must have silver paint body - shades of classic cars ?
Black and charcoal ?
Metallic silver blue and tan again on III and Contax II beater . Most were acceptable , but I wanted to play !

 

[JohnTF]

Am waiting for Flubber, if I drop it, I might catch it on the up cycle. ;-)

More seriously I may catch a flight to Morocco and get a nice thin leather cover for my Model 1/ converted to Standard, which is beautiful, well, the half that still has some covering.

Am a bit disappointed that Aki does not want to make me a cover -- it should be the simplest of covers, like one opening, am not sure the rear plug counts.

 

[JohnTF]

Needs?

Why?

In 43 years, amateur and professional, I've never felt the need to replace a camera covering yet.

Cheers,

R.

Luck, or clean living? ;-) Is there ever a condition under which you would reconsider, say your M4P had half of its cover gone?

Did you have your M8 serviced? If so, you may have a new cover on it?

No one seems to be able to explain why some covers just fail? By fail, I mean enough damage to make it difficult to hold securely.


J

 

[mark-b]

I'm thinking of using some of that Gorilla Tape, a black duct tape from wallyworld. Duck tape brand comes in different colors

 

[John Robertson]

If you can take the funny looks, the best choice is the ladies purse(handbag) section in a charity shop. Some nice leathers and textures.

 

[Chris101]

Where's the "Toss it and buy a new one" choice?

 

[mknawabi]

red leather

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21888190@N03/3438235176/

 

[johannielscom]

Charcoal GripTac from CameraLeather on my non-original black 1955 M3 DS:

 

[Ezzie]

Voted wildly different: Verdigris Kid Goat skin from Cameraleather:

 

[newspaperguy]

Waiting for my "new" chrome OM-1n being CLA'd and outfitted with a Cameraleather gray Griptac zootsuit (remember?) at CamTech.

 

[ZeissFan]

There's some nice coverings available. For some cameras, I like something close to the original. For my Japanese cameras, anything goes.

 

[Mablo]

if in doubt, everything looks great in black lizard skin.......

Agreed.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Luck, or clean living? ;-) Is there ever a condition under which you would reconsider, say your M4P had half of its cover gone?

Did you have your M8 serviced? If so, you may have a new cover on it?

No one seems to be able to explain why some covers just fail? By fail, I mean enough damage to make it difficult to hold securely.


J

Dear John,

I've never actually physically met anyone else who thought they needed one, either.

(Sorry for the long-delayed reply)

Cheers,

R

 

[maddoc]

I had used some matte black tape on my M4-P but it came off after some weeks and with it more and more of the vulcanite, finally recovered it with black griptack. My M7 had a quite slippery original covering so I decided to replace that also with griptack.

Griptack might be overrated but is really a good replacement for vulcanite, IMHO.

 

[John Robertson]

My Bessa R2 has Griptack skin and I find it excellent. I dont miss the bump on the back either.
My Bessa being green limited the color choice

 

[jack palmer]

Roger will object, but this is a fact: most MP users find that the default sharkskin covering on a standard MP sucks. Most users know that their MP is just begging for its default covering to be replaced with a better suited covering: it is just plain slippery if one has sweaty or wet hands. It is the one ergonomic nightmare of an otherwise perfectly designed M body. Fortunately it is easily fixed: real vulkanit or griptac are just two possible answers.

Very True. I think I'll recover my MP in Brown Lizard. It will match my boots.