Oiling the lether

[gluegod]

I read somewhere that the lether of the cameras has to be oil once every year.

My questions are:

1- Where can I get the oil.
2- Some brand names.

Thanks guys!
gustav[] pEña

 

[richard_l]

I like natural mink oil (not the waxy stuff used for waterproofing shoes). A good brand is Bee Natural Leathercare, available from www.TopLeatherStore.com (1-800-847-7134).

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Careful with oil, you don't want it to become slippery... Do you?

Why not use a leather lotion. It keeps the leather clean and helps to prevent dry rot. Zymol is top notch stuff.

 

[jaapv]

If it is leather- newer camera's are covered in Vulcanite,if I recall the name correctly, except for special models and customized camera's, which is a synthetic material with leather print. Sometimes this is confused with leather. Obviously oiling that is not a good idea.

 

[gustav[] pEña]

My camera is m4-p. does mine has lether or vulcanite?




gustav[] pEña

 

[Ben Z]

All Leicas from at least the IIIf to the M4-P are covered with vulcanite which is a hard rubber compound and would either be unaffected by leather balms, or even damaged by ones which contain petroleum distillates. From the M6 forward the covering is a synthetic which would not benefit from leather balm. Only the aftermarket (cameraleather.com) and a la carte leather coverings are real leather.

 

[jaapv]

A M4-P is covered in Vulcanite unless it is a special model by Leica ( which would be worth from 10.000 $ upwards) or recovered by for instance this company: http://www.cameraleather.com/