Aki Asahi Flat Camel Cowhide

[daveleo]

Anyone ever handle a camera with the Aki Asahi "flat camel" covering ?

It looks really nice to me (like the Polaroid SX-70) and I am in the accessorizing phase of my X100 experience 🙄

My concern is that it's not very grippy feeling.

 

[OlliL]

Just changed from FCC to 4044, but had it for almost a year I think.
It's a pretty awesome covering, as it is really grippy.
Definitely better than the standard one and it looks like some other camera, made by a company from Solms. 😀


Fuji X100 Hermès Edition von oliverleschke auf Flickr

P.S. I was actually asked, if it was that M9 😀

 

[sevo]

I don't like cameras covered in handbag leather. But the name does make me fantasize about steam roller/camel accidents...

 

[daveleo]

@ OlliL . . . .
Good to hear that, and thanks for the reply.

Was it very hard to recover it? The video makes it look monkey-proof 😀

How hard to get the old covering off.

Your camera looks beautiful !

 

[OlliL]

It doesn't look that way anymore. 😉
But thanks anyway!

It's super easy.
The original covering can be pulled, once you have a starting spot.
I only used my fingernails and it worked pretty effortlessly.
When I applied the new covering, I used a few spots of water on the glue and then wiped them off. This makes it easier to move the covering, if you haven't put it on accurately first try. The only (small) difficulty is the AF illumination at the front, right from the EVF/OVF-switch, but easily doable, when you take your time.
The advantage of this covering is, that it is quite soft and stretchable.

The covering I have now (4040) is stiffer and therefore a little harder to put on.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I recovered my X-Pro1 (which is a slightly more complicated shape) with Aki Asahi leather. Its easy if you take your time and follow their instructions. HOWEVER, I've read in a couple of different places on the web that replacing the cover can void the camera's warranty. I don't know for sure if this is true, but you might want to double check first, if this sort of thing worries you.

 

[daveleo]

Thanks for the replies. And yes - it stated on the Aki-Asahi web page that it will void the warranty, so I knew that.

One more question - the installation video shows him wetting only part of the material before he sticks it on. I cannot hear the video (I'm deaf) - why is he doing that ?

Thanks again.

 

[OlliL]

Can't really answer that, but the edges will only stick on properly, when they are dry.
So when you leave them out, they will stick almost instantly, when you wrap around the corners. When they are wet, you have to press on them and then "play the waiting game" until they dry out.