My "MP Classique" project. Covering ideas? Show me yours.

Shawn,

Haha, I love the look of Roland's lizard skin photo. I don't know if I'm hip enough to pull that off though. 😉


Sebastian,

Thanks for the comments.

"using a flush cap for the battery chamber, covered with your favourite camera leather"

This was my first idea, then I learned the battery box actually has a rim so you'll have to at least remove the part of battery box and make a special cap to fill the hole to avoid making a bump of dip after recovering.

Levant black leather is top of my list at the moment as well as some possibility of #4008, and hoping to find out more about Griptac. Any photo of Griptac on black camera (so I can see the tone/hue of the "charcoal" color) would be deeply appreciated.

I'm still figuring out details but I'll definitely keep you guys posted. 🙂
 
I found these photos of MP Classic.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M3/Leica-MP/index4.htm

What's up with that film reminder "disc" on the back? Anyone know if this actually has any function?

I came up with my project idea even before I learned the existence of the "real" MP Classic so it's not my goal to duplicate it. I'm not sure if I should keep M6 style (My MP = first 1,000 w/ old style dial) dial to use just like the reminder as M2 and others, or just take the whole thing and cover with flat leather/leatherette.
 
i'd just keep the m6 style iso dial. the iso disc on the mp classic doesn't do anything...except look out of place.
 
Some ideas

Some ideas

Great input so far but you could do something different with the film door.
There are so many different versions too choose from. A good thing really.
 

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sebastel said:
hi sug,

as an "old" H-D sporty modifier, i know what a project is.

just my idea concerning the de-metering: using a flush cap for the battery chamber, covered with your favourite camera leather, would be enough of disabling the meter ... for me.
anyway, it's your project, so don't let me stop you going!

i'd recommend aki-asahi covering, but as you said, they are not accepting orders currently (i checked when i had the idea to re-cover my M4-P). such a project needs not be finished in a day, so why not wait for a few months with ordering the cover?
the prior body modifications will take some time, too, so it's even not wasting time.

and - please keep us posted with the progress.

cheers and best regards,
sebastian
Click to expand...


I'm seriously considering pimping one of my OM-1's with something tasty but subtle!

I chuckled when I went to the site and saw this message! 😀
We have no staffs to handle this business, at present.
We hired a new staff and we are training her now.
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coelacanth said:
This was my first idea, then I learned the battery box actually has a rim so you'll have to at least remove the part of battery box and make a special cap to fill the hole to avoid making a bump of dip after recovering.

I'm still figuring out details but I'll definitely keep you guys posted. 🙂
Click to expand...

ah, i see. looks like i do not remember the M6 details so well.

as for the film door - why not get a wrecked M4-2 or M4-P and use that back? i need to doublecheck whether this is possible, but since there is currently no M6 or MP near me, it may take some time.

so far, my own camera modifications are:
- remove the sync poles
- cover the remaining holes with sheet plastic
- use black gaffer tape to cover the script on the top (as well as keeping the sync pole holes closed).

no plan for further modification.

cheers,
sebastian
 
Keith, I highly recommend Aki-Asahi, especially #4008. Their cut (they make dies in house) is CRAZY precise. Maybe I should pimp up my OMs, too. 😀


aizan, Peter and Sebastian,

I agree, the MP Classic's weird "disk" ins't making sense. I haven't seen the bare back plate of MP without the dial, but my guess is that putting "something" there was the easier choice for Leica to cover up what's underneath the dial.

At this point, I'm leaning towards keeping the M6 style dial. Kind of liking the idea of leaning things out, but not really going for FrankenLeica. M6 one is closer to older M as far as the style goes and I could use film reminder even without light meter.
 
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coelacanth said:
I found these photos of MP Classic.

What's up with that film reminder "disc" on the back? Anyone know if this actually has any function?
Click to expand...

No function, just like with the M4P.

It would really bother me that, after the meter being removed, the ASA dial will keep sticking out the back of your camera. Another door would be nice.
 
Thanks Roland. Yeah the MP Classic's disc is weird. It has the ISO numbers, but you can't even rotate anything to actually point to one.

And I agree with you about the MP/M6 dial sticking out quite a bit. My priority is to keep the MP as a leaned MP, not to combine with other Ms to become Franken-Leica just yet, but looking into possibility of removing the dial from MP door and apply plain covering. I'm just not sure how the door itself is shaped after removing the dial.

I'm keeping super-duper leathers like snake/lizard till my second M2. 😀 But I must say black M and black lizard skin look pretty pretty and surprisingly classy (not too bling).

I'm currently torn between Levant Black and Griptac. Maybe it's time to try Griptac... Hmmm.
 
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Can't imagine disabling the MP's meter myself as I look at it as one of the advantages of the camera [and would just remove the battery if that was the need], but changing the cameras covering from its original 'shark-skin' style is almost a must improvement.

My chrome MP .85 came with a griptac cover and I thought I'd want to change it to leather, but I'm finding I like it. It really does improve the grip and looks fine. If I did decide to change it, I like the smooth leather (non-embossed pattern) of the Leica green, brown, or black. I held the a la cart cameras with this leather and it has a very nice feel to them, and very classy look. Camera leather had a nice smooth light green and brown a couple years ago and I asked awhile back and he still had some around that could be cut. One thing about coverings of non black to think about, the back door frame is still black, and may look a bit out of place.

As for the rear ISO dial, the meterless M4-2 started the flat smooth surface dial as a cost cutting alternative to the older M3/M2/M4 style. The idea was to use a marker pen to show the film being used and wipe away when changed. I imagine changing the MP dial - if possible - would be a matter of finding the part and of course cost. May be better to just find a spare door without the ISO adjusting dial.

Just a thought… if your are set on a meterless MP, why not make an 'life-time Leica investment' and find one of the limited 'classic' MP kits with the retro design [new] 50 Summicron? Its everything you want and with a very cool limited Summicron, they are still around, and with selling your MP the cost may be OK since all the work is done AND you get the retro Summicron in the package for use and look.

Or maybe you just need a nice Luigi case. It will cover your cover back door, battery cover and all :angel: photo: MP Griptac with Luigi case
 

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dreamsandart said:
Can't imagine disabling the MP's meter myself as I look at it as one of the advantages of the camera [and would just remove the battery if that was the need], but changing the cameras covering from its original 'shark-skin' style is almost a must improvement.

My chrome MP .85 came with a griptac cover and I thought I'd want to change it to leather, but I'm finding I like it. It really does improve the grip and looks fine. If I did decide to change it, I like the smooth leather (non-embossed pattern) of the Leica green, brown, or black. I held the a la cart cameras with this leather and it has a very nice feel to them, and very classy look. Camera leather had a nice smooth light green and brown a couple years ago and I asked awhile back and he still had some around that could be cut. One thing about coverings of non black to think about, the back door frame is still black, and may look a bit out of place.

As for the rear ISO dial, the meterless M4-2 started the flat smooth surface dial as a cost cutting alternative to the older M3/M2/M4 style. The idea was to use a marker pen to show the film being used and wipe away when changed. I imagine changing the MP dial - if possible - would be a matter of finding the part and of course cost. May be better to just find a spare door without the ISO adjusting dial.

Just a thought… if your are set on a meterless MP, why not make an 'life-time Leica investment' and find one of the limited 'classic' MP kits with the retro design [new] 50 Summicron? Its everything you want and with a very cool limited Summicron, they are still around, and with selling your MP the cost may be OK since all the work is done AND you get the retro Summicron in the package for use and look.

Or maybe you just need a nice Luigi case. It will cover your cover back door, battery cover and all :angel: photo: MP Griptac with Luigi case
Click to expand...

Sage advice here from Gregory --- as well, what a sweet looking chrome MP 0,85x 😉
 
coelacanth said:
Thanks Thomas for the photo. I admit the Griptac looks really good in your photo. Covering isn't really a permanent change, maybe I should finally give Griptac a try...
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I just recovered my M8 in Charcoal Griptac and I have to say, while I like how it feels, I don't like how it looks. Nothing wrong with the texture, but it's clearly visible that it isn't black. It's a very dark gray and next to the black of the body it just doesn't fit. I think this mismatch will be even more obvious on a black paint camera, which is an even deeper black.
As my M8 is my only proper digital camera, I don't have any clear photos for you unfortunately...
Here's an iPhone photo, you can see what I mean the best in the top part of this photo.

photo2-3.jpg


So, to make a long story short, I just ordered the Levant Black cover and I hope that will provide me with the finish that I want.
 
Crazy idea Sug, but I'm eagerly awaiting the results. I would have suggested just getting a Black Paint M4 to get an "affordable" meterless M, but you seem to prefer the M3/M2/MP knob rewind. All the best on your project and make sure to keep us updated!
 
Hey guys. Thanks for your inputs, advices and great photos of your recovered Ms.

I'm glad to see you guys are interested in my "stupid" project, and I'm hoping that I can post some shots of the MP Classique in a short time.

Some recaps of the situation, project outline at this point:

• Above all, this is a "project" and that's the biggest motivation of the mods.

• My attitude: "F the resell value." I'm keeping her for good. 😀 And I KNOW there will be someone who appreciates this one-of-a-kind MP if I HAVE to sell in the future.

• My MP is already not in stock condition (simplified FL, AA #4008 covering), "user" cosmetics, and the actual cost of this mod is NONE after parts buy-up. I'm actually getting the repair I initially needed (so much for "mechanical perfection" huh?) cheaper than expected.

• And again, my biggest motivation behind this project is because it's a fun project and I'll get a one-of-a-kind MP in the end.

The actual MP Classic, which I wasn't even aware of when I initially came up with the idea, is still a "collector" camera with beautiful BP Summicron. I'm sure if I'm patient I'll come across with body-only sale or offset the cost by reselling the BP Cron and my current MP. But that takes out the fun, and I don't feel comfortable shooting $5,500 limited edition combo.

I am more than grateful about all your suggestions and alternative ideas, and I'm taking all your comments into consideration. And I'm aware that this is rather bold, quite possibility a stupid idea to begin with. 😉

I was thinking of just leaving the M6 style ISO dial alone, but Roland, I agree with you that the dial sticks out quite a bit while I won't need it to tell the ISO setting to the light meter anymore after the mod. To follow the basic concept of this project, I'm down to the idea of taking everything that's not making sense with other part of the mods or the concept while keeping the MP as an MP, not to make it a Franken-Leica (in the sense of "hybrid" Leica). Looks like I can take the ISO dial assy out and make the back panel flush. I'm leaning towards that idea and cover with plain leather/leatherette.

Don is machining a special cap to make the battery box area flush and flat to the body, and I'm talking with Morgan to get a custom covering (there isn't really any additional charge for that) with out cutouts for battery/iso dial areas.

I'll keep you guys posted, and again, I really appreciate all your comments and the photos.

BTW, this is my MP before this round of mods.
mp_4008.jpg
 
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Gregory,

Thanks very much for your insights. Wow. It's kind of amazing how the M4-2 style dial was supposed to be used. (using marker pen!)

I guess I'm too cheap, but I'm not ready to make a 'life-time Leica investment' at this point. I carry my cameras everyday and MP Classic combo is a bit too much of limited collector camera for me.

And I agree with Thomas. Your 0.85x MP looks beautiful. I'm not a half-case type of guy and can't imagine using Luigi case on my cameras, although again, your MP looks marvelous in there.

Renzsu,

Thanks for the comments on the griptac and the pic of it. So I guess it IS really off-black then. I'm still torn between Levant Black and Griptac.... Ahh!


Shyoon,
I sure will. 🙂 Yeah, I'm pretty much sold on the M3/M2/MP style design and controls after trying out M3/2/4/6 and MP. Yeah, I guess I like making my life a bit more difficult. 🙂
 
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Sorry Sug, I don't have really anything to add because I have never re-covered one of my Leicas....but man, this cameras is PiMP......one day Roger, when the vulcanite falls off my m2 or m3.......
cheers, michael

ferider said:
This was my favorite camerleather covering, Sug:

204794149_uGirn-O-2.jpg


Good for "stealth-mode", nice grip. 🙂

Roland.
Click to expand...
 
Little update.

Little update.

Little update:

For this time around, I decided to give Griptac a try. I've been keeping myself away from this material, but I've also heard so much about it, and I figured it won't hurt to try just once. Here is the response from Morgan when I asked about the color/tone of Griptac.

The Griptac black is indeed black. (I need to remove all references to "charcoal" which is confusing) Griptac is closest to the tone of the original vulcanite, which is actually not a deep black . . it has lots of texture and it's a matte finish, which makes it a black that is less "deep". In fact a deep black leather, especially one with a semi-gloss surface, looks much more "black" than the original vulcanite. For example a Leica M recovered in black lizard looks much darker than the camera did when it left the factory.
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Griptac is cheaper than other leather materials, and this is not a permanent change so I can always try something else if I don't like it. Aki-Asahi is super backed up, and I don't see any indication of them doing custom jobs for a customer. (anyone tried?)
Maybe I'll get a sheet of #4008 from them and politely ask Morgan to cut one up for me in the future. 😛

As for the back door, I'm planning to remove the ISO dial and making it flat, then apply the covering without the hole.

Let's see how it goes. I'm hoping this will be all done before the next Beer & Gear meeting in SF if you are in the area. 😉
 
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