A Question Covering All Cameras...

[Jon Goodman]

Or, maybe I should say a camera covering question...

If I were to make available a very fine genuine leather camera covering---i.e. an honest precision gauged textured leather covering backed with pressure sensitive adhesive, would you be interested? I am not talking about vinyl or leatherette or bonded leather. In my opinion, none of that is worth the effort or expense the project will take. And, I know there are already others offering pre-cut kits made of all sorts of materials. However, those kits will never be offered for every camera make or style...that makes no economic sense. I am also not talking about pigskin or lower quality hides. If I go forward, this will be top shelf leather.

If this is something you would be interested in, please answer the following additional questions:

1. Would you rather stay with classic black, or would you rather have a different color...and if so, what would it be?

2. I am not limited by texture, however I think staying with about three or so classic textures would be wise...pebble (similar to vulcanite), fine grain (morocco style), and larger grain (Nikon style) with a lattice pattern as a possibility (similar to Konica Auto S2). Do you agree, or would you rather have a different look? (reptile, lizzard, crocodile, etc)

3. If you were to consider re-covering your camera, would it be...
a. to attempt to restore it closer to original?
b. to improve on what was originally used - to enhance it, in other words?
c. to customize it...that is, to make it look like something completely
different than was ever intended (possibly completely un-natural). A purple
snake or a red alligator or the color pink, for example?

4. What would you consider a fair price for something like this--for this discussion, let's limit it to a typical 35mm rangefinder or slr?

I'm all ears...
Jon

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Inspired by an RFF member last year I had my Rollei SL66 gear completely redone in black lizard skin. I wanted to walk on the wild side, so I chose lizard -- but my conservative nature took hold and I ended up with black (instead of fuchsia or Chartreuse). Not a single regret -- I love the look!

 

[denishr]

Good questions, Jon - and no doubt you'll receive many kinds of answers in this poll.

For myself, I'd use mostly "conservative" colors (meaning black or something darkish). But, see below for more...
Also, as for texture, I'd have to try different ones to be sure. I like a surface which does not tends to slip.
As for the purpose of recovering - it's:
a) to restore a nice camera to its original state, as close as possible, or
b) to have a more "grippable" surface that lies in hands better than the original, or
c) just for fun, to have something in "flashy" color to cheer me up 🙂

Not much help, I'm afraid. I hope the others will provide more feedback.

 

[pshinkaw]

I can't tell from the photo. Did you re-do all of them in matching leather?

-Paul

 

[jackieman402]

1. Black/tan/red/blue (in that order)

2. I agree.

3. b

4. $15

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I can't tell from the photo. Did you re-do all of them in matching leather?

-Paul

Sorry for the poor picture, Paul. I only had the SL66 redone -- the picture is from an old "Camera and Coffee" post I took of my black cameras (I know -- too much time on my hands😀). I had the SL66 body lacquered black before the lizard skin went on.

 

[cp_ste.croix]

I'd do it...when i play with the Leica configurator (a great way to waste your afternoon) I tend to like the look of something a deep brown that might show some interesting wear patterns. I would do it to my camera(s), primarily to make them a little more unique, while maintaining a low profile (which is also an improvement in my mind). I'm a sucker for making things that are unique to me. That said, such customization would be a lower priority for me than things that would directly affect the quality of the images.

 

[RubenBlaedel]

I like the leather on the Hermes MP Leica - sorry but I do
I also like the brown "aligator" embossed calf skin leather on cameraleather.com for Leica Ms.
Anny natural looking and feeling leather would be nice - something that would get patina over the years. I would considder it for my Hasselbad, Rolleflex and Leica M - but I think I could stay with the traditional on Leica Screwmount cameras - Perhaps My Linhof would be nice i nubuck .

 

[Richard Black]

Jon,
I have fallen under the spell of Cameraleather's ostrich look on the M series. If it were available when I sent my IIIc, it would have been the brown Ostrich. Now, to your question, I think black is classic and given your parameters, I recommend black. A variety of finishes would be nice. So much for my 2 cents.

 

[Jon Goodman]

Thanks! You fellows are real sports, and I do appreciate you taking the time to answer. Here are images of two which have already been produced. One is the pebble look I mentioned and in person really does resemble the vulcanite finish fairly closely. The other is much more like what you would find on a typical SLR or rangefinder...would resemble Canon AE-1 or Aires or you pick it. A lightly textured finish. Either of these would be very suitable for use, at least in my opinion.
Jon

 

[RML]

I like the idea of a sumptuous thick leather covering, in black, where my fingers can sink in. But I'm quite certain a cover would never feel what I want it to feel like; the hide usually being too thin.

And I'm partial to doing slight modifications to suit my tastes, like trying out the pink paradise snake leather and the vinyl Japanesque Gold.

Jon, your idea is great but I'm not certain I would buy a cover. Maybe once I get another M2.... 😛

 

[Heath]

I think it is a good idea. I am in the middle of recovering my Mamiya 35S2 and something live this would have been great. I have to custom cut my cover pieces because I have not seen any company that makes the pre-cut pieces for the Mamiya.

As for colours and textures, the first thing that came to mind was cow print. White with the black splotches would be very unique, or maybe camo. The textures you have shown are very good and prctical, but lizard skin would also be good.

As for price I have no idea just as long as it is relatively affordable for us non- USA people to buy.

Heath

 

[Richard Black]

Jon,
You've opened Pandora's box, and each of us have our own pickadillos. The cow print on a Fuji, lovingly referred to as a Texas Leica, would be striking. Would I do that to a great camera? MMMM

 

[jan normandale]

Jon,

I don't know what I would cover. If I did it would be for sport/fun. I would go for a smooth finished plain black look I think it would age well and still look very distinctive. As it got older it would have a nice look. Sort of like a pair of dress shoes, nicely aged with that look sporty, but all dressed up and ready to go.

cheers, Jan

 

[wlewisiii]

I'd be interested in a red/brown color leather for my Kiev 5 and Iskra. I've been considering getting some of the red "snake skin" cow leather from Aki, but if you'll be doing something similar I would be happy to use that instead.

William

 

[berci]

No disrespect, but if I had a camera with leather covering I would remove it.
They did the same to the first "moon" cameras as I know and you never know, one day you might be asked to cover the next moon/mars expedition with your own camera and then you wuold have to rip off all that fab leather. ;-)

 

[Jon Goodman]

Thanks again, folks...no offense taken to any comments. Far from it, in fact. I'm genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts, wants, desires, whatever. I can't promise I can have every option produced...this leather is imported, and I must buy entire hides (not small pieces). So, the limitations are all economic, and the procedure is slow. However, news from them this week has been encouraging. You might be surprised where this will be produced. You just might be. The more responses I hear, the more common denominators I'll have.

Jon