Cameraleather / Aki Asahi - 4034/black beauty

J

JHP

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Hey there.

Just wondering if Camera leather's Black Beauty Calfskin is the same as Aki Asahi's 4034 large grain leatherette.

They look similar, and I have been striving to find a leather that is similar to Leica's new look Vulcanite but have found that black beauty just isn't the same. I have just bought Aki Asahi's 4008 classic vulcanite skin so I'll let you know what I think of it compared to cameraleather's offering.

EG - Leica's modern vulcanite
00AS0P-20921584.jpg
 
Here's my 1st MP which I recovered in aki-asahi's 4034. I sold it to a long standing member here.

6929660483_648f35aef0_z.jpg


I usually use 4008 to recover M2, M3 and M4. I even recovered an M6ttl in 4008 which looked nice.
The 4034 has a more glossy look as well as the bigger grain.
Aki-Asahi's service is superb and I always receive my orders within a week.
 
Hmmm. That looks really good. I think that is very different to the cameraleather 'black beauty.'

Now I don't know what to do. I've already ordered 4008.
 
The Black Beauty is softer, shinier and more smooth. It lacks grain.

Glossy the 4034 is, it's hard and grainy. I think it's more close to the modern vulcanite they offer in a-la-carte cameras before the recent change.

I switched the leather on my MP from the former to the later, preferring a firmer grip. Personal choice, though.
 
Archlich said:
The Black Beauty is softer, shinier and more smooth. It lacks grain.

Glossy the 4034 is, it's hard and grainy. I think it's more close to the modern vulcanite they offer in a-la-carte cameras before the recent change.

I switched the leather on my MP from the former to the later, preferring a firmer grip. Personal choice, though.
Click to expand...

When you say "firmer grip", do you mean harder to the touch, or do you mean "grippier" (which brings to mind Griptac)? I'm trying to suss out for myself whether to go with something like 4008, 4034 or even Griptac, but I haven't had the opportunity to do a first hand comparison of the relative hand feel. Any comments would be appreciated.
 
It's harder to touch. The 4034 is also a little more grippier than the Black Beauty (of which the material offers more friction but lacks the grain).

The Griptac is superb in handling, its only drawback would be that it doesn't look like leather/leatherette at all...
 
Another question. Does the 'wet application' method work with Aki asahi coverings?

The one with the hand sanitizer.

Thanks
 
Just by the way, my 4008 arrived very quickly from Japan to me in New Zealand, went on accurately and is EXACTLY what I was after. Looks like vulcanite, feels like vulcanite, isn't too shiny and cheap looking, beautiful.

5 stars.
 
#4008 is what I used to replace the vulcanite of my M4-2 recently and it looks quite identical to the original vulvanite still on the back-door of the camera. Before that I had used griptac from cameraleather, which has a better grip but is thinner and leaves the heads of the screws sticking out.
 
Archlich said:
The Griptac is superb in handling, its only drawback would be that it doesn't look like leather/leatherette at all...
Click to expand...
+1. It's a bit industrial looking but if you really want grip it's the only solution. Great in the tropics when you're sweating bricks. :)


griptac.jpg
 
Dan95 said:
The covers for MPs are of the same dimension of M6s ?
Click to expand...

Yup.

I recovered my M6TTL with 4034 several years ago and really love it.
I've also done my M3 and a friends M2 in 4008. It's almost indistinguishable from vulcanite.

Aki-Asahi's service is great!
 
Just received clarification from akiasahi that the M6 and MP share the same dimensions.

Getting the 4034 !11
 
I've often wondered why he doesn't offer more colors and variations for leica's? At the very least, I'd love a pattern for the m7...
 
Just got this skin / #4034 pebbled emboss ...
To replace my chipped skin on black M4

On my to do list next weekend ...:angel:
Though I really do not mind the broken wear on my M4
 
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