Are there any comparisons of the original vulcanite and the MP "fake" vulcanite?

[philipus]

Are there any comparisons of the original vulcanite and the MP "fake" vulcanite?

My TTL is currently in Solms for service. I spoke with Customer Service yesterday and was told that the TTL has screws under the leatherette. To take the camera apart the leatherette must be removed and will consequently be destroyed.

This gives me the option to switch leatherette. It will cost nothing to get the original TTL leatherette but I have been wondering about the MP "vulcanite" because I find the original cover not grippy enough. The MP vulcanite looks really very grippy due to the bigger "grains".

I am familiar with the original vulcanite (I have an M4) but it would help to see images, ideally side-by-side comparisons, of the original and the MP vulcanite. Perhaps this doesn't exist but I thought I'd ask. It would really help me in deciding whether I should pay the 120€ extra for the MP vulcanite.

Thanks very much in advance
Philip

PS. I know I can change the leatherette myself with material from Aki Asahi and others but I am not interested in doing that at the moment.

 

[maitani]

I'd say go for the vulcanite, It just looks good, and makes your TTL kind of 'unique' I never particularly loved the M6ttl/M7 leatherette.

the one found on the M6 classic was more to my liking.

 

[philipus]

Thanks very much. From the images I've seen the MP vulcanite looks quite shiny - it looks plasticky - compared to the much more matte original vulcanite. I'm concerned that would also make it slippery. Or am I imagining things?

 

[Erik van Straten]

compared to the much more matte original vulcanite

Nothing compares to the original "gutta percha" of the Leica, wich is not slippery and looks great.

To my knowledge only CRR-Luton still makes this covering, but at a price and there is a long waiting list.

I hate the smooth "sandpaper" covering of the MP. I changed mine with 4048 from Aki Asahi. I am quite happy with the result, but it seems that this covering is no longer available.

Erik.

 

[kingqueenknave]

The latest a la carte Vulkanit covering is really nice. It's less shiny than the stuff they were using a couple of years ago and isn't slippery. The texture is about the same, perhaps a little less pronounced.


Camera and Book by kingqueenknave, on Flickr

 

[philipus]

Scott, that looks really great. It looks much less plasticky than what I've seen in other photos.

And I agree with you Erik, the sandpaper covering is just not nice looking imho so I won't pick that.