Camera re-covering: which source?

From CameraLeather, I ordered Gray Lizard for a Leica CM. Fit was perfect. It looked amazing when i got it, and it still looks the same. I recently ordered leather for my Zeiss Ikon.

A few months ago, i ordered leather for a LOMO LC-A+ from Aki. I received it, but didn't love the material. I applied it, and the fit was 'off' in a couple of places. I sent an email to Aki about it, but never received a reply. As it was 'only a LOMO,' i'm not overly disturbed about that, but i'm not likely to repeat that experience in the future.

CameraLeather has a nicer selection of materials and far better communication regarding orders.
 
Lite,

I had a similar experience with Morgan and then all came good, I recently bought off Ashi too, Both are honest and swift (usually) but a bit flakey with email response

regards

Marcus
 
literiter said:
It is OK, I'll wait. I've heard too many good things about the guy to think he ripped me off. This is not a priority thing.
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You won't get ripped off by Morgan--but I can certainly understand why you were nervous. The 'net is full of crooks.
 
I ordered from CameraLeather.com last summer and was very pleased with the service.

If the need arises next time I may try Aki next since his business is in the same town as me
 
scottgee1 said:
:eek:

Sheesh!

OK, I gotta say it; this isn't inspiring much confidence.

I was thinking it would be too much of a pain to "do-it-myself" but it may be less aggravation than dealing with these guys.

To quote a former boss, "Gee, it's gettin' so you can't even give money away!"

Thanks for the updates!/ScottGee1
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Doing it yourself really isn't that hard. Can you use a ruler? Can you use a pair of scissors? Know how to punch a hole? Can you cut a straight line? If you can do these things, then you can make a camera cover. After that it's just gluing it down. You can use shellac or contact cement. If you used a synthetic covering, you also have the option, sometimes, of using double sided tape (it doesn't stick to leather very well, but it sticks fine to smooth-backed synthetics like griptac).
 
I answered "yes" to the questions so I think I'll pick up some Griptac and give it a go.

This is low risk -- if I goof it up I can always peel it off and start over again -- or throw the dice and order from one of the suppliers! :p
 
scottgee1 said:
I answered "yes" to the questions so I think I'll pick up some Griptac and give it a go.

This is low risk -- if I goof it up I can always peel it off and start over again -- or throw the dice and order from one of the suppliers! :p
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Just take your time, measure everything twice, and you should be fine.
 
Some time ago I received my leather kit, for my Rolleiflex, from "Camera Leather". I just installed it today.

I must say I'm very impressed. This thing is absolutely perfect. The camera looks almost like new. The kit is the "Black Beauty" which is designed for the Rolleiflex.

There are a number of awkward areas on the old Rollei that would have been difficult to manage without the kit. Cutting it myself just wouldn't be the same. It went on just right.

Yep, it's a tad expensive, but for all the time you save and the way it looks...do it!
 
literiter said:
In a word: Yes!

I put a kit on my Rolleiflex, a fairly complex camera. The kit fit absolutely perfectly first time. In truth I was very impressed.
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I am in the same boat. I am about to get a new skin for my rolleiflex but I think the hard part is to get rid of the old junk, glue and make it ready for the new skin.
Any tips?

Thanks.
 
pfoto said:
I recently had Morgan at Cameraleather recover my MP with Griptac. Sent on Monday, back on Thursday. Camera is totally transformed with the Griptac, and Morgan is a pleasure to deal with.
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A faster experience than I've had. He answered emails very quickly before my M5 was sent on 7/7/08, I've not heard anything more than a "Yes the camera arrived" email since. :mad:
 
From a guy that get's a couple of hundred emails at work everyday sometimes it's just not possible to give a quick reply to everyone.

That said I positively love my new leather from cameraleather on my M4. My M4 needed it but I like it so much I'm buying another one for my M7.
 
Fine service from both on numerous occasions, though Morgan is a lot slower - suspect as suggested above, it's a second job and as he tends to supply the more luxurious ie expensive and presumably harder to source products. Aki's kits usually recieved in the U.K. within the week.

Samples of both in my galleries - Canonet in their gallery, F1N & Polaroid SX-70 in the Feds one.

Can't see the logic of messing about cutting your own, unless it's something usual of course, if Aki has got a kit available for around 15 dollars .....
 
fbf said:
I am in the same boat. I am about to get a new skin for my rolleiflex but I think the hard part is to get rid of the old junk, glue and make it ready for the new skin.
Any tips?

Thanks.
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Step 1: Just rip and peel the old stuff off. Don't worry about saving it or getting it off in one piece. If it was any good you wouldn't be replacing it.

Step 2. Get rid of the glue. If it is shellac, use alcohol and cotton balls. It will take a while, but it will eventually dissolve and come off. If it is anything else, a large X-acto knife with a slightly dull scraping blade is probably the best tool. If the body is chromed, or if you are going to repaint it, a rotary tool with a wire brush also works (and works fast), but this is really messy and will ruin your clothes. Be sure to keep it moving though, at low speed, or it can burn the chrome.

Special tips: to avoid EVER getting "Zeiss bumps" again, clean any rivet heads that you find that are made of brass with metal polish, and then give them a thin coat of nail polish.
 
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I've had success w/ this NON-toxic paint remover. It softens the covering and removes the glue also. The product is USA made and the name is J.W. Etc.'s Safe-Strip Paint & Varnish Remover available here: http://www.hofcraft.com/JW Etc. Varnish.htm among other places.

It apply w/ a brush and let it sit overnite. Works great!
 
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