Thoughts on reskinning

mdg137

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Ive been shooting exclusively digital since 2006, but have decided to get back into film after browsing through old negs and transparencies-- picked up a mint in box M4 and an MP (and a Rolleiflex 2.8F)

Part of my consideration is leaving a non-digital record.

I looked for an MP with the intent of keeping it long term--ie my one film camera for a couple decades, should I decide to rid myself of the others. I specifically looked for one that had a least a hint of brassing, so I would not be as tempted to baby it, and it could be allowed to brass naturally.

Found this a la carte with factory chestnut ostrich skin. My thought was to reskin in black lizard skin, but now that it has arrived, the chestnut looks like it has more depth, more presence.

From a purely aesthetic perspective, what are your thoughts on the chestnut?
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Leave the fancy leather for watch straps. Black griptac or one of Aki Asahi's traditional offerings would look very nice on you MP.
 
On black the color really doesn't do anything for me, I would swap it out for something from aki ashi.
 
Keeping a Leica for a couple of decades these days is admirable. Especially if you pull it off. Regarding the covering. If you can send it to Leica and get the new Vulcanit that's what I'd do. That's what I have on my ala carte M7. I did own a MP that had that horrible slippery covering. I removed it and recovered with Aki-Asahi's leather. Looked great and felt nice in the hand.
 

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Aesthetically, it's not that great. It's kind of like a multi nippled brown monster.

I recently bought an MP with grip tac. It was fine in terms of grip, but I found the rubbery look clashed with the elegance of black paint. I ended up recovering it with Aki Asahi and I love it now.
 
Sorry, but it looks like a rolled out chocolate chip cookie.

😀

I agree, that's pretty ugly 😱 (even though I like chocolate chip cookies.)

I don't quite get the "wealthy country squire" look that people seem to want to have associated with their Leicas. Including those overpriced fancy leather and brass camera bags. These are cameras. And they are already expensive, the world knows that. Why dress them up even more? It's like too much makeup on an already nice looking woman. Or a rich guy wearing gold chains and gold watches.

That said, I would replace the 'sandpaper' covering that comes standard with the MP. It feels funky to me and the regular Leica vulcanite style is overall better in the hands, imho (and more durable than fancy leather.)
 
I would leave the MP as it is and sell it. Somebody paid a lot of extra money for that covering, and maybe you can recoup some of that. If you can live without the meter, keep your mint M4. It's likely a better made camera, and wth a CLA to freshen it up, will give you decades of service, assuming film is around that long.

Cheers,
Dez
 
I tend to stick with classic skins. There are some skins I think look good, but couldn't ever see myself putting it on a camera. If you like it, keep it. Certainly makes it look unique.

Otherwise, I recommend Aki Asahi's skins. I've used them on 5 different bodies without issue including my MP
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Aesthetically, I find it unpleasing. But, I question the predominate belief that a black Leica is the most secretive shooter. When you have photographers with large motor drive/zoom lens cameras and amateurs holding their p/s at arms length I think that a quick photo by a rangefinder is less obtrusive. If you purchased this camera at a very reasonable cost use it. Maybe, with that covering you will meet friendly people who you can photograph.
 
Reskin in classic covering. I know that ostrich leather is expensive but to be completely honest it doesnt look good at all.

Looks like a hershey's special edition MP to me 😀
 
That ostrich leather is actually calf skin made to look like ostrich. Same thing that Leica has used on some of its limited run binoculars.
As it is from the factory I would leave it as is and either use it or sell it to someone who wants that look from the factory. Personally I would sell it and get another more sedately covered one. And this is coming from someone who uses a blue leather on chrome M3!
 
Thoughts on reskinning

So the leatherette on my M4-2 is starting to come apart and the idea of putting a new leatherette has come to mind. Seeing that Aki Asahi has a few different options ( http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/material-list/LeicaM_ColorMaterialList.html ) I was thinking of going with something a bit different from the usual black.

Any thoughts or images of people who have reskinned a black M4-2 to something other than black?
(As much as I want flat camel, brown and black aren't the best of friends)
 
Well, you asked for my opinion.
Although most doctors now use liquid nitrogen for warts you can probably get those off with some fuming nitric acid.

Sorry, couldn't resist.
 
What were they thinking? - that is just plain ugly. It destroys the entire harmony of the design. But as has been suggested above, it might make more sense to sell it on than to pay to have it re skinned. But if you do keep it, my vote is for vulcanite - aesthetically and practically.
 
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