new leather?

[RobVinc]

Hi,

Last weekend I noticed while walking the streets of Tokyo in the mid-siummer heat, that the front part of the leathering of my R-D1 is moving a little (ca. 1-2mm). Maybe this is because I carry the cam too much around with a rather firm grip.

So I would like to see some ideas for relathering the R-D1, either from the known sources on the web (cameraleather etc) or home made..

The home made version is some how more interesting for me, as the two pieces of leather on the front are more or less easy to cut.

I did not really made my decision if I stay with something black like griptac or if I go for some colours...

Will check the leather on offer at Tokyu Hands at the weekend, maybe I find something nice.

 

[porktaco]

let me know if cameraleather ever sends you anything

 

[kshapero]

I ordered griptac for my Nikon F on June 3 and received it 3 weeks later (considered very fast in cameraleather world). Now finding time to install it.

 

[karlori]

let me know if cameraleather ever sends you anything

It will but within 3-6 months with almost no reply's to emails sent... Seems he is too busy and the materials are harder to source... But it did come and boy was I happy ...

(leica m3 white coffee cobra skin)

 

[bigeye]

I've ordered leather for 2 cameras. The Leica IIIf's came in 7 days. The Minolta XD-11's Griptac in 3 mos. It seems there are batches at the ready for commonly replaced cameras, not so much for lesser.

They are worth the wait. $16 and they fit perfectly on both cameras.

 

[Lss]

I will pretty soon put the new leather (that I have already had for about a year!) on the R-D1, since earlier this week one of the front pieces started coming off on mine, too.

Here's my Bessa with red paradise snake skin. The R-D1 will have the same material, just a different colour.

 

[back alley]

grip tac works well on the rd1...took me a few weeks from morgan.
i have ordered a few different skins for various cameras and they always arrived promptly.

 

[daveisbest]

Not long ago I ordered some Black Levant leather from cameraleather for my R-D1, it arrived in the UK about a month later, can't fault the service really.

The leather was easy to apply and was a good fit, however it's quite thin and the ridges on the R-D1 body show up through the leather, so maybe some thicker leather or griptac is a better option. The leather also gets quite slippery on a hot day, I've cleaned it a couple of times which helps short term but it doesn't take long to go back to being slippery.

I will say that replacing the rubber on the front of the R-D1 makes it feel much slimmer and more comfortable to hold. I wouldn't recommend removing the rear piece of rubber on the R-D1, the moulded thumb grip helps give me a much firmer hold on the camera.

 

[RobVinc]

I will pretty soon put the new leather (that I have already had for about a year!) on the R-D1, since earlier this week one of the front pieces started coming off on mine, too.

Here's my Bessa with red paradise snake skin. The R-D1 will have the same material, just a different colour.

Thanks for the Link with good explanations how to do it! 😉

 

[huntjump]

Not long ago I ordered some Black Levant leather from cameraleather for my R-D1, it arrived in the UK about a month later, can't fault the service really.

The leather was easy to apply and was a good fit, however it's quite thin and the ridges on the R-D1 body show up through the leather, so maybe some thicker leather or griptac is a better option. The leather also gets quite slippery on a hot day, I've cleaned it a couple of times which helps short term but it doesn't take long to go back to being slippery.

I will say that replacing the rubber on the front of the R-D1 makes it feel much slimmer and more comfortable to hold. I wouldn't recommend removing the rear piece of rubber on the R-D1, the moulded thumb grip helps give me a much firmer hold on the camera.

Agree. the rubber thumb grip on back is really helpful. The wooden handgrip Eirik made that i have on my R-d1 is a godsend, i love it. Id recommend a grip when you replace, because i find it very slippery (much more than the original r-d1 covering)

 

[scorpius73]

I had no idea he was running behind. I ordered my new leather for my M2 last Friday. He emailed me and said thanks for the picture of your camera and that the leather would be mailed on Monday. I emailed him Thursday to make sure it's not lost. He will not email back though. Still waiting.................................
I'm just a little antsy because I bought an M2 that has griptac falling off all over. I just want to replace it like yesterday.

 

[umcelinho]

Agree. the rubber thumb grip on back is really helpful. The wooden handgrip Eirik made that i have on my R-d1 is a godsend, i love it. Id recommend a grip when you replace, because i find it very slippery (much more than the original r-d1 covering)

those wooden grips are so cool. where can I find one and what price range should I expect?

 

[krötenblender]

Has anyone made photos while ripping of the old rubber and applying the new leather? I'm currently waiting for my Griptag from cameraleather and I would like to see especially the difference when removing the backside with the thump-grip...

Thanks.

 

[huntjump]

those wooden grips are so cool. where can I find one and what price range should I expect?

There used to be a seller on ebay, but I dont believe he makes or sells them anymore. Eirik made the wooden grip, he should go into the business of selling them it is really sturdy and perfect!

 

[Ronchnam]

Has anyone made photos while ripping of the old rubber and applying the new leather? I'm currently waiting for my Griptag from cameraleather and I would like to see especially the difference when removing the backside with the thump-grip...

Thanks.

I did apply GripTac on the backside of my R-D1. unfortunatly I didn' take any picture while ripping the old rubber. There is the picture of the back with the GT. I do prefer like this. The feeling is good more like a film camera. And it!s easyer to reach the Ae lock button.
Btw, during the replacement I ruiner the piece of GripTac for the back. I mailed to Cameraleather and they send me back a new piece for free in a few days. Nice.
Regards

 

[krötenblender]

Thanks for the photo. I guess, I have to take some pictures, when I apply the GripTac on mine. I have not decided yet, if I also replace the backside there, since only the frontside is loose.

 

[porktaco]

i got my leather from cameraleather. it's a nice little kit. easy to put on and i quite like how it makes the camera feel

 

[umcelinho]

I quite prefer the back with griptac as well, it makes the camera feel slimmer. The original back covering was starting getting loose, that's why I've replaced it. Otherwise I wouldn't have. I'm not sure if the back piece can be reglued to the camera, but it doesn't have the cutouts like the front rubber does, which must make it an easier task.

I'm not sure I have a photo from the backside of my R-D1 when it was naked, but here's a front shot:

*NUDITY ALERT, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED*


Naked Epson R-D1 by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr

 

[Pastor Chris]

"The home made version is some how more interesting for me, as the two pieces of leather on the front are more or less easy to cut."

I agree that doing something yourself from scratch can be very satisfying. I have found that old handbags can be a great source of leather for recovering cameras. It tends to be thin enough and comes in anneness variety of colors and patterns. You have to be patient or build up a collection over time. I covered a Leica IIIb in some ostrich leather from a handbag that I paid $5 for; just beautiful and unique as well. I have also used CAmeraleather for a few projects as well and his stuff is certainly worth the wait. Have fun with it!

 

[krötenblender]

I'm not sure I have a photo from the backside of my R-D1 when it was naked, but here's a front shot:

*NUDITY ALERT, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED*

Thanks for the picture. The first thing, I thought, when I saw that metall-body beneath the skin was: "Terminator!"

I'm not sure about the back, yet, since only the front loosens.