M6 Customisation Project

M

matteaton

RF Convert
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Aug 14, 2006
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Ok, so a friend of mine is a top notch jewellry designer. I've done all his product and advertising photography for the last year, and in return he's offered me some merchandise. Thing is, I'm not a big jewellry wearer, so I took inspiration from one of his little "projects".

About six months ago, he started selling customised iPod shuffles, with engraving and diamonds. Fantastic stuff, really well made, I did all the shots for them, which can be seen here.

So I thought, wouldn't it be amazing to have him do something similar to the blank top plate of my M6! I asked him about it today, and he said that it's very possible. I'm entirely in love with the camera, and making it special and unique would be very very cool.

So I threw together a design this evening, and I thought I'd get your opinions. I know there will be people here that will think it's a rediculous plan. Trust me, this isn't going to stop me using the camera, and I wouldn't baby it. Or sell it.


topplate.jpg


So what do you think?
 
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ErikFive said:
Not my style. Its a little to posh, its your camera. Go for it. I think that this thread will give alot of entertainment:) . If it was my camera and I should do something like that I think I would have dropped the diamonds, but its your camera and your style. What program do you use to design that?
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Yeah, i'm open to suggestion, obviously, and dropping the diamonds isn't out of the question for me.

Did it with a mixture of Illustrator and Photoshop. I worked as a graphic designer for five years before starting work as a photographer.
 
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My thoughts...

First off, I like it! But you may want to consider the fact you're messing with a zinc oxide top cover. If you start etching into the existing chrome finish you may have your hands full with bubbling and zinc disintegrating from contact with the moisture in the air.

The solution would be to obtain a brass top cover to replace the zinc cover currently on the camera with. You'll have to be patient and spend some time shopping for it, but you'll find one (keep you eyes on eBay).

I wish you good luck on your little project.
 
BillBlackwell said:
My thoughts...

First off, I like it! But you may want to consider the fact you're messing with a zinc oxide top cover. If you start etching into the existing chrome finish you may have your hands full with bubbling and zinc disintegrating from contact with the moisture in the air.

The solution would be to obtain a brass top cover to replace the zinc cover currently on the camera with. You'll have to be patient and spend some time shopping for it, but you'll find one (keep you eyes on eBay).

I wish you good luck on your little project.
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Thats a very good point, and something I wouldn't necessarily have thought of. Thing is, I'm not sure that it's actually "etched" in, I have a feeling that it's more of a "very permanent paint" type deal. So if it's all on top it wouldn't necessarily be a problem.

I'll do more research!
 
Looks cool, it reminds me of the ornate glass mirrors you used to get behind the bar in pubs.
I guess if he was to offer this commercially there would be IP issues with using the name?
 
OK. How about a golden soft release or M3-type wind lever instead ?

Would have the advantage that your friend might have to start
mass producing it ....

Cheers,

Roland.
 
Oh, I like the idea of a custom softie. I'll take silver-- engraved with a "C".
I am not crazy about doing anything permanent to any Leica body. I like your design, but wouldn't do that to an M.
 
I was thinking about slightly more elaborate designs such as those found on rifles. We do shoot with our Leica, right?

Since you think it's paint it should be do by some kind of printer so I think technical difficult is not part of the equation.
 
I think your design looks better than most of the so called "Specials' that Leica cranked out. Remember "The Royal Wedding", the KFC (Year of the Rooster), The Sultan Of Brunei's gold and diamond encrusted M6's, The Anton Bruckner M6 (with 12 CD's of Bruckners symphonies -Ipod that!), The Oresunds Bridge, issued by the Danish Importer and only showing the Danish part of the bridge - they must have hoped that the Swedes would do the other half!. The "National" M6's with cheap transfers of flags on them! Of course now there is the "Last 999 M6 TTL's" and soon there will be one on M8's I am sure. Nah, yours positively oozees taste and with the correct covering on it would look great.
 
If it's good for you I really don't see why not to do it. Having a reason to use a camera is certainly not a bad thing...
 
matteaton said:
So what do you think?
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I do not like the design, it seems too unmanly and superfluous; but on the upside I think this proves magus wrong regarding the nadir of the M system. Well, perhaps this may not be the nadir of the M system as we know it, but it takes the M6 lower than Magus had ever imagined :p

It looks like it would suit those who like those Ralph Gibson Styled MPs.
 
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lose the diamonds - they're wasted on a chrome body (much better on a black body). Maybe some other precious stone, like, ruby.

I've always liked the piping that tuckers use to customise their cabs. Be wary of any engraving as the virbration might shake the optics out of alignment ---or just remove the top plate first.
 
It's your Leica à la carte, go for it
It's not of my taste, but it hasn't to be. If it was my M6 and I could customize it, I would paint it in black, remove the red dot, and the big Leica inscription. That would be perfection.
And if I wanted to let know it's actually a Leica, I would put a small Leica inscription on the top; and if I wanted to put a little diamond on it, it would be the dot over the "i" of Leica. Just my opinion.
 
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