How come no one here seems to 'pimp' their SLRs?

Brian Sweeney said:
Why mess with perfection?
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Amen,

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Why do we always have to think in terms of paint and leather? Many late nineteenth century and early twentieth century cameras had red leather bellows, varnished mahogany bodies, polished brass fittings, even a lot of lens barrels and shuttlers were brass. The speed Graphics of the thirties and forties had that "pro finish (?)" black leather glued over Honduran mahogany and I've seen a few that were stripped, sanded, and varnished.

My idea is to have Cameraleather (or somebody) expand into untapped territory and start marketing "skins" made out of thin veneers of exotic hardwoods. Maroon paint and rosewood would look really cool!
 
Al Kaplan said:
Why do we always have to think in terms of paint and leather? Many late nineteenth century and early twentieth century cameras had red leather bellows, varnished mahogany bodies, polished brass fittings, even a lot of lens barrels and shuttlers were brass. The speed Graphics of the thirties and forties had that "pro finish (?)" black leather glued over Honduran mahogany and I've seen a few that were stripped, sanded, and varnished.

My idea is to have Cameraleather (or somebody) expand into untapped territory and start marketing "skins" made out of thin veneers of exotic hardwoods. Maroon paint and rosewood would look really cool!
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I think this would actually be pretty easy to do with an Argus C3, and probably pretty interesting, to boot.
 
Stewart: Your F3–gorgeous. That...other F3–that thing would make even Versace spin in his grave. (Notice the "Focus Schmocus" inscription on the lens?) Never mind Chuck: where's Wolverine when we need him?

And, this gives me a killer idea for marketing the (allegedly) upcoming Leica R10:

Leica Rep: Hey, Leica here, the Red Dot on der Down-Low, with...oh, your name?

Pink Nikon F3 Owner: Call me Jess.

Cute Leica Assistant: What about your camera here. Is this not an old Nikon F3?

F3 Owner: Yeah, got bored with it, so I tricked it out, you know?

LR: Yes, very pink and jiggy, eh?

CLA: I'd say your F is now seriously "F'd."

F3 Owner: Yeah, when you pick it up and shake it, it jingles!

CLA: You sure that's not the mirror?

F3 Owner: No, no, the mirror's fine...though I don't take many pics with it

LR: Why not?

F3 Owner: I just like being seen with it, mostly. Anyway, I don't have much time to take pictures...

LR: I see. Oh, my! Speaking of the time...(looks at his watch, an Omega Seamaster Chronograph)

F3 Owner (looking concerned): Oh!? What time is it, man?

LR (with odd grin): It's...time to un-pimp your reflex! (Presses top stopwatch button on Omega; section of table where F3 is sitting lowers three feet; opening is covered by plexiglass while F3 is crushed by industrial-strength compactor. Meanwhile, Cute Leica Assistant calmly places new Leica R10 directly over plexiglass.

LR: Performance is the new black, and goes with everything. The Leica R10. Get out of your crib and photograph, Ja!

(Edit: Just in case anyone wonders, I got the idea from these.)

- Barrett
 
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I had to cover the rear of my Nikon F90x ("F90S" in USA) with duct tape because the plastic finish degraded to a sticky mess. I only had silver tape. It looks quite "professional".
 
The greatest thing you could do to a camera is brass it up, pimping is for... well... pimps, not photographers!

Just kidding of course, I've just never felt the need to spend cash on things other then film and lenses. However, I did make my own camera straps because i disliked the ones i had, and I tapped up the logos and ports and all the crap that usually hooks onto a thread of clothing and ruins a nice shirt.
 
(1) This is a Rangefinder Forum, so no wonder people don't have the kind of emotional attachment you need for putting red lizardskin on your camera and sending it to Japan for a paint job.

(2) Pimped cameras tend to get fondled, not used. Maybe SLRs just get used, not fondled :p

Nice F3, though ;)
 
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Well here is my Nikon FM3A pimped out with a A&A strap, CV 40mm pancake lens and a Tom A. Mini Soft Release.

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OK I don't do cases, and when I rarely use a strap I pull out one of those Leica plastic thingys because I like the clip.

I own three film SLRs: the Bronica ETRS is stock, but the original covering on the OM-1 I've had since it was new was shrinking and peeling, so it got the black lizard from Cameraleather. And I have a Pen-FT that Robert painted black, which I covered with charcoal Griptac.

I don't see this as pimping - I look upon this as maintenance. And I don't think there is any reason the tools I use should not also be esthetically pleasing to me.

I say "good on you" if you find peeling covering, scrapes and gaffer's tape satisfying to your esthetic. I can understand it - I also have a Contax IIa with exposed brass, very worn and chipped leather and one big Zeiss bump on the back - I like the way this particular camera is carrying its age.

Now that pink Nikon? [shudder] - that's big pimping.
 
tom_f77 said:
Does this count as pimping?

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Tom
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How does that thing work (and I don't mean "thing" as a pejorative - I just don't know what it is called)?

Seems to make a lot of sense, given the focus accuracy possible with the 5DmkII's live-view feature. Do you use it for stills or for video? Or both?
 
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